Adios Pantalones has redefined what is possible for any barrel horse.
At just five years old, Adios Pantalones surpassed $1 million in career earnings during his first National Finals Rodeo, setting records and raising the bar completely.
In a sport where horses are partners, athletes, and investments all at once, Adios Pantalones reached a milestone few have ever or will ever touch.
Competing at his first National Finals Rodeo with Tricia Aldridge, the standout stallion crossed the $1 million career earnings mark. This is a feat that really shows just how rare his rise in the industry has been, and also how quickly it has happened.
The week in Las Vegas only added to a résumé already filled with records. Adios Pantalones and Aldridge won two go-rounds, finished second in the world standings, and posted record-setting times inside the Thomas & Mack Center. The pair would have likely stood as world champions without one down barrel in the ten days. This however is an outcome that only adds to the sense that this story is far from finished.
Earlier this year, Adios Pantalones officially became the all-time highest-earning barrel racing stallion, surpassing the previous mark held by NFR standout Slick By Design after crossing $630,000 in earnings in April 2025.
Without even reaching his prime yet, he is already among and above the greats.
At just five years old, Adios Pantalones has already done things few horses, stallion or not have accomplished. He also set the fastest time ever recorded by a stallion inside the Thomas & Mack Center, another accomplishment that highlights both his incredible speed and also his impressive composure on rodeo’s biggest stage.
The 2025 NFR marked Tricia's first appearance in Vegas as well. She made the most of it, pairing poise with aggression while on top of a horse that has continually shown he thrives under pressure. The duo finished the season with momentum and new goals.
The value of Adios Pantalones extends well beyond prize money. Aldridge even confirmed she turned down offers exceeding $10 million for the stallion. This has to be a reflection of both his proven ability, his future potential, and her love for this animal athlete. This is a sport where great horses are hard to find and even harder to replace, his worth is measured much more in impact and friendship than in dollars.
The pair’s success also signals a shift moving forward. Now they have qualified to more building rodeos this winter, including Fort Worth and RODEO HOUSTON. This is a huge opportunity they did not have last year and makes the path to the finals even clearer. Aldridge has hinted that a gold buckle is firmly on the radar, and with Adios Pantalones beneath her, those goals feels increasingly realistic.
Crossing the million-dollar mark is rare, doing it at five years old, at a first NFR, and while rewriting record books is something else entirely.
Adios is changing expectations, one run, one win, and one record at a time.