June 9, 2025
Airdrie, AB
Orin Larsen loves Canadian bucking horses.
“They’re the best in the world,” Larsen stated. “There’s a reason all these Canadian contractors have stock at the NFR which is the crown jewel of the rodeo world. It’s nice to come back north to get on this kind of horses plus it feels like my drawing game seems to get better a lot of times when I come up here.”
The proof, as they say, is in the pudding and a look back at Larsen’s results over the last two weeks appears to lend credence to what he’s saying about drawing good horses.
In the five rodeos he logged over that time span, the talented Canadian has recorded two firsts, a one-two split, a fourth and a four-five split for a total of $7295 in money earnings – good for a move solidly into the top five in the Canadian bareback riding standings.
One of those results was at Lea Park Rodeo, an SMS Equipment Pro Tour stop, where the 2019 Canadian Champion shared top honours with Louisiana riggin rider, Taylor Broussard. Larsen rode the Calgary Stampede horse, C-15 Cinchy Whitney, for an 87.5 score.
“I didn’t know Cinchy Whitney even though the horse has been around for a while but (reigning Canadian Champion) Kody Lamb told me that if I did my job I’d probably win the rodeo. And that’s how it turned out.”
The nine-time NFR qualifier (he just missed it in 2024), acknowledged that the current heater he’s on is part of the peaks and valleys of the sport.
“Being around as long as I have has taught me the patience you need when you’re maybe not drawing very good, because you know that you have to keep the faith that your time’s going to come and when it does you better take advantage of it.”
High on the Larsen list of 2025 objectives is taking a shot at another Canadian title. “It’s been a goal of mine to win that Canadian title year after year especially growing up where I did,” he added. “To have multiple championships would be pretty darn special.”
The Manitoba native couldn’t hide his enthusiasm for getting back to Edmonton after being there for the return of the CFR to the Alberta capitol in 2024. “That whole experience at Rogers Place last year was pretty dang surreal,” Larsen enthused. “It didn’t feel like a rodeo. It felt like a Las Vegas show. It was the calibre of finale to the season that Canadian rodeo should have.”
There were a number of other outstanding performances over the recent four rodeo weekend. Among them…
- Team ropers Kavis Drake and Denim Ross continued their very hot hand once again on the weekend with three more wins in a season that has been incredible for the young tandem. Lea Park Rodeo (4.6 seconds, $2914), Newell Pro Rodeo/Brooks (5.1 seconds, $1956) and Bonnyville Pro Rodeo (4.7 seconds, $1840) for a total of $6710.
- World champion steer wrestler JD Struxness placed at all four CPRA stops including winning the title at Bonnyville with a 3.5 second effort, then adding a 4th at Brooks, 4-6 split at Lea Park and a 6/7 split at Rocky Mountain House for a $6721 haul.
- Noteworthy barrel racing performances included those of Traci Macdonald and Valerie Gillespie. MacDonald earned the biggest single cheque of the weekend – $5339 – courtesy of her winning 16.42 second run at Lea Park, then added a $407 12/13 split at Rocky Mountain House. Meanwhile Gillespie emerged victorious at Rocky with her 16.06 second run for $3615, and she too added a second success, this one at Brooks where a 3/4 split earned her another $1783.
- Bronc rider Logan Hay, coming off his spectacular 91.5 point ride on the Vold bronc 614 Fancy at Grande Prairie a week ago, was at it again this weekend. The third generation cowboy teamed up with Prime Time Rodeo’s 330 Good Vibrations at Rocky Rodeo for 86.5 points and $1797.
This week’s CPRA schedule will see competitors rolling into Gleichen for Gunners Bronc Battle on June 11, then on to Stavely Pro Rodeo, June 12-14. The Wildwood Bronc Bustin will take centre stage on June 14 in Wildwood, AB and finally the Daines Ranch Pro Rodeo in Innisfail rounds out the week’s action with its three day event June 13-15.
For complete unofficial results, go to rodeocanada.com