Smith Heads Into Fourth-of-July Run with NFR Prospects In Mind
Hayes Smith has been on the brink of a National Finals Rodeo qualification in the past, but never has he been sitting this good heading into rodeo's richest two-week run over the Fourth of July.

Hayes Smith was on the bubble of making his first Finals back in 2017, but he fell just short in the last week of the season and rounded out the year 18th in the world. 

Davis and Smith won fourth at Oklahoma’s Woodward Elks Rodeo with a 5.1-second run, worth $2,922 each. Avid Visual Imagery/Phil Kitts

But heading into the richest rodeo run of the regular season over the Fourth of July in 2021, Smith sits inside the top 15 with his sights set on a shot at the Wrangler National Finals. He sits seventh in the PRCA world standings with $24,223 won on the year.

Smith and partner Justin Davis had a good winter, winning big checks at the San Antonio (Texas) Stock Show and Rodeo and the Dixie National Rodeo in Jackson, Mississippi. Over the Fourth of July run, they’ll go to Prineville, Oregon, Lehi, Utah, Greeley, Colorado, Prescott, Arizona, Oakley City, Utah, Cody, Wyoming, Livingston, Montana, Belle Fourche, South Dakota, Eugene, Oregon and St. Paul, Oregon before getting a break.

“The last couple years I’ve stayed home and worked on my horses and my heading,” Smith, 28, from Central Point, Oregon, said. “I went a little last year, and the year before I didn’t rodeo. I knew what I needed to work on and I think I’m ready. 

“I’m trying not to get in a hurry. I know I’m fast, but consistency lacked. I’m trying to be more like Chad Masters and catch every steer. I’m trying to ride my horse better and use my rope less. This dun mare is really good, so if I ride her right and use her to her full potential it makes everything better. Basically it comes down to, if I’m in a position to take an extra swing and catch the steer, then I need to do it.” 

Smith is still riding the dun mare he won Puyallup on back in 2017, and he’s got two other good horses in the rig this year—adding to his confidence in their team. 

“As a team, our horsepower is really good,” Smith said. “I think we’re both roping pretty good and as a team, we’re confident.” TRJ

SHARE THIS STORY
CATEGORIES
TAGS
Related Articles
MCS_9873-Enhanced-NR
Clean Sweep
Saebens Sweeps Oil Can Classic Pre-Futurity Heading, Heeling on Superstar Mares Una Furiosa, Hallle Berry
Brinton Grinstead and Scott Daily held tough to win night one of the 2025 Resistol Rookie Roundup Team Roping.
Ready to blast
Rookie Teams Spin to Win at the Resistol Rookie Roundup: Full Team Roping Results
Casey Hicks Rich Skelton Corpus Christi 2021
it's all gucci
Casey Hicks Guns for Kid Rock’s Rock N Rodeo via Corpus Christi With Veteran Horsepower
SB7_5129
happy happenstance
Kolton Schmidt and Will Woodfin Pair Up for 2025 San Angelo Win
April_25_TRJ_0210
cool as a cucumber
"There’s Always Tomorrow": How Douglas Rich Keeps His Cool—And His Spot in the Top 15
The Team Roping Journal
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.