![]() ![]() Getting in at the final spot is Molly Otto who has a different background than most rodeo competitors. This Wyoming cowgirl has been dreaming about running down the alley all of her life. Amanda’s brother Bobby Welsh has been here in the bull riding so she has that experience in her favor as well. The electricity and noise in the Thomas and Mack are another. Amanda and Firefly have dominated in the small pen in Mandan, North Dakota. The arena there is similar to the Thomas & Mack Center. The 11-year-old gelding has taken her to the championships at the Badlands Circuit Finals rodeo for three consecutive years. Amanda starts in seventh place and I expect the Thomas & Mack Center to be great for her and Frenchman Fire Fly. The rookies – There are two NFR Rookie’s this year – Amanda Welsh and Molly Otto. With her experience in the Thomas and Mack and her horsemanship, she’s bound to add to her earnings. Lisa’s qualifications have been consecutive and most of them have been aboard her great gelding An Oakie With Cash “Louie.” She’s had success on another buckskin, Rosas Cantina and a black gelding, Prime Diamond. Lisa Lockhart almost spent December at home, but some big wins the end of the season moved her to 14 th and she also will be at her 15 th NFR. She has qualified 15 times and this will be five in a row for the talented horsewoman. The veteran in this year’s field is two-time world champion Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi. High Valor, the 12-year-old gelding that Dona Kay rides is a two-time horse of the year. She competed in 2019, qualified in 2020 and had to go home before she and Valor could make an appearance because of COVID rules. Dona Kay Rule is fourth and her fans are so grateful to see her qualifying for another NFR. The three-time NFR qualifier is in third and less than $20,000 behind Hailey. Shelly Morgan has had one of the best years of her career. Rollo is such a superstar that Jordon’s fellow barrel racers selected the seven-year-old gelding as the Nutrena Horse of the Year presented by AQHA. Then along came Famous Lil Jet, “Rollo.” After working with him, she knew how special he was and that he should have the opportunity to run at the Thomas & Mack and also was confident she could get him there. Jordon loves training young horses and usually when she gets one that has big potential, she sells it. ![]() They made the push and competed in Las Vegas. Her season changed that year with a fourth-place finish at Cheyenne Frontier Days. When she qualified in 2009, it was aboard Frenchman’s Jester. ![]() Her mom’s success came aboard French Flash Hawk “Bozo.” Bozo was a once-in-a-lifetime horse for Kristie, and now Jordon has one that might just fit the same bill. Kristie’s last world title was in 1998 – Jordon was 10 years old. She is the daughter of Kristie Peterson who won four world championships in the 1990s. Jordon Briggs is no stranger to the Thomas & Mack Center, even though this is just her second qualification. There is no question that they are the team to beat. During the past three NFRs, they have earned $601,154. She leads the world standings and there are going to be a lot of people building their fantasy rodeo teams around Hailey and Sister. They’ve set records on the basketball court in the Thomas & Mack and the baseball diamond of Globe Life Field. This dynamic duo has won the last three world titles, and the first two came out of Las Vegas. It’s none other than Hailey Kinsel and her great mare DM Sissy Hayday that we all know as Sister. The favorite team this year has a history in Las Vegas, a history at the NFR and most of all a history of winning. The favorites – While barrel racing is not technically a team event, it definitely takes a horse and rider team to win it and because of the relationships that these women have with their horses, they are a team. On that note, I have some thoughts that I will share in a series of blogs. With an increase in prize money in Las Vegas, there is a lot at stake and it’s more than gold buckles. I can’t wait to walk into the Thomas & Mack Center, - and The Orleans Arena for breakaway roping - feel the energy of the Wrangler NFR and see who emerges as our 2021 world champions. I’ve followed the Professional Rodeo Cowboys association and Women’s Professional Rodeo Association and what an exciting year it has been. I’ve also tuned into the Cowboy Channel and seen rodeos that I couldn’t attend. I’ve been to several events and watched them live. For many of them it was a comeback after the pandemic and that has offered contestants more opportunities as they pursue a Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualification. It’s been a stellar year for rodeos across the country. ![]()
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