The 2026 rodeo season represents a new beginning for saddle bronc rider Layton Green, one that starts with a heathy body and a positive outlook for the months ahead. For the 2017 Canadian Champion, it’s the first time he’s felt really good in a number of years and the result of that return to being one hundred per cent physically was very much in evidence at the inaugural CPRA edition of the Brule Xtreme Broncs event.
Green was dominant with an 86 point ride in the short go on Richards Rodeo’s 8 Edward Shrader Hands to collect a $7000 first-place cheque to go with his earlier long go win—an 86.5 mark on Big O Rodeo’s D45 Carlito for an additional $2561. Coupled with a small cheque out of the Drayton Valley Pro Rodeo, the cash intake vaulted the four-time NFR qualifier from 12th place in the Canadian standings all the way to the number one spot.
“I’d won Brule before it was CPRA-approved and it was nice to get back there,” Green stated. “I had a horse I didn’t know much about for my first one, Carlito, and it turned out to be really good, a little circle around to the right. Then I drew another really good horse in the short round, Edward Shrader Hands of Billy Richards. I’d actually been on him once before for a stunt in a movie and he was just awesome.”
Green also noted that Brule’s move to being CPRA-approved resulted in just that many more top end cowboys making their way to the Hinton, Alberta rodeo grounds where the event was held. “Yeah, it’s always been a good deal but now that it’s a pro bronc riding, you see a lot of guys like me making sure we get there for it.”
As for his year to date, the veteran hand grinned. “This is the best I’ve felt in probably five years,” he noted. “It’s been a long time since I’ve craved getting on every day. Last year I was so beat up I had to quit getting on broncs in August but even after a month off, at the CFR I was so sore – my neck was so messed up and there was so much pain – it wasn’t a whole lot of fun. But now I’m really excited for the year. I feel like I’m at the top of my game and riding as good as I ever have and I’m looking forward to seeing what 2026 holds.”
Right behind Green at Brule and similarly on that Canadian standings leaderboard is another guy who has been enjoying a successful campaign to date—Kole Ashbacher. The second generation bronc rider was second at Brule, then picked up the win at the nearby Drayton Valley Pro Rodeo as he matched up with Duffy Rodeo’s 37 Mojo Nixon for 87 points and $2097. An overall total of $7265 in weekend earnings has the Thorsby, AB hand in second place in Canada and nipping at Green’s heels as the 2026 CPRA season begins to heat up.
Among the other May-Day weekend success stories – 2023 Canadian Champion breakaway roper Shaya Biever struck for the win at Drayton Valley courtesy of her 2.0 second run worth $1702.
Barrel racer Taylor-Jane Gardner made it back-to-back winning weekends as she followed up her Taber success, seven days prior, with the winning run at Drayton Valley, a rapid 13.34 second cloverleaf pattern for $3619.
And in the team roping, Tate and Kagen Schmidt, the Barrhead brother combination, are looking to turn their fortunes around after not being at the CFR a year ago. They took a step in the right direction with the win at Drayton Valley, turning in a solid 3.6 second effort for $2481 each.
For complete unofficial results head over to rodeocanada.com
This coming weekend will once again feature CPRA bronc riders, this time around in Cold Lake, Alberta for the Lakeland Xtreme Broncs event on Saturday, May 9.
Photo/photo credit
Layton Green on Richards Rodeo’s 8 Edward Shrader Hands. Brule Xtreme Broncs photo by Callie Anderson
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 exceeding $7.4 million. The organization oversees the CPRA Pro Tour Finale each fall in Armstrong, BC, holds their premiere event–the Canadian Finals Rodeo (CFR)–at Rogers Place in Edmonton, AB in early October and endorses the Maple Leaf Circuit Finals 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