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)

  • rodeo_hp_3-22-25_54
    Sadie Troyer rounds her second barrel during Wild Card 2 Barrel Racing, part of RodeoHouston’s final weekend of the year.
  • rodeo_hp_3-22-25_70b
    Trevor Reiste rides Leroy Reid during Wild Card 2 bull riding during RodeoHouston’s final weekend of the year.
  • rodeo_hp_3-22-25_3
    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.
  • rodeo_hp_3-22-25_8
    Tyler Calhoun competes in tie-down roping during RodeoHouston’s last weekend of the year.
  • rodeo_hp_3-22-25_31b
    Chad Rutherford rides Foxhole Gunner as he competes in Wild Card 2 bareback riding during RodeoHouston’s last weekend of the year.
  • rodeo_hp_3-22-25_66
    Fulton Rutland watches the other bull riders as they compete as he prepares to ride Bruised Kitty.
  • rodeo_hp_3-22-25_47b
    Riggin Smith rides Stockyard Babe as he competes in RodeoHouston’s Saddle Bronc Riding.
  • rodeo_hp_3-22-25_4b
    Competitors and their teams watch on with anticipation as their colleagues compete in Saturday’s Wild Card 2 categories.
  • rodeo_hp_3-22-25_6
    Marcos Costa competes in tie-down roping during RodeoHouston’s last weekend of the year.
  • rodeo_hp_3-22-25_20b
    Cooper Cooke celebrates after competing in bareback riding during RodeoHouston’s last weekend of the year.
  • rodeo_hp_3-22-25_83
    Fulton Rutland rides Bruised Kitty during Wild Card 2 bull riding during RodeoHouston’s final weekend of the year.
  • rodeo_hp_3-22-25_62best
    Maverick Potter runs from Brown Bomber after being thrown off during Wild Card 2 bull riding.
  • rodeo_hp_3-22-25_7
    Tyler Calhoun competes in tie-down roping during RodeoHouston’s last weekend of the year.
  • rodeo_hp_3-22-25_16
    Cooper Cooke rides Pretty Woman as he competes in bareback riding during RodeoHouston’s last weekend of the year.
  • rodeo_hp_3-22-25_9
    Bo Pickett competes in tie-down roping during RodeoHouston’s last weekend of the year.
  • rodeo_hp_3-22-25_10b
    Bo Pickett competes in tie-down roping during RodeoHouston’s last weekend of the year.
  • rodeo_hp_3-22-25_11
    Tie-down roping takes place during RodeoHouston’s last weekend of the year.
  • rodeo_hp_3-22-25_12
    Cory Solomon competes in tie-down roping during RodeoHouston’s last weekend of the year.
  • rodeo_hp_3-22-25_76
    Fulton Rutland takes a moment after he suffers a close call, getting knocked off and trampled by Bruised Kitty.
  • rodeo_hp_3-22-25_56
    Barrel racing takes places during RodeoHouston’s final weekend of the year.
  • rodeo_hp_3-22-25_47
    Riggin Smith rides Stockyard Babe as he competes in RodeoHouston’s Saddle Bronc Riding.
  • rodeo_hp_3-22-25_37
    Ben Andersen rides Crockett as he competes in Saddle Bronc Riding during RodeoHouston’s last weekend of the year.
  • rodeo_hp_3-22-25_22
    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.
  • rodeo_hp_3-22-25_25
    Chad Rutherford rides Foxhole Gunner as he competes in Wild Card 2 bareback riding during RodeoHouston’s last weekend of the year.
  • rodeo_hp_3-22-25_35
    Marcus Theriot competes in team roping during RodeoHouston’s last weekend of the year.
  • rodeo_hp_3-22-25_36
    Coleman Proctor competes in team roping during RodeoHouston’s last weekend of the year.
  • rodeo_hp_3-22-25_17
    Cooper Cooke rides Pretty Woman as he competes in bareback riding during RodeoHouston’s last weekend of the year.
  • rodeo_hp_3-22-25_38
    Kade Bruno rides Tequila Sunrise as he competes in Saddle Bronc Riding during RodeoHouston’s last weekend of the year.
