RODEO NEWS

Michelle Alley and Haiden Thompson Top Earners over the Fourth of July

By Ann Bleiker

Michelle Alley had never been to Canada, but she made the most of her first time north of the border raking in a cool $20,799 and the barrel racing title at the Ponoka Stampede. You can bet that Ponoka will be back on her schedule in 2027.

“It is a huge accomplishment and to win Ponoka was so amazing,” noted Alley. “After seeing the amount of money to be won in Ponoka, you can be sure I am not going to miss that one going forward. I will get into that one first and then schedule around it.”

Alley led all barrel racers over Cowboy Christmas finishing with a total of $23,615 surpassing her closest competitor by just over $9,500.

“I will admit that I am shocked as I thought the high money winner would win around $30,000,” stated Alley. “I guess it goes to show how many tough horses and jockeys are going right now that the money was really spread out this year. Just a couple of years ago when Halyn Lide was the big money winner I think she won over $30,000. I am honored to have this accomplishment added to my career highlights.”

In addition to the checks in Canada, Alley and Lipstick N Stilettos swept in to grab the win as the last runner out at the Western Stampede in West Jordan, Utah, to close out their week. They stopped the clock in 16.89 seconds, leaving Amanda Butler second in a time of 17.21 seconds.

“I wasn’t entered in a rodeo on the fourth, so I was a walk-up replacement at West Jordan,” Alley said. “There was one turnout and I walked up and got it thankfully.”

Alley of Madisonville, Texas, was glad to end on a high note after knocking a barrel down to win the Cody (WY) Stampede and being humbled in what she called a disastrous run in Oakley, Utah on July 3. She now makes her way back to Canada for her first Calgary Stampede. She is hoping to add more Canadian cash to her bank account and 2026 earnings as she looks to earn her first Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualification.

Another WPRA member looking for her first trip to the National Breakaway Finals is Haiden Thompson. In 2025, she won the Resistol Rookie of the Year and now she finished atop the earnings leaderboard for breakaway roping with $24,026, she is quickly making a name for herself in the professional ranks.

“It was memorable,” stated Thompson about her Cowboy Christmas week. “I won money at six out of eight rodeos. I am super happy my horses worked well and I drew good calves. It was the true definition of planes, trains and automobiles. I am super thankful for all the people that helped me out during the week.”

Thompson picked up checks in Cody, WY; St. Paul, OR; Greeley, CO; Killdeer, ND, Mandan, ND and Prescott, AZ on three different horses including a borrowed horse from 24-time world champion Jackie Crawford in Greeley. Thompson’s biggest check came in a five-way tie for first at the St. Paul Rodeo in a time of 2.2 seconds good for $7,981, followed by her win in Mandan for $6,641 with a 2.0 second run. The only two rodeos she entered where she didn’t win a check were Oakley, UT and Basin City, WA.

She is traveling with world champion Martha Angelone who finished in the top 10 of earners as well with $13,590 good for sixth overall.

“Martha got the short end of the stick that week as we had to split up in the beginning and she had to do all the driving while I was flying everywhere so super huge thanks to her,” Thompson said. “It is definitely more fun when we are both winning for sure. She had a great week but didn’t draw as well but where she did draw well, she made it count.”

You can bet this traveling duo is looking to ride this momentum all the way to December. Thompson doesn’t take these kinds of highlights lightly.

“Growing up in Wyoming I didn’t have as many opportunities like most have so I was more of an all-around cowgirl versus a breakaway roper and honestly growing up I was not a very good roper,” noted Thompson. “To have the opportunity I have now and have the rodeo committees put up the money that we have a chance to run for is pretty awesome. To be able to make a living doing this is a dream come true.”

Although breakaway roping in the WPRA has existed since the 1970s, its inclusion in PRCA rodeos nationwide did not begin until 2020. By 2026, the sport’s meteoric growth is evident during the Fourth of July “Cowboy Christmas” stretch, where top breakaway ropers won more money when compared to the barrel racing showing the growth of the fastest event in professional rodeo.

Fourth of July – rodeos finishing June 29-July 5 for WPRA members only.

Barrel racing

• Michelle Alley – $23,615
• Anneliese McCurry – $14,106
• Makenzie Mayes – $13,603
• Realin Jurgens – $13,453
• Lanita Pierce – $13,301

Breakaway Roping

• Haiden Thompson – $24,026
• Jordi Edens-Mitchell – $21,540
• Danielle Lowman – $17,551
• Josie Conner – $16,340
• Bradi Good – $16,001

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