Haiden Thompson entered the 2025 Pro Rodeo season with modest goals, but it did not take long for the Wyoming cowgirl to turn heads in the breakaway roping world. The rookie standings quickly got shaken up when Thompson recently had a standout couple of weeks.
Calling Yoder, Wyoming home, Haiden recently ended her college rodeo career for Gillette College. She has two National Collegiate Women's All Around Titles to her name. To start her rookie year, Haiden gathered a WPRA All Around World Championship too. Now, she has a commanding lead in the Resistol Rookie of the Year standings and is rocketing up the WPRA leaderboard too.
Over the last few weeks, Thompson has put up an impressive performance, launching herself into the top 25 in the world standings, with the National Finals Breakaway Roping (NFBR) now within reach.
“My goals going into this year were definitely to win the rookie and get into the top 30 so I could qualify for the winter rodeos next year,” Thompson told us. “My goals have shifted a little bit now. I would really like to make the finals—knowing it’s possible now.”
Thompson was not able to get into a lot of the building rodeos this past winter that many of the top ladies won a lot of their money at. However, that did not seem to slow her down with her recent dominance.
In just one week, Thompson cashed in over $20,000 with big checks in Estes Park, Gunnison, Casper, and Sheridan to name a few. She then headed to the Daddy of Em All in Cheyenne, Wyoming and put together a winning run in the qualifying round.
Her performance has not gone unnoticed in the rodeo world and by her fellow competitors. Recently, Breakaway Roping Journal shared that they overheard the great Jackie Crawford commenting how “someone was losing their spot” to Las Vegas as Thompson steps into the world of Pro Rodeo.
Cheyenne was a standout rodeo for Haiden. “I knew I had a great calf, so I was excited to go in. Being my first year to rope there I knew I was going to like the setup due to my bay horse, Tom, scoring so well and he’s so fast it didn’t matter what kind of calf I drew. Tom just makes the run easy for me. Cheyenne has always been a bucket list rodeo for me so finally being able to rope there for sure has been my favorite so far.”
Over what we call “Pioneer Week,” Thompson added over $10,000 to her earnings, including splitting the qualifying round there at the Daddy of Em All.
Adding to her momentum, is the support of World Champion breakaway roper, Martha Angelone. The two are hauling together this year, and Thompson says it’s been a game-changer.
“She has been my biggest blessing,” Thompson said. “She’s helped me so much with the entering and everything in between. She’s been there and done it to the highest level. It’s been amazing to haul with someone that is a great person in and out of the arena. It makes it a lot easier when you’re with someone who is always in your corner no matter what.”
Haiden continues to credit her support system for much of her success. Rodeo is a family affair for the large Thompson family. Haiden herself is a many-time world champion across the junior rodeo and high school ranks. Meanwhile, her younger sister, Hadley recently made history with a clean sweep at the National High School Finals Rodeo. She went home with a National Title in the Girls Breakaway Roping, Girls Goat Tying, and an All Around title. With undeniable talent, and drive, the Thompsons are continuing to make their name known in the rodeo world at all levels.
With still many major late-season rodeos ahead and her momentum only growing, Haiden is focused on finishing strong and possibly punching her ticket to her first National Finals Breakaway Roping in Las Vegas this December.