Rising Star Keenan Hayes Takes Home Bareback Riding World Title and Rookie of the Year

Hayden, Colo., native Keenan Hayes has been making waves in the world of bareback riding. He had an impressive year in 2023, becoming the first-ever Bareback Riding Rookie of the Year to also win the world title in the same year. Hayes ended the season with over $400,000 and secured his first world title at the National Finals Rodeo (NFR) with a score of 90 points in Round 10.

As a high school student, Hayes was quite successful in all three roughstock events. In fact, he won the National High School Finals Rodeo World Championship in bareback riding in 2019. However, it wasn’t until 2021 that he decided to focus solely on bareback riding. This year, he has continued his winning streak, starting off the PRCA season strongly by winning the New Year’s Eve Buck n’ Ball and placing at rodeos like Rodeo Houston, San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo, and Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo. Most recently, he won the San Angelo title.

As of April 25th, 2024, Hayes is currently sitting at No.3 in PRCA World Standings with $67,645 won. He is determined to defend his world championship title next year. The top two in the standings are three-time NFR qualifier Leighton Berry and 21-year-old Coop Cooke. As the season progresses, Hayes will continue to compete and work towards securing another world title in bareback riding.