LAS VEGAS — DECEMBER 13, 2025 — Kassie Mowry defends her title to win the 2025 Women’s Professional Rodeo Association World Championship. Julie Plourde stays consistent for 10 rounds to claim the National Finals Rodeo Average title and Carlee Otero and AM Regina George win Round 10 at the 2025 Wrangler NFR.
- Kassie Mowry Wins 2025 WPRA World Championship
- Julie Plourde Wins 2025 NFR Average Championship
- Carlee Otero and AM Regina George Win Round 10
- Full Round 10 Results
- Full NFR Average Results
- Final WPRA World Standings
Kassie Mowry Wins 2025 WPRA World Championship
Kassie Mowry defends her WPRA world championship aboard two mounts at the 2025 Wrangler NFR. In mid-November, news of an equine herpes virus (EHV-1) outbreak which was traced to the WPRA World Finals in Waco, Texas, November 5-9, began surfacing and soon the outbreak had affected several high-profile events causing cancellations at events like the Barrel Futurities of America World Championships. While the outbreak did not cancel the NFR it did result in more stringent horse health protocols that put a wrench in many barrel racers’ plans for the 2025 event. All of the top 15 barrel racers were challenged with the uncertainty of contracting the virus and understanding protocols and regulations between state lines.
Mowry also had to navigate the difficult decisions of which horses were healthy and prepared for the NFR. Ultimately, it left her leaving her world champion mount Force The Goodbye at home. She instead brought 2015 gelding CP He Will Be Epic as her main mount — which was in and of itself a stressful process, as “Will” had contracted EHV from the Waco event. Luckily he recovered quickly and passed several rounds of swab testing.
“[Will] had got EHV from Waco and was sick and I didn’t think there was a chance for him to come and I had given all that time off to recover,” Mowry said. “Then when they started implementing the rules for us to get tested, he started getting better and he was recovering from it. So we sent off swabs on him because I was running out of horses, my horses were all in quarantine.”
Mowry sent swab tests off on Will and he came back negative twice. With the strict protocol to get horses to the NFR, her vet said he would be the safest horse to bring to Vegas because he had the virus, recovered from it and now has the antibodies. Luckily, Force The Goodbye aka “Jarvis” is also health, but Mowry didn’t feel bringing him to the NFR was worth the risk.
“[Jarvis is] healthy,” Mowry said. “Jarvis is great, he’s home. That was a very hard decision. I really wanted him to defend his title. If I would have done the protocol with him and the swabs, but the risk wasn’t worth the reward. There’s always next year.”
Her 2015 gelding CP He Will Be Epic (Epic Leader x Percilla x Dash Ta Fame) took an early lead with a 13.66 as the first barrel racer down the alley in Round One and claimed his first NFR round win and $36,668. He and Mowry went on to place in Rounds Two and Three as well. In Round Four, Will was out of a money paying position, but still putting Mowry in the No. 1 spot in the aggregate race, which pays an impressive $94,035 to win.
In Round Five, Mowry made the decision to step aboard Mindy Holloway’s 2014 sorrel gelding Heavens Got Credit (JL Dash Ta Heaven x Credit Chicado x Cash Not Credit). Mowry and “Cornbread” turned in a 13.77, which was out of a money-paying position, however, considering it was their first competitive run together ever Mowry was proud of jump-riding in a high-pressure situation, which isn’t something she’s known to do. While the all-time leading rider of barrel horses has $8 million in lifetime reported EquiStat earnings she’s done so for the most part aboard horses she’s trained.
Kassie Mowry made all three of the horses that qualified her for her fourth straight, and sixth overall, NFR including Jarvis, Will and 2015 gelding Famous Ladies Man. She and her late fiancé Michael Boone purchased all three before they were old enough to ride.
“[I’m usually riding horses] I train and that I’ve had a year or two at least before I ever ran them. So, I’m not used to just, like, ‘Here’s your horse!’” Mowry said with a laugh, “Not used to that at all. Usually I have a lot more time to get timing. This is having to really just go out there and be in reaction mode.”
When Mowry knew she’d need another backup horse for the NFR she called Holloway and asked to borrow Cornbread.
“I was scrambling around thinking, you know, what could I ride? I’m not used to stepping on new horses. And so I really needed something that I thought would be user friendly. And my friend Whitney mentioned that horse that she had just won the Athens (Texas) race, and I remember seeing the videos of it. I went back and watched that video again and he looked really easy to ride, really honest, and kind of did a lot himself,” Mowry said. “Style wise, I just really focused on what she did. She rode real still and I tend to ride real still and conservative. So I thought, that would be an easier fit for me than something that you really have to be aggressive on.”
Mowry made one practice run on Cornbread prior to the NFR and relied heavily on Holloway’s guidance throughout the week. It paid off with a Round Six go-round win from a time of 13.42.
“[Before we ran] Mindy said, ‘I went and and gave Cornbread his pep talk. And my advice to you is, he’s 11 years old, probably the oldest barrel horse you’ve ever ridden, and just to trust him.’ So, that’s what I’m doing, is just trying to ride the feel and don’t have any preconceived notions of anything. I don’t know him. So, let him make the decisions, because he knows better than I do where he needs to be.”
