From High School Champion to PRCA World The Rise of Keenan Hayes in Bareback Riding

Hayden, Colo. native Keenan Hayes has been making waves in the world of bareback riding. He had an impressive 2023 season, 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.

In high school, Hayes was a standout competitor in all three roughstock events. In 2019, he won the National High School Finals Rodeo World Championship in bareback riding. In 2021, he focused solely on bareback riding and continued his winning streak. This year, Hayes has been competing strongly at rodeos across the country, including 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. His most recent victory came at San Angelo where he won the title on April 25th.

As of now, Hayes is currently sitting at No. 3 in the PRCA World Standings with $67,645 won. He is determined to defend his world championship title in 2024. The top two in the standings are three-time NFR qualifier Leighton Berry and young gun Coop Cooke who is just 21 years old. With many more rodeos left in the season, Hayes will continue to compete and work towards securing another world title in bareback riding.