Zeke Thurston took on the 46th Canadian Finals Rodeo last week. The Big Valley, bronc rider who already had an impressive rodeo history, gets to add a Canadian title to his repertoire.

“That’s the title I have been wanting and the only one I haven’t got so far. Pretty special to be from Canada and win a Canadian title. It’s cool. I am very lucky,” said Thurston. 

Thurston won two go-rounds at CFR but placed in all six rounds and became the Canadian Finals Rodeo Champion in Saddle Bronc. This year, Thurston also broke the record for money won during the year in a single event. So far, Thurston has won over $110,000 and his season isn’t over yet.

“It’s awesome, but it really shows how far rodeo has come. The rodeos are adding more money and putting out more money and it’s getting to where guys like myself can make a living doing that. I feel like money records are always getting broke. Somebody might break that record in the next few years,” explained Thruston. 

The bronc rider doesn’t have any big plans with his winnings and hopes to invest it back into the sport and might purchase land, or cattle. Thurston is thankful to make a living competing in the sport that he loves.

However, Thurston didn’t get to where he is now by accident. Time and time again, he has competed all over the world and he is only 25-years-old. Now, riding saddle bronc is pretty much instinctual for Thurston.

“It’s kind of a riding a bike situation. When you’re younger and learning to ride bucking horses and stuff. You get on lots of practice horses and things like that just learn to ride. Then, practice the basics,” said Thurston adding, “I go to 100 rodeos a year and get on 150 to 160 broncs a year. So, it’s an everyday thing for me.”

Thurston had a positive experience during the week-long event at CFR 46 and was happy to leave with his Canadian title.

“The city did a great job producing the rodeo. Lots of big changes from last year—changes for the better,” said Thurston adding, “I was lucky to draw good horses and make good solid rides on them. Won a couple of rounds. I placed in every round so I couldn’t have wrote it up any better.”

The competitions are not over yet for the rider, as he heads for National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas where he hopes to claim a world title next.