  • rodeo_hp_3-22-25_5
    Competitors and their teams watch on with anticipation as their colleagues compete in Saturday’s Wild Card 2 categories.
  • rodeo_hp_3-22-25_81
    Fulton Rutland rides Bruised Kitty during Wild Card 2 bull riding during RodeoHouston’s final weekend of the year.
  • rodeo_hp_3-22-25_55
    Barrel racing takes places during RodeoHouston’s final weekend of the year.
  • rodeo_hp_3-22-25_41
    Brody Wells rides Cloudy Skies as he competes in RodeoHouston’s Saddle Bronc Riding.
  • rodeo_hp_3-22-25_78
    John Harrison, RodeoHouston’s new rodeo clown, filling the shoes of legendary clown Leon Coffee, imitates a bull rider with his arms.
  • rodeo_hp_3-22-25_42
    Riggin Smith rides Stockyard Babe as he competes in RodeoHouston’s Saddle Bronc Riding.
  • rodeo_hp_3-22-25_65best
    Maverick Potter rides Brown Bomber during Wild Card 2 bull riding during RodeoHouston’s final weekend of the year.
  • rodeo_hp_3-22-25_52
    Barrel racing takes places during RodeoHouston’s final weekend of the year.
  • rodeo_hp_3-22-25_46
    Riggin Smith rides Stockyard Babe as he competes in RodeoHouston’s Saddle Bronc Riding.
  • rodeo_hp_3-22-25_50b
    Stetson Jorgensen competes in steer wrestling during RodeoHouston’s last weekend of the year.
  • rodeo_hp_3-22-25_80
    Rawley Johnson walks off the field after competing in Wild Card 2 bull riding.
  • rodeo_hp_3-22-25_59
    Maverick Potter rides Brown Bomber during Wild Card 2 bull riding during RodeoHouston’s final weekend of the year.
  • rodeo_hp_3-22-25_57
    Maverick Potter rides Brown Bomber during Wild Card 2 bull riding during RodeoHouston’s final weekend of the year.
  • rodeo_hp_3-22-25_51
    Steer wrestling takes place during RodeoHouston’s final weekend of the year.
  • rodeo_hp_3-22-25_23
    Chad Rutherford rides Foxhole Gunner as he competes in Wild Card 2 bareback riding during RodeoHouston’s last weekend of the year.
  • rodeo_hp_3-22-25_84
    Fulton Rutland rides Bruised Kitty during Wild Card 2 bull riding during RodeoHouston’s final weekend of the year.
  • rodeo_hp_3-22-25_68
    Trevor Reiste rides Leroy Reid during Wild Card 2 bull riding during RodeoHouston’s final weekend of the year.
  • rodeo_hp_3-22-25_53
    Barrel racing takes places during RodeoHouston’s final weekend of the year.
  • rodeo_hp_3-22-25_74
    Fulton Rutland prepares for the gate to open during Wild Card 2 bull riding.
  • rodeo_hp_3-22-25_72
    Trevor Reiste rides Leroy Reid during Wild Card 2 bull riding during RodeoHouston’s final weekend of the year.
  • rodeo_hp_3-22-25_60
    Maverick Potter rides Brown Bomber during Wild Card 2 bull riding during RodeoHouston’s final weekend of the year.
  • rodeo_hp_3-22-25_75
    Hayes Weight rides Whiskey River during Wild Card 2 bull riding during RodeoHouston’s final weekend of the year.
  • rodeo_hp_3-22-25_67
    Trevor Reiste rides Leroy Reid during Wild Card 2 bull riding during RodeoHouston’s final weekend of the year.
  • rodeo_hp_3-22-25_77
    Fulton Rutland takes a moment after he suffers a close call, getting knocked off and trampled by Bruised Kitty.
  • rodeo_hp_3-22-25_79
    Rawley Johnson waits for his score after competing in Wild Card 2 bull riding.
  • rodeo_hp_3-22-25_82
    Close call: Fulton Rutland briefly gets trampled by Bruised Kitty before escaping with what appeared to be no major physical injuries.

Additional Slideshows

Reggie Mathalone is a British born photojournalist and writer based in Houston, Texas. He has been a Houston Press contributor since 2020, covering entertainment, news, and sporting events.