- Age: 37
- Hometown: Ellensburg, Washington
- Career earnings: $2,204,235
- Major rodeos: NFR, Columbia River Circuit Finals, The American Rodeo (Arlington, Texas), Red Bluff Round-Up (Red Bluff, California), Dinosaur Roundup Rodeo (Vernal, Utah), Greeley Stampede (Greeley, Colorado), World’s Oldest Rodeo (Prescott, Arizona), Western Stock Show & Rodeo (Denver, Colorado), Black Hills Stock Show and Rodeo (Rapid City, South Dakota), Spanish Fork Fiesta Days Rodeo (Spanish Fork, Utah), St. Paul Rodeo (St. Paul, Oregon), Ponoka Stampede (Ponoka, Alberta)
- Major ropings: WSTR Finale, USTRC National Finals of Team Roping, Mike Cervi Jr. Memorial Roping
- NFR qualifications: 12 (2008–09, 2011, 2013–19, 2022, 2025)
- Star horsepower: RK Tuff Trinket (“Bob”)
- Rope choice: Cactus
Riley Minor has played quarterback for one of ProRodeo’s most successful brother teams since their first appearance at the National Finals Rodeo (NFR) in 2008.
Ellensburg, Washington’s Minor now has 12 NFR appearances under his belt, all with older brother Brady, the latest being in 2025.
“When we made it a few years in a row, we kind of expected to be there,” Riley told The Team Roping Journal’s Kendra Santos in 2025. “But there are no guarantees of getting there ever. Making that first Finals is what you dream about as a little kid. You practice and work hard and hope your wishes come true. Pulling back into the Thomas & Mack will probably hit a little different this year.”
Before the trips to Las Vegas became a regular thing, the Minors had their big break at the 2004 USTRC National Finals of Team Roping, where they took home $70,000 at the ages of 16 and 19.
“I remember walking down that tunnel before I roped that last steer; I was so nervous I couldn’t even spit,” Riley told The Team Roping Journal in 2024. “I remember that like it was yesterday. Catching that high teamer and winning that deal gave a guy confidence that he could rope with the best in the world.”
From 2008 to 2022, Minor qualified for the NFR 11 times and walked away with multiple go-round wins, while also picking up big regular-season wins in Denver, Colorado; Ponoka, Alberta; Rapid City, South Dakota; Greeley, Colorado; Vernal, Utah; and The American Rodeo. The team has also come and gone from the Columbia River Circuit Finals with multiple year-end and average titles.
All those wins over the years wouldn’t have been possible without Minor’s two-time AQHA/PRCA Head Horse of the Year, RK Tuff Trinket—better known as “Bob”—that he has had since 2014. The 23-year-old chestnut gelding has a list of accomplishments as long as his owner’s, including winning Head Horse of the BFI in 2016 and 2019.
“He gives 110% every time he leaves the box,” Minor told The Team Roping Journal in 2018. “He seems like he’s always trying to help you, not work against you.”
The 2025 ProRodeo season has seen Minor win $125,025 and head to his 12th NFR in the No. 12 position. This year, the brothers have picked up wins at Othello, Washington; Missoula, Montana; Strathmore, Alberta; Newport, Washington; Red Bluff, California; Bozeman, Montana; Cheney, Washington; and Redmond, Oregon.
“I’m just thankful for the opportunity to go back and take it all in. If you want to have a big week, you’ve got to place in the average. I just want to play the course and take it one run at a time. If we’re deep in the average, we’ll want to just keep making our run. If something goes haywire with that, we’ll just try to go fast. Things happen fast in that building, but I’m not going to back in there trying to win all 10 rounds.”
Riley Minor, 2025 NFR
