Zeke Thurston Eyes His Fifth Saddle Bronc Riding World Title

Zeke Thurston has already established himself among the greatest saddle bronc riders in ProRodeo history. Now, the Canadian cowboy has another opportunity to add to that legacy as he heads into the 2026 NFR ranked No. 2 in the world with $270,689 in season earnings.

Thurston has qualified for the NFR 12 consecutive times, a streak that dates back to 2015. Along the way, he has collected four PRCA World Championships, winning his first in 2016 before adding titles in 2019, 2022, and 2023.

A fifth Gold Buckle would move Thurston into even more exclusive company in the sport’s record books. Only three saddle bronc riders have won more world titles than Thurston – Casey Tibbs and Dan Mortensen sit at the top of the list with six championships apiece, while Billy Etbauer has five.

Thurston not only goes into this year’s NFR with years of experience under his belt, but a history of consistency when performing on rodeo’s biggest stage. Thurston has won three NFR average titles in 2016, 2022, and 2023. His 2022 and 2023 seasons were particularly significant, as he paired consecutive world championships with consecutive NFR average victories.

The 2026 season has once again put Thurston in a prime position to contend for both titles, sitting just $4,000 behind No. 1-ranked Rusty Wright. He started the year off incredibly strong at the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo back in February, cashing in over $17,000 across the event. He picked up a couple checks at RODEOHOUSTON before collecting a win at Rodeo Austin worth nearly $19,000.

Thurston also found great success throughout his summer run, placing at prestigious events like Reno Rodeo and Cheyenne Frontier Days before winning the Douglas County Fair and Rodeo.

As the regular season began to come to a close, Thurston continued to steadily climb the world standings. An average win at the Xtreme Broncs Finals in August added nearly $35,000 to his season earnings, but the major game changer came at The Governor's Cup. Thurston ended the regular season on a high note after placing in the first round, winning the second round, and finishing second in the average to collect $44,800.

Current Saddle Bronc Riding World Standings:

1. Rusty Wright – $274,685.83

2. Zeke Thurston – $270,689.49

3. Stetson Wright – $267,837.83

4. Ryder Wright – $267,181.55

5. Sage Newman – $225,130.41

6. Kade Bruno – $217,915.40

7. Brody Wells – $215,505.28

8. Wyatt Casper – $200,586.74

9. Chase Brooks – $195,062.61

10. Waitley Sharon – $190,947.22

11. Q Taylor – $173,919.02

12. Kolby Wanchuk – $162,004.06

13. Statler Wright – $159,616.97

14. Damian Brennan – $158,072.73

15. Ben Andersen – $157,992.06

We look forward to watching this year's saddle bronc riders compete in Las Vegas in just a few short months! Will Thurston take one step closer to PRCA glory? Only time will tell.