Lunatic Heaven and Jess Pope seem to be the perfect storm. The 2025 Horse of the Year helped Jess Pope win the Xtreme Bares and Broncs Challenge with a big 93 point ride.
When the best match up with the best, big scores typically follow. That’s exactly what happened in Watford City at the PRCA Extreme Bares and Broncs Challege
Jess Pope matched up with one of the most dominant horses to ever be in the game, Lunatic Heaven. The result was a big 93 point ride that earned the win and set the arena record.
This is a matchup made in, well, heaven. Lunatic Heaven isn’t just another horse, she’s the 2025 Bareback Horse of the Year, and she’s built a reputation for producing big scores, often pushing rides into the 90 point range.
Once again, she delivered, this time with the 2022 PRCA World Champion Bareback Rider, Jess Pope on her back.
After the win, Jess spoke about Lunatic Heaven and this win on social media. "What a horse," said Pope.
For Jess Pope, this win continues a strong season. The Kansas cowboy currently sits No. 5 in the world standings, positioning himself for what could be his seventh trip to the National Finals Rodeo. Rides like this are exactly how Jess plans to stay right there.
Lunatic Heaven has become one of the most talked about horses in bareback riding. Kade Berry set a huge arena record with 93.5 points on Lunatic Heaven at the Cheyenne Frontier Days. She then dominated at the 2025 NFR after receiving horse of the year honors. She carried cowboys to the No. 1 spot in both rounds she was out. This included the winning Round 10 ride for World Champion Rocker Steiner.
And in 2026, not much has changed. Jess Pope is still a talented man on a mission and Lunatic heaven is still at the top of her game, playing a major role in these big wins.
Wanchuk Tops Saddle Bronc Field
On the saddle bronc side, Kolby Wanchuk took the win with a 91 point ride aboard Angel Cat, a standout horse from Smith Pro Rodeos.
For Wanchuk, the win adds momentum to his season as he currently sits No. 14 in the world standings, working toward what would be his fourth trip to the NFR.
At an event built around the best of rough stock, it’s no surprise that the biggest names, and the biggest animal athletes, came out on top.