Quinten (Q) Taylor is redefining the term “heater”.
The mega-talented Canadian saddle bronc rider has been electric in recent weeks including a big win at the past weekend’s Wildwood Bronc Bustin as he forty per-cented an elite field with a pair of 90-point rides. The Parkland, Alberta product mastered the Calgary Stampede’s F-63 Frontier Acres to the tune of 90 points for $4919.81 in the long go and followed that with a spectacular 91.5 mark on Y-38 Yesterdays Delivery for another $6000 in the championship short round.
The big win at Canada’s longest-standing bronc match – put on by the Hay bronc riding family and community members – comes on the heels of a stretch of outstanding results. In the three-week period since he returned to action (at Red Deer) from a serious thumb injury, the 24-year-old has amassed $25,000 in earnings and jumped to the top of the Canadian standings. He has also inserted himself solidly into the National Finals Rodeo conversation.
Taylor got the horse he wanted for the all-important final round at Wildwood.
“That’s the second time I’ve had that horse. I had her my rookie year at Canby, Oregon and was 88 on her. I haven’t had her since then and was really excited to draw her today,” he recounted minutes after locking down the win. “That rear out of there, it’s fun and it’s for real and as soon as she hits, you know she’s going to be buckin’. She’s got the intimidation factor too, she’s hard to get out on and kind of smashes you around in the chute but I love the feeling you get from the rear-out and the way she bucks.”
The 2026 success marks a big improvement over the bad luck Taylor encountered a year ago at the event when he had to get on three horses in the finals and finally finished well back on the final leaderboard.
“I travel with Logan Hay and I’m good friends with Dawson and that lets you understand the prestige of this bronc riding. Roddy and Shelly (Hay) work so hard and just put on a great event.”
The significance of his current hot streak is not lost on the young cowboy who qualified for both the CFR and NFR last year, his first time to both Finals.
“We have just a great group of guys going right now, it’s probably the best it’s ever been for how deep the bronc riders are and the horsepower is second to none. It sounds weird to say but Zeke (Thurston) is one of the older guys now and he’s just as hard to beat as he ever has been; a guy’s just gotta go at every horse you get on.”
Additional weekend highlights:
Third generation tie-down roper Ben Robinson came up big at his hometown event… the Daines Ranch Pro Rodeo in Innisfail. His 8.6 second winning run netted Robinson $2677.59 and moved the veteran hand into contention for that coveted October trip to Edmonton for the CFR.
2019 Canadian Bareback Riding Champion Orin Larsen has put together a solid string of successes of his own including a pair of weekend wins – 86.5 points on C5 Rodeo’s 5F14 She-La, $1874 at Innisfail and 87.5 points on Outlaw Buckers 735 Night Magic, $1452.96 at Stavely Pro Rodeo. The wins allowed Larsen to move past Ethan Mazurenko to the top of the Canadian bareback standings.
Staying with bareback riding but of the younger variety, Quaide Skjonsberg also collected a pair of victories in the novice event with 80.5 points and $550.96 at Innisfail and 80 points for $574.24 at Stavely. The Bluffton, Alberta cowboy is no stranger to 80-point rides. In winning the novice title in 2025, he rode all three of his horses and all three scores were in the 80’s.
Upcoming CPRA action includes two Massey Ferguson Pro Rodeo Tour events: Sundre Pro Rodeo June 18-21 and Wainwright Stampede June 19-21. On the schedule as well is the historic Guy Weadick Rodeo in High River, also June 19-21.
For a complete list of 2026 CPRA events and unofficial results, visit rodeocanada.com
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About CPRA
The Canadian Professional Rodeo Association (CPRA) with headquarters in Airdrie, Alta. is the official sanctioning body for Professional Rodeo in Canada. The CPRA approves 60+ events annually with a total payout just shy of $8 million. The organization oversees the CPRA Pro Tour Finale September 2-5 in Armstrong, BC, holds their premiere event–the Canadian Finals Rodeo (CFR) at Rogers Place in Edmonton, AB October 7-10 and endorses the Maple Leaf Circuit Finals November 25-28 as part of Canadian Western Agribition in Regina, SK. For details, please see RodeoCanada.com
For more information:
Barb Poulsen
CPRA Communications and Media
Phone: 403 625-9225
Email: media@rodeocanada.com