Horsing Around the World: Attending the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo

Marcella Gruchalak, Sponsored, , , Comments Off on Horsing Around the World: Attending the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo
This year was the year I checked going to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo off my bucket list — and it did not disappoint. The NFR is a production. The events flow smoothly, everyone is dressed to the nines, and the talent is unmatched.

The Wrangler National Finals Rodeo is the season-ending championship event for the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, and is acknowledged as the world’s premier rodeo. Held in Las Vegas annually since 1959, the Wrangler NFR is prorodeo’s richest and most prestigious rodeo. The event showcases the best cowboys, barrel racers, and livestock in the world.

Based on money earned in the regular season, the top 15 contestants in bareback riding, steer wrestling, team roping (headers and heelers), saddle bronc riding, tie-down roping, barrel racing and bull riding make their way to the Thomas & Mack Center to compete. At the conclusion of the Wrangler NFR, world champions are determined based on total season earnings. What the competitors win at the NFR is added to their previous earnings to determine the overall titles for the year.

The Wrangler NFR consists of 10 rounds over 10 days, and money is paid for places one through six. At the end of the Wrangler NFR, two champions in each event are distinguished — the average champion over the 10 days and the world champion who made the most money for the year. The average champion and world champion may be the same competitor.

 

@go_riding WNFR Night Two Live with @Marcella #nfr #nfrfashion #horses #horsesoftiktoktok #goriding #cowgirl #cowgirllifestyle #western #westernstyle #rodeo #steerwrestler #roping #barrelracing #broncriders ♬ Let’s go-剪辑版 – Official Sound Studio

This year was the year I checked going to the Wrangler NFR off my bucket list — and it did not disappoint. The NFR is a production. The events flow smoothly, everyone is dressed to the nines, and the talent is unmatched. Here are the full details of my experience.

Travel

Getting to the Thomas & Mack Center was a bit difficult. This was due to the INSANE amount of traffic in the city and approaching the venue. The original plan was to take the shuttle bus from the hotel, but after one trip, the bus never made it back to the pick up destination. After realizing it wasn’t coming back, and Uber having long wait times, cab service was up.

The cab driver contributed all the congestion in the city to the formula one races a week prior. Many of the streets in Las Vegas were closed and scaffolding for the races took up lanes on the open streets. Grateful for his aggressive and wild driving, we arrived to the destination just in time for the opening ceremonies. However, the traffic was so backed up getting in that we got out of the cab and walked the rest of the way to the entrance.

If I can give any advice for traveling to the Wrangler NFR, it’s to leave plenty early and catch the free shuttle if you can.

Here’s a glimpse of just how many people are here (and this was approximately one hour after the show concluded):

@_gru_crew_ Cowboys and Cowgirls everywhere at the Thomas & Mack for the @Wrangler @NFR #western #westernliving #cowgirl #horsesoftiktok #horses #nfr #nfrfashion #westernfashion #horseshow #roping #barrelracing #broncriders #steerwrestler ♬ original sound – Marcella

Seating

My ticket was for section 218 and I thoroughly enjoyed the show. I honestly don’t think there’s a bad seat in the venue, but it all depends on what events you’re really interested in watching. From my seats, you couldn’t see the boxes for the cow events. You could see the riders as soon as they came out, but there wasn’t a view of the cow coming out of the shoot. However, the seats were a really good view for barrel racing, bull riding, and bronc riding.

Another factor to consider when picking seats is how much detail you like see. Being shorter, I was happy just being able to see the entire performance without someone’s head blocking my view. I feel like that happens to me a lot when I sit in lower level seats. However, my friends sat on the first level in the 100s and said they enjoyed seeing the detail of the cowboy’s faces and horses’ muscles moving.

The iconic NFR arena backdrop photo from section 218

The Experience

I had a really great first experience at the Wrangler NFR. I’m not going to lie, I was so touched a few times I actually cried. Watching the awards they give out, and the horses competing at the highest level with their riders is truly heartwarming. Just being in the atmosphere is enough to touch any cowgirl’s soul.

What made it a little more special was the people I had the opportunity to sit with. Every year, the Canby, Oregon Rodeo crew buy out the whole row where I was sitting for the Wrangler NFR. Fortunately for me, someone couldn’t make it so they sold the ticket. This group of people was absolutely fantastic. They were kind, informative, and had so much pride for the Canby, Oregon contestants in the rodeo.

Photo from my seat in section 218

Speaking with them I learned a lot about the events. Here’s some of the information I found interesting:

  • For steer wrestling, all four of the steer’s legs have to be off the ground to stop the timer
  • In team roping, both the header’s and the heeler’s ropes need to be tight to stop the clock
  • If only one back leg is caught in team roping, it’s a five second penalty
  • Roping events became competition from the job of being a rancher and roping the calves to give vaccines, brand, or deworm
  • Saddle bronc and bull riders vote on which horses and bulls they want in the Wrangler NFR
  • If saddle bronc riders have too tight of a grip on the rope when the horse lowers his head while bucking, it rips the rope out of the cowboy’s hand and most times causes dismount
  • Cowboys vote on pick up men they want at the Wrangler NFR
  • For calf roping, the calf has to stay down and tied for six seconds after the cowboy gets back on his horse and gives the rope slack

Grand Entry

Fashion

Western fashion at the Wrangler NFR is absolutely unmatched. I have never seen so many well-dressed cowboys and cowgirls. Beautiful boots, cute one-of-a-kind clothing items, and every hat color and style you could ever imagine were all present during the show. It was amazing how much fashion inspiration I gained in one evening.

Photo by Lisa Bushmire

Overall, if you’ve never been to the Wrangler NFR and you debate attending, make the trip. The rodeo is worth it. If you’re a cowboy, cowgirl, fashion enthusiast, or just want to see something unmatched in the western world, you need to experience the Wrangler NFR at least once. I enjoyed everything about it … except the traffic. But there’s traffic everywhere, so don’t let that stop you.