2022 Nutrena Horse of the Year Winners Announced
By Ann Bleiker
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Success in the sport of rodeo doesn’t fall on just the human athlete. Their horses play just as big of a factor when they step foot in the arena. The Nutrena Horse of the Year presented by AQHA awards provides recognition to ProRodeo’s top horses. Making the award extra special to each WPRA member is the fact that their fellow competitors are the ones that vote on this prestigious award.
![](https://www.wpra.com/wp-content/uploads/FINALS-BRIGGS_JORDAN_SS-CHAMPION_BARREL-RACING_IP020012-01.jpg)
Jordon Briggs
Photo Courtesy RodeoHouston
The 2022 Nutrena Horse of the Year presented by AQHA awards were unveiled Oct. 10. Winning for the second consecutive year in the barrel racing category was Famous Lil Jet “Rollo” ridden by Jordon Briggs and owned by she and her husband, Justin. In 2021, Rollo carried Jordon into the history books winning her first world title and joining her mother, Kristie Peterson, in the elite group of WPRA world champions. This year the 8-year old sorrel gelding has carried Briggs to No. 1 in the world standings with a $50,337 cushion over Dona Kay Rule and High Valor.
“That is so amazing!” said Briggs upon learning the news. “Last year winning this was my favorite title and to win it again is amazing. It’s such a compliment that my fellow competitors think Rollo is as great as I do.”
Valor and Dona Kay Rule finished second in the 2022 voting after winning the title in 2019 and 2020. Finishing 3rd in the voting was Cuatro Fame “Truck” ridden by Stevi Hillman and owned by she and her husband, Ty.
![](https://www.wpra.com/wp-content/uploads/Jordon-Briggs-.jpg)
Jordon Briggs
Photo by Kenneth Springer
For the second year, a breakaway roping horse has received recognition in this category as well. Joey Williams’ 11-year old bay mare Baybe Bullet “Baybe” captured the title in 2022. Williams and Baybe will be making their second National Finals Breakaway Roping appearance, Nov. 29-30 at the South Point Arena. Baybe is owned by Joey and her husband, Taylor. In fact, Baybe was raised on the family’s ranch and was trained by Taylor. Baybe’s full sister, J-Lo helped PRCA team roper Clay Tryan qualify for the 2021 Wrangler NFR.
![](https://www.wpra.com/wp-content/uploads/12-06-21_NFBR_RD4_Joey-Williams_Joe-Duty-2.jpg)
Joey Williams
Photo by Joe Duty
Martha Angelone enters her third NFBR as the No. 1 ranked breakaway roper and that is largely credit to the horse she has ridden this year, Spots Lil Legend “Legend” owned by Tanner Green. Legend and Angelone finished second in the Horse of the Year voting but are looking to cap the year off with a world title.
Rounding out the top 3 on the breakaway side is Stylish Drifter “Dutch” who has carried his owner Josie Conner to the WPRA Rookie of the Year title and her first NFBR qualification. Conner and her 13-year old gelding are looking to write their own headlines for years to come.
The top three horses in each WPRA category are listed below.
Barrel Racing
FAMOUS LIL JET, “Rollo”, ridden by Jordon Briggs – owned by Jordon and Justin Briggs
HIGH VALOR, “Valor,” ridden by Dona Kay Rule – owned by Dona Kay Rule
CUATRO FAME, “Truck,” ridden by Stevi Hillman – owned by Ty and Stevi Hillman
Breakaway Roping
BAYBE BULLET, “Baybe,” ridden by Joey Williams – owned by Taylor and Joey Williams
SPOTS LIL LEGEND, “Legend,” ridden by Martha Angelone – owned by Tanner Green
STYLISH DRIFTER, “Dutch,” ridden by Josie Conner – owned by Josie Conner
LATEST NEWS
![Rodeo Update—Lide, Conner Top Earners Over Cowboy Christmas](https://www.wpra.com/wp-content/uploads/Ponoka2024Perf6Sun-84HalynLide-1000x675.jpg)
Rodeo Update—Lide, Conner Top Earners Over Cowboy Christmas
Nominations for Outstanding Committee Woman of the YearRodeo Update Lide, Conner Top Earners Over Cowboy Christmas By Ann Bleiker The 2024 rodeo season and world standings race are heating up and throughout the whole month of July it will be at a fever pitch. The...
![Reno Rodeo Comes to A Close—Munsell, Kinsel Collect Silver Spurs](https://www.wpra.com/wp-content/uploads/2024_Reno_BAR_Taylor-Munsell_ClickThompson-web.jpg)
Reno Rodeo Comes to A Close—Munsell, Kinsel Collect Silver Spurs
Nominations for Outstanding Committee Woman of the YearReno Rodeo Comes to A Close Munsell, Kinsel Collect Silver Spurs By Ann Bleiker Photos by Click Thompson After 10 sell-out nights, the 105th celebration of the Reno Rodeo is complete. The 2024 champions are headed...
![Happy Father’s Day—Goods Rely on Strong Father-Daughter Connection All The Way to Winner’s Circle](https://www.wpra.com/wp-content/uploads/IMG_7818-2-home.jpg)
Happy Father’s Day—Goods Rely on Strong Father-Daughter Connection All The Way to Winner’s Circle
Nominations for Outstanding Committee Woman of the YearFather’s Day Goods Rely on Strong Father-Daughter Connection All The Way to Winner’s Circle Ted Harbin When his daughter made her first appearance at the Wrangler National Finals Breakaway Roping presented by...
![SmartPak Joins WPRA Family of Partners Supporting Women in Rodeo](https://www.wpra.com/wp-content/uploads/SmartPak.jpg)
SmartPak Joins WPRA Family of Partners Supporting Women in Rodeo
Nominations for Outstanding Committee Woman of the Year SmartPak Joins WPRA Family of Partners Supporting Women in Rodeo By Ann Bleiker COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO – SmartPak was founded in 1999 and is now bringing their smarts to power healthy horses and happy riders...
![Happy Mother’s Day—Experiencing Motherhood for First Time](https://www.wpra.com/wp-content/uploads/mothers-day.jpg)
Happy Mother’s Day—Experiencing Motherhood for First Time
Nominations for Outstanding Committee Woman of the YearHappy Mother’s Day Experiencing Motherhood for First Time By Kristen M. White Any parent can tell you there’s a lot of adjusting to do when you add a baby to the family. And when you add in the chaotic nature of...
![Guymon Pioneer Days Rodeo—Rule and Valor Return to Winner’s Circle After Time Off](https://www.wpra.com/wp-content/uploads/Guymon-24-8-696-dona-kay-rule-16-99-sec.jpg)
Guymon Pioneer Days Rodeo—Rule and Valor Return to Winner’s Circle After Time Off
Nominations for Outstanding Committee Woman of the YearGuymon Pioneer Days Rodeo Rule and Valor Return to Winner’s Circle After Time Off By Ted Harbin When High Valor went down on that day in Calgary last July, Dona Kay Rule didn’t know the extent of his injuries. “We...
(719) 447-4627
(719) 447-4631 (fax)
431 South Cascade
Colorado Springs, CO 80903
DIRECTIONS
(719) 447-4627 | (719) 447-4631 (fax)
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BARREL RACING — Where the Elite Compete®
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
BARREL RACING
Where the Elite Compete®