The 2023 National Finals Rodeo (NFR) is fast approaching as the top athletes are gearing up for the biggest ten nights of rodeo. Reigning World Champion Saddle Bronc Rider Zeke Thurston is amongst them, making his ninth appearance under the bright lights of the Thomas and Mack arena.
The lineup of bronc riders this year is stacked with Stetson Wright, Sage Newman, Kade Bruno, Zeke Thurston, and Dawson Hay leading the top five going into the Finals.
It’s apparent that in recent years both the standard of bucking horses as well as cowboys competing has increased substantially and will surely be evident at this year’s NFR.
“Everybody rides so good now, it’s gotten so competitive,” Thurston stated. “Everybody says the bronc riding is the best it’s ever been right now, and it really should be. Everybody puts in the time and effort and it’s evolving and getting to a place competition-wise where it’s pretty incredible to watch.”
Thurston qualified for his first NFR back in 2015 at just 21 years old. Alongside Coburn Bradshaw and Rusty Wright, the three cowboys were some of the youngest to ever qualify for the prestigious rodeo.
“For three guys that young to make it to the NFR, that was kind of unheard of back then. Usually in the bronc riding, you put in your dues and a lot of guys don’t make it till they’re 25, 26, 27, years old so it was different for us to make it back then and to have gone back every year since, that’s pretty neat,” he said.
Now at age 29, Thurston has made quite the career out of riding broncs professionally and is fortunate he’s been able to see the evolution of the sport.
“I think the average age of the bronc riders at the NFR when I first started would have been close to 30 and last year in the locker room, I was the second oldest,” he remarked. “It’s changed a lot and I feel really lucky to have gone through two different eras of bronc riding. It’s now really turned into a young man’s game and the kids that have come up in the last five years, they’re young, they ride good, and they’re hungry for it.”
Being recognized now as one of the veteran bronc riders, Thurston has found the importance of stepping up and helping the younger competitors when he can.
“We all know how much time, effort, and work goes on behind the scenes. It’s not an easy task to even qualify for the NFR, but to be there and get to ride the biggest and baddest broncs — it’s something special,” he expressed. “A lot of them will come up and ask for advice, I don’t know if I’ve ever seen myself being in that position, but it’s fun to help your buddies and you’re rooting them on just as much as you want to do good yourself.”
Reflecting on his first time competing at the NFR compared to three world championships later, Thurston’s mindset has certainly shifted.
“The first year was kind of a rollercoaster — just a whirlwind and I wanted to prove that I belong there,” he shared. “After that, I told myself I’ll never go back and not enjoy it and that’s what I’ve done every time since. I can’t wait to get back there and crack open those yellow bucking chutes. I’m excited for it, it’s like no other rodeo.”
Just earlier in November, Thurston was crowned the 2023 Canadian Finals Rodeo Champion in the saddle bronc riding and plans to carry that energy into Las Vegas.
“Most of the bucking horses at the Canadian Finals are selected for the Wrangler National Finals so you’re getting on NFR horses a couple weeks before the NFR,” he explained. “It’s a great little warm-up to get the ball rolling and hopefully ride that momentum down to Vegas.”
Regardless of whether it’s his first time or his ninth, Thurston knows what an honor it is to qualify for the National Finals Rodeo and be amongst the best rodeo athletes competing.
“There’s a lot of guys sitting at home watching it on TV that wish they were there, so I always just go in with the mindset that I’m going to really enjoy it, go out there, do my best, and have fun doing it. I’m really comfortable in that arena — I’ve had some of my biggest rides in that arena and some that were not; that’s just rodeo and that’s just the way it goes,” he shared. “I always tell the younger guys who are coming to their first Finals, it’s easy to get wrapped in all the bright lights and everything that’s going on. You can put a lot of pressure on yourself to the point you don’t really even enjoy it. It’s a big ten days and I just tell them to go out there and have fun because there are a lot of people that don’t ever get this opportunity and you worked hard to be there.”
As the top fifteen saddle bronc riders in the world and the best bucking horses in the country prepare to match up together in Las Vegas, it is sure to be ten nights of exceptional rodeo action you don’t want to miss.
“I know anything can happen out there, it doesn’t matter who you are or how good you are. You have to draw well, you have to ride well and it’s anybody’s game,” Thurston concluded.
