With the Wright brothers sweeping the top three in the world standings, Statler Wright’s first gold buckle added another chapter to an amazing family legacy.
The final round of the saddle bronc riding will be remembered for generations, as the Wright family etched another chapter into rodeo history inside the Thomas & Mack Center.
When it was all said and done in Round 10 of the 2025 National Finals Rodeo, Statler Wright, the youngest of the Wright brothers, stood on top of the world standings, claiming his first gold buckle in just his second NFR appearance. Statler did so by the narrowest of margins, edging older brother Ryder Wright by just over $300.
The final world standings told the story of just how close it was.
- Statler Wright, $455,940
- Ryder Wright, $455,594
- Stetson Dell Wright, $394,457
The difference amounted to no more than a single last hole check at a small rodeo somewhere along the road.
Brother Against Brother
Ryder Wright entered Las Vegas with the lead and the experience of a past world champion, but a no score along the way opened the door for other bronc riders, none more talented then his two younger brothers. Stetson Wright remained in contention but his no score in Round 6 complicated his path to the title too.
Statler Wright, meanwhile, did what he had done all season long staying super consistent.
He won Rounds 3, 6, and 7, steadily building big momentum and putting himself in position to capitalize. He rode well all ten rounds and that consistency carried him to the average championship, where he finished with 864.25 points on 10 head.
Round 10
Ryder and Stetson tied for the Round 10 win with matching 89.75-point rides, creating a scenario where the world title hung on the smallest imaginable detail. Had Ryder’s score been just 0.25 points higher than Stetson’s, the world championship would have swung in his direction.
Instead, the numbers held, and the younger brother showed them both up.
Statler Wright finished the night as the world champion, completing a finals that came down to brother versus brother, ride versus ride, and decimal points on the judges.
A Wright Family Milestone
Statler’s gold buckle marks a historic achievement for one of rodeo’s most accomplished families. He becomes the sixth member of the Wright family to win a saddle bronc riding world championship, joining brothers Ryder and Stetson, among others, in a great lineage built on generational talent and discipline.
The sons of Cody Wright, himself a hall of famer in the sport, the Wright brothers have reshaped saddle bronc riding through technique and domination.
Statler only began riding saddle broncs in 2020. Five years later, at just 22 years old, he is the best saddle bronc rider in the world.
His résumé has grown quickly. He won the National High School Finals Rodeo in 2022, and since then has transitioned seamlessly into the professional ranks too. Now a new husband and father, Statler has balanced life changes with his best performance on rodeo’s biggest stage.
History Made in Utah
The 2025 saddle bronc riding season will be remembered not just for Statler's win, but for what it represented. The Wright brothers finished first, second, and third in the world. No family can say they have ever accomplished such a feat.
At just 22, Statler Wright’s career is still in its early chapters. With a world title already in hand, the legacy of Utah’s first family of saddle bronc riding continues to grow one gold buckle at a time, the Wright way.
Round 10 Winner - (tie) Stetson Wright & Ryder Wright
2025 NFR Average Champ - Statler Wright