The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo comprises three weeks of fiery competition from the top contenders around the nation. As this year’s roundup comes to a close, Houstonians are treated to some of the fiercest competition of the event. On Saturday, March 22, 2025, the cowboys and cowgirls of RodeoHouston left it all out on the dirt, vying for place in the western sport’s history, during one final weekend of extreme, life-risking sport. Saturday’s Wild Card 2 saw the remaining six athletes from each category compete for one last chance to advance to Sunday’s championship. (Photos by Reggie Mathalone)
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Sadie Troyer rounds her second barrel during Wild Card 2 Barrel Racing, part of RodeoHouston’s final weekend of the year. -
Trevor Reiste rides Leroy Reid during Wild Card 2 bull riding during RodeoHouston’s final weekend of the year. -
An American flag, complete with LED lights and a giant sparkler, is held on horseback as the national anthem is sung ahead of the day’s events. -
Tyler Calhoun competes in tie-down roping during RodeoHouston’s last weekend of the year. -
Chad Rutherford rides Foxhole Gunner as he competes in Wild Card 2 bareback riding during RodeoHouston’s last weekend of the year. -
Fulton Rutland watches the other bull riders as they compete as he prepares to ride Bruised Kitty. -
Riggin Smith rides Stockyard Babe as he competes in RodeoHouston’s Saddle Bronc Riding. -
Competitors and their teams watch on with anticipation as their colleagues compete in Saturday’s Wild Card 2 categories. -
Marcos Costa competes in tie-down roping during RodeoHouston’s last weekend of the year. -
Cooper Cooke celebrates after competing in bareback riding during RodeoHouston’s last weekend of the year. -
Fulton Rutland rides Bruised Kitty during Wild Card 2 bull riding during RodeoHouston’s final weekend of the year. -
Maverick Potter runs from Brown Bomber after being thrown off during Wild Card 2 bull riding. -
Tyler Calhoun competes in tie-down roping during RodeoHouston’s last weekend of the year. -
Cooper Cooke rides Pretty Woman as he competes in bareback riding during RodeoHouston’s last weekend of the year. -
Bo Pickett competes in tie-down roping during RodeoHouston’s last weekend of the year. -
Bo Pickett competes in tie-down roping during RodeoHouston’s last weekend of the year. -
Tie-down roping takes place during RodeoHouston’s last weekend of the year. -
Cory Solomon competes in tie-down roping during RodeoHouston’s last weekend of the year. -
Fulton Rutland takes a moment after he suffers a close call, getting knocked off and trampled by Bruised Kitty. -
Barrel racing takes places during RodeoHouston’s final weekend of the year. -
Riggin Smith rides Stockyard Babe as he competes in RodeoHouston’s Saddle Bronc Riding. -
Ben Andersen rides Crockett as he competes in Saddle Bronc Riding during RodeoHouston’s last weekend of the year. -
Rodeo officials prepare to release Foxhole Gunner ridden by Chad Rutherford during Wild Card 2 bareback riding during RodeoHouston’s last weekend of the year. -
Chad Rutherford rides Foxhole Gunner as he competes in Wild Card 2 bareback riding during RodeoHouston’s last weekend of the year. -
Marcus Theriot competes in team roping during RodeoHouston’s last weekend of the year. -
Coleman Proctor competes in team roping during RodeoHouston’s last weekend of the year. -
Cooper Cooke rides Pretty Woman as he competes in bareback riding during RodeoHouston’s last weekend of the year. -
Kade Bruno rides Tequila Sunrise as he competes in Saddle Bronc Riding during RodeoHouston’s last weekend of the year. -
Competitors and their teams watch on with anticipation as their colleagues compete in Saturday’s Wild Card 2 categories. -
Fulton Rutland rides Bruised Kitty during Wild Card 2 bull riding during RodeoHouston’s final weekend of the year. -
Barrel racing takes places during RodeoHouston’s final weekend of the year. -
Brody Wells rides Cloudy Skies as he competes in RodeoHouston’s Saddle Bronc Riding. -
John Harrison, RodeoHouston’s new rodeo clown, filling the shoes of legendary clown Leon Coffee, imitates a bull rider with his arms. -
Riggin Smith rides Stockyard Babe as he competes in RodeoHouston’s Saddle Bronc Riding. -
Maverick Potter rides Brown Bomber during Wild Card 2 bull riding during RodeoHouston’s final weekend of the year. -
Barrel racing takes places during RodeoHouston’s final weekend of the year. -
Riggin Smith rides Stockyard Babe as he competes in RodeoHouston’s Saddle Bronc Riding. -
Stetson Jorgensen competes in steer wrestling during RodeoHouston’s last weekend of the year. -
Rawley Johnson walks off the field after competing in Wild Card 2 bull riding. -
Maverick Potter rides Brown Bomber during Wild Card 2 bull riding during RodeoHouston’s final weekend of the year. -
Maverick Potter rides Brown Bomber during Wild Card 2 bull riding during RodeoHouston’s final weekend of the year. -
Steer wrestling takes place during RodeoHouston’s final weekend of the year. -
Chad Rutherford rides Foxhole Gunner as he competes in Wild Card 2 bareback riding during RodeoHouston’s last weekend of the year. -
Fulton Rutland rides Bruised Kitty during Wild Card 2 bull riding during RodeoHouston’s final weekend of the year. -
Trevor Reiste rides Leroy Reid during Wild Card 2 bull riding during RodeoHouston’s final weekend of the year. -
Barrel racing takes places during RodeoHouston’s final weekend of the year. -
Fulton Rutland prepares for the gate to open during Wild Card 2 bull riding. -
Trevor Reiste rides Leroy Reid during Wild Card 2 bull riding during RodeoHouston’s final weekend of the year. -
Maverick Potter rides Brown Bomber during Wild Card 2 bull riding during RodeoHouston’s final weekend of the year. -
Hayes Weight rides Whiskey River during Wild Card 2 bull riding during RodeoHouston’s final weekend of the year. -
Trevor Reiste rides Leroy Reid during Wild Card 2 bull riding during RodeoHouston’s final weekend of the year. -
Fulton Rutland takes a moment after he suffers a close call, getting knocked off and trampled by Bruised Kitty. -
Rawley Johnson waits for his score after competing in Wild Card 2 bull riding. -
Close call: Fulton Rutland briefly gets trampled by Bruised Kitty before escaping with what appeared to be no major physical injuries.
