Saddle bronc rider Zeke Thurston takes Round 4 crown at the NFR

Zeke Thurston knows how to win at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas – he won PRCA Saddle Bronc Riding World Championships in 2016 and 2019.

Thurston was back to his winning ways on Sunday, grabbing the Round 4 crown with an 88.5-point ride on Championship Pro Rodeo’s Heaven on Earth.

“It was unridden, but I figured, you know, they are all going to get ridden at some point so why not be the guy,” Thurston said. “Really big, strong stud horse that bucked hard. I was able to get ahead of her and luckily, I stayed on.”

Thurston is fourth in the world standings with $222,547 and has won an event-best $78,709 so far at the NFR.

“It’s good. You just have to go at every one and do the best that you can. Some days you’re going to have the horse and some days you’re not. But if you go at them all the same, it usually works out.

“For me, my biggest confidence comes from my spur outs, and I was really confident in them. On a horse like that, that’s where you’re going to thrive. I always go with that and win, lose, or draw, we’re going to start the process all over again the next day. So, you might as well lay it all out there and see what you get.”

courtesy of the PRCA

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