The Texas Swing is one of the busiest and most important stretches of the rodeo season, playing a major role in qualifying for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.
Everything is bigger in Texas—including the rodeos and the payouts. With the best cowboys and cowgirls competing for an early-season boost in the standings, fans can expect action-packed nights and all-out performances in the dirt.
While the rodeo season officially begins in October, the marquee events don’t start until January, when the winter rodeos kick things into high gear. As professional rodeo heads south for the winter—and with Texas home to the largest number of athletes—it becomes the perfect place to bring everyone together for what’s known as the Texas Swing.
Sandhills Stock Show & Rodeo
The Texas Swing begins just after the New Year in Odessa, Texas, with the Sandhills Stock Show & Rodeo, running January 8–17. This event features a unique format: roughstock riders and barrel racers compete in a single long round, while timed-event competitors are paid out on two rounds and an average.
Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo
The Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo takes over Fort Worth from January 23 to February 7, paying out more than $1.2 million. The rodeo follows a bracket format with seven brackets of two rounds each. The top two contestants from each bracket advance to the semifinals, where the top four move on to the championship round.
A Wild Card round gives competitors one last chance to reach the semifinals. It includes third-place finishers from each bracket, along with the highest money earners in each event from fourth through eighth place.
San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo
Held February 12–26, the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo also uses a tournament-style bracket system. Five brackets feature three rounds each, with the top four money earners in every bracket advancing to the semifinals. The top five then move on to the championship round.
A Wild Card round is open to contestants who fail to make the semifinals, with only the top score or time in each event earning a championship berth. More than $1.5 million will be paid out.
RODEOHOUSTON
The biggest show on earth runs March 2–21 in Houston, offering a payout of more than $2.2 million. The rodeo consists of five three-day Super Series, followed by two Semifinals, two Wild Card rounds, and a Championship.
Each Super Series includes three rounds with eight contestants per event, and the top four money winners advance to the Semifinals. From there, the top four in each event move on to the Championship, while the remaining competitors enter the Wild Card rounds. One athlete per event advances from the Wild Cards to complete the 10-athlete Championship field.
The top four competitors in the Championship immediately return for a Shootout Round to determine the event champion and the $65,000 payout.
Winners from each Texas Swing rodeo gain a significant advantage in the standings heading into the summer run later in the season.