Hayden, Colo. native Keenan Hayes has been making waves in the bareback riding world. In 2023, he became 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 athlete competing in all three roughstock events. He won the National High School Finals Rodeo World Championship in bareback riding in 2019. In 2021, he decided to focus solely on bareback riding and it paid off as he continued his winning streak into 2024.
Hayes has had a strong start to the PRCA season, 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. Most recently, he won the San Angelo title. As of April 25th, Hayes is currently sitting at No.3 in PRCA World Standings with $67,645 won. He is determined to defend his world championship title next year.
The top two in the standings are three-time NFR qualifier Leighton Berry and young Coop Cooke who has been making a name for himself this season as well.
As Hayes continues to compete and work towards securing another world title in bareback riding, fans will be eagerly watching him throughout this exciting PRCA season.