World Champ Shelby Meged’s Sixth Straight NFBR Sets Her Apart

In 2020, the inaugural National Finals Breakaway Roping was held inside Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, as part of a reimagined National Finals Rodeo during the COVID-19 pandemic. Breakaway roping was added that year in a limited format, marking a historic step for the event and the women of the sport.

Among the 15 women who qualified that first year was Shelby Boisjoli, a Canadian cowgirl, and a pretty black mare she called Root Beer. Her career since has been incredibly impressive. 

Now, we are heading into the 2025 NFBR. There has never been a National Finals Breakaway Roping without Shelby Meged.

She is the only WPRA breakaway roper to qualify for all six NFBRs since the event’s inception. This is a statistic that speaks volumes about her talent, her horsemanship, and her determination to be the best. 

Meged’s year-by-year résumé tells a story of sustained excellence.
(Note the significant changes in money won, a direct result from the money that is up for grabs now) 

Shelby finished eighth in the world in 2020 with $21,556, followed by a reserve world title in 2021 with $69,457. In 2022, she placed fifth with $83,808 before breaking through in 2023, winning her first world championship and setting a then-record with $197,706 earned on the year. That same season, she established a regular-season earnings record of $164,549 before the NFBR.

In 2024, Meged entered the finals ranked No. 1 in the world and finished the year fourth with $160,729. This was another six-figure season in a discipline still fighting for equal money and opportunity.

She arrives at this year’s finals with momentum once again, coming off a strong showing at the Kimes Ranch Million Dollar Breakaway, where she captured a round win and an average check on the biggest stage the breakaway has to offer. 

Originally from Langdon, Alberta, Canada, a small town outside Calgary, Meged’s career has also included landmark wins such as the Calgary Stampede earlier this summer.

This win was especially meaningful as it marked the first year breakaway roping was added to the rodeo and with equal money. It was also a "hometown" win for Shelby. She also claimed a victory at the NFR Open in Colorado Springs that same week. Those two wins catapulted her into the top of the standings quickly. 

Now based in Stephenville, Texas, Meged and her husband, Haven, are expecting their first child in April. 

Not only is Shelby the only one to make 6 finals in a row but she also remains the only past world champion to qualify for this year’s NFBR. This really further shows the difficulty of staying at the top in breakaway roping. Titles are hard to win, finals are hard to reach, and doing it six consecutive times has proven nearly impossible. 

That is, except for Shelby Meged.

Meged is entering this year, sitting third in the standings with $178,537 to her year. She has a real chance at another gold buckle this year. She is chasing the number one lady Taylor Munsell, and number two Josie Connor.

Shelby is expected to ride her standout mare Onna, No Wimpy Turns, a horse that has played a crucial role in her success. Onna won the inaugural Nutrena Horse of the Year presented by AQHA in 2021 and earned the honor again in 2023. She has become one of the most accomplished horses in breakaway roping, and for good reason.

Haven and Shelby take a lot of pride in their amazing horses and the program they have built. The was they rope is complemented by their amazing horsepower, and is one of the biggest factors in the longevity they have already shown in their careers. Onna is just one of the many standout equine athletes that have come from their homegrown program. 

As the 2025 NFBR begins, Shelby's record doesn’t guarantee another gold buckle, but it does confirm something just as meaningful. Year after year, through change, growth, and increasing competition, Shelby Meged has remained a constant. 

You just can't argue it, she is the greatest playing the game.