By Kensie Darst-Todd, Special to ProRodeo Sports News
For years, Cole Reiner had left Vernal’s (Utah) Dinosaur Roundup Rodeo with a check but not the championship buckle. That changed when he delivered a 92-point ride aboard Powder River Rodeo’s Outta Hand, setting an arena record and claiming a victory that could serve as a turning point in his summer run.
For the Buffalo, Wyo., the ride was the result of capitalizing on an opportunity he knew was there.
“I kind of knew what that horse was,” Reiner said. “It’s been to the NFR in the bronc riding before; it’s a really, really nice horse. Expectations were high to place.”
Even with confidence in his draw, Reiner, who sits No. 11 in the PRCA | Bill Fick Ford World Standings, knew the bareback riding would be difficult to win. The field included five-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifier R.C. Landingham, who finished with 89.5 points, and 2022 world champion Jess Pope, who scored 88, as the lead changed hands throughout the performance.
“Everyone who was there rode great,” Reiner said. “I think we changed the leaderboard four times in eight rides. That’s kind of what bareback riding is all about and what makes rodeo fun.”
The ride carried added significance because of the horse beneath him. Outta Hand is part of the Powder River Rodeo program and traces back to one of the contractor’s most influential bloodlines.
Reiner knew the horse had shown promise in limited opportunities but exceeded expectations in Vernal.
“I knew I had a chance,” Reiner said. “That horse really has kind of stepped into its own.”
The 92-point ride delivered something Reiner had been chasing for years. Vernal has long been one of his regular summer stops, but the championship had always eluded him.
“I’ve won second and third in Vernal a bunch,” Reiner said. “I’ve been on some really good horses of Powder River’s.”
The win also provided a boost after what Reiner described as a slower start to his summer run. More importantly, it continued the group’s successful stretch he has been traveling with this season.
Reiner has spent much of the summer alongside Pope and fellow world champion Tim O’Connell. The trio has enjoyed success at multiple rodeos, and Reiner believes the atmosphere inside the truck has played a role.
“When you have a horse like that and I’m feeling really good and as healthy as I’ve ever been and then have the momentum of a traveling crew that is winning, it makes this so much easier and so much more fun to be out here traveling and rodeoing,” he said.
The camaraderie reminds Reiner of earlier years when he traveled with six-time world champion Kaycee Feild and 10-time Wrangler NFR qualifier Tilden Hooper. After spending stretches of recent seasons on his own, he said having a support system has brought renewed energy to the road.
As the summer run intensifies, Reiner plans to compete at more rodeos than ever before. He knows staying healthy and maintaining momentum will be critical in a crowded world-title race.
“It feels really, really good to be back in a little traveling crew of winners,” Reiner said. “To have a kind of support group is more important than I thought, and I think it’s going to make a big difference this year for everyone in our truck.”
Full results of 2026 Vernal’s Dinosaur Roundup Rodeo:
Vernal, Utah, June 18-20
All-around cowboy: Bodie Mattson, $2,583, tie-down roping and team roping.
Bareback riding: 1. Cole Reiner, 92 points on Powder River Rodeo’s Outta Hand, $5,781; 2. R.C. Landingham, 89.5, $4,432; 3. Jayco Roper, 89, $3,276; 4. Kade Sonnier, 88.5, $2,120; 5. Jess Pope, 88, $1,349; 6. Cole Franks, 87.5, $964; 7. Darien Johnson, 86.5, $771; 8. Sage Allen, 85, $578.
Steer wrestling: 1. Tyler Waguespack, 3.3 seconds, $4,626; 2. (tie) Travis Munro and Holden Myers, 3.6, $3,810 each; 4. Payden McIntyre, 3.7, $2,993; 5. Joshua Ellison, 3.8, $2,449; 6. Chase Black, 3.9, $2,177; 7. (tie) Trisyn Kalawaia and Rowdy Parrott, 4.0, $1,769 each; 9. (tie) Ty Bauerle, Brady Buum, Mason Couch, Gavin Soileau and Landris White, 4.1, $762 each.
Team Roping: 1. Cory Kidd V/Carson Johnson, 4.0 seconds, $5,041 each; 2. (tie) Jr. Dees/Landen Glenn and Jayse Tettenhorst/Belden Cox, 4.1, $4,201 each; 4. (tie) Andrew Ward/Jake Long and Nelson Wyatt/Jonathan Torres, 4.4, $3,192 each; 6. Brenten Hall/Wyatt Cox, 4.5, $2,688; 7. (tie) Cyle Denison/Braylon Tryan and Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 4.6, $2,184 each; 9. (tie) Wyatt Bray/Chris Young, Cash Duty/Trent Vaught and Clay Smith/Coleby Payne, 4.8, $1,400 each; 12. Tee McLeod/Jake Edwards, 5.0, $1,008; 13. (tie) Kolton Schmidt/Paden Bray and Ryder Winn/Taylor Winn, 5.1, $588 each; 15. Riley Minor/Brady Minor, 5.2, $336.
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1. Wyatt Casper, 88 points on Powder River Rodeo’s Blue Northern, $5,837; 2. Mitch Pollock, 87.5, $4,475; 3. Riggin Chaz Smith, 86.5, $3,308; 4. Stetson Dell Wright, 86, $2,140; 5. Shorty Garrett, 85.5, $1,362; 6. (tie) Ross Griffin and Ryder Wright, 85, $876 each; 8. Gus Gaillard, 84.5, $584.
Tie-Down Roping: 1. (tie) Blane Cox and Kincade Henry, 7.9 seconds, $5,165 each; 3. Tanner Green, 8.0, $4,427; 4. (tie) Tyler Calhoun and Riley Pruitt, 8.3, $3,505 each; 6. Shane Hanchey, 8.4, $2,952; 7. Bodie Mattson, 8.7, $2,583; 8. (tie) Brushton Minton and Riley Mason Webb, 8.8, $2,029 each; 10. (tie) Tate Crandall and Cash Fuesz, 8.9, $1,384 each; 12. Spencer King, 9.2, $1,107; 13. Hagen Houck, 9.3, $738; 14. John Douch, 9.4, $553; 15. Tom Crouse, 9.5, $369.
Breakaway Roping: 1. Kelsie Domer, 2.1 seconds, $6,359; 2. (tie) Cheyanne McCartney and Taylor Munsell, 2.2, $4,610 each; 4. Josie Goodrich, 2.3, $3,180; 5. Jackie Crawford, 2.5, $2,544; 6. (tie) Rylee A George and Nicole Hadley, 2.6, $1,749 each; 8. (tie) Zoie Bedke and Ryland Pintar, 2.7, $1,351 each; 10. (tie) Josie Conner, Desi Coombs and Maddy Jacobs, 2.8, $954 each; 13. (tie) Emilee Charlesworth, Hadley Furnival and Danielle Lowman, 2.9, $477 each.
Barrel Racing: 1. (tie) Megan McLeod-Sprague and Alyssa Urbanek-Wade, 17.12 seconds, $6,132 each; 3. Kara Kreder, 17.15, $4,429; 4. Morgan Bagnell, 17.23, $3,407; 5. Taylor Baize, 17.26, $2,725; 6. Makenzie Mayes, 17.27, $2,044; 7. Kathy Grimes, 17.30, $1,703; 8. Josey Murphy, 17.35, $1,533; 9. (tie) McKenna Coronado and Kellie Jorgensen, 17.37, $1,277 each; 11. BryAnna Haluptzok, 17.39, $1,022; 12. Brittany Fellows, 17.41, $852; 13. Tayla Moeykens, 17.42, $681; 14. Parker Asam, 17.44, $511; 15. Shelly Hrubochak, 17.45, $341.
Bull riding: * 1. (tie) Dalton Allred, on Powder River Rodeo’s Big Washita, and Josh Frost, on Powder River Rodeo’s Workin Man, 88.5 points, $7,034 each; 3. Cooper James, 87, $5,203; no other qualified rides. *(all totals include ground money).
Total payoff: $259,176. Stock Contractor: Powder River Rodeo. Sub-Contractors: Jason Clemens, Jace Honey, Casey Adams, All In Pro Rodeos and Burch Rodeo. Rodeo Secretary: Eva Chadwick. Officials: Matt Askew, Bruce Keller and Mike Todd. Timers: Hadlee Becker and Tammy Braden. Announcer: Garrett Yerigan. Specialty Act: Dusty Myers. Bullfighters: Nathan Jestes and Nathan Harp. Clown/Barrelman: Dusty Myers. Flankmen: Ben Lofthouse and John Franzen. Chute Boss: Hank Franzen. Pickup Men: Clint Humble and Tate Shepherd. Music Director: Wil Moorhead. Photographers: Lexi Christopher, John Pyle and Jake Hodnett.