Mowry and Cornbread finished third in Round Seven, fourth in Round Eight and sixth in Round Nine. Up to Round Nine Mowry had earned $156,080 in NFR earnings and was sitting No. 1 in the aggregate with a 123.24 on nine runs. Her world standings were sitting at $359,525. Yet, it wasn’t a shut and closed world title. Mowry still had to come into Round 10 and perform, because Tricia Aldridge, who had moved from 11th in the world standings to third was also sitting fourth in the aggregate and had a mathematical shot at earning a world title.
For Round 10, Mowry got back on her more than $515,800 earner Will. At draw No. 13 fans had to wait out a tough Round 10 before the calculations were put on the board.
Aldridge and her all-time leading stallion Adios Pantalones came down the alley at draw No. 7 and turned in a 13.43, closing out their already impressive NFR with another stellar run.
All eyes were on Mowry. Mowry and Will came into the Thomas and Mack to a cheering crowd and had two clean turns around the first and second. Unfortunately — and to the surprise of many fans — Mowry clipped the third and resulted in a five-second penalty. Their 13.59 moved to a 18.59.
“I feel like I let myself down right there,” Mowry humbly admitted.
It left the world title as a question mark until the final tabulations were made. Ultimately, Aldridge finished second in the round and third in the average, yet it wasn’t enough to surpass the lead Mowry had in the world standings. Aldridge’s world standings finished at $386,567 earning her the Reserve World Championship.
Mowry finished fourth in the average earning $44,356 bringing her world standings to $403,881.82 and claiming her second consecutive world title. A feat Mowry admits she wasn’t sure was possible when she left home without Jarvis.
“I came in here first hole, and I guess it was mine to lose,” Mowry said with a laugh. “Leaving my good horse, my best boy at home that did so incredible last year. I didn’t quite have the confidence in myself coming into it this year. I just wanted to make the best of it and have fun.”
During the regular season Mowry went to only 28 rodeos and earned $150,483 aboard Jarvis at 11 rodeos with wins at Rodeo Houston and a share of San Angelo’s. Will earned only: $21,091 from two rodeos including the San Angleo Rodeo win (Jarvis ran in the first round; didn’t draw a check but earned a share of the average). At the NFR Will had his moment to shine proving he’s one who can be counted on.
“He is very dependable, very predictable and now 10-year-old Will is fun as ever,” Mowry explained. “He is just more mellow now, he has always struggled with his nerves. Now I can talk him out of things when he gets emotional, I can help him out there. He goes out there and he hits his points and he does the best that he can for me. He’s always tried so hard.”
Mowry also proved something to herself, that among all her accolades and with more than $8 million in earnings she’s still capable of finding the fortitude to rise above when put to the test. Jump-riding might not be something she’s used to, but for 10 days in Vegas Mowry proved she’s more than capable of handling the pressure.
“I did choose a great one to jump right. That’s the thing about it is people joke and say, like, I can ride a donkey, but I do get on some phenomenal horses,” Mowry said with a laugh. “[Cornbread] was the perfect mount for me to jump ride. Mindy did an incredible job training him. He was easy for me to ride him behind her. And that horse was crucial for me to get this done.”
Mowry walked away from Vegas with $200,437 in NFR earnings and a back-to-back world title. A feat which hasn’t been done since Hailey Kinsel did so in 2018-2020. It’s an accomplishment born from many years of hard work and a dedication to the sport few exemplify as well as Mowry.
“It’s surreal. I really did not think I would stand a chance coming in here without Jarvis,” Mowry said. “Honestly, I just thought I’d be piecing this together. I just wanted to make the best of it. But I am proud of how I rode, proud of my horses for carrying me through this. This was definitely different for me to jump-ride one. I feel like I did a good job on that horse. I’m happy with how everything went.”
Julie Plourde Wins NFR Average
A last-minute edition to the 2025 NFR, Julie Plourde made the best of a bad situation. Finishing the season in the No. 16 position Plourde thought her NFR dream was finished for the year. When No. 8 ranked in the regular season Anita Ellis was injured on November 15, and subsequently forced to draw out of what would have been her first NFR. Plourde got the call to attend her first NFR, and while the circumstances were less than ideal the Canadian native put her head down and went to work each night with nothing to lose, and with Ellis on her mind through each round.
“I thought about Anita all week, because I know how tough it is. She works to be here and she deserves to be here, but she’s a tough competitor. I’m sure she’s going to be here next year, and she’s going to kick our ass,” Plourde said with a laugh.
Plourde was unable to bring her main mount KF Epic Ta Fame, which earned the majority of her regular season earnings, due to injury. Instead, Plourde brought backup horse Wateverock RC — who she says was purchased for the outdoor rodeos. As such, Plourde wasn’t sure what to expect from “Rocky” inside the Thomas and Mack.
“I was actually worried about the alley,” Plourde said. “He’s not a crazy horse. I mean, he’s not hard to handle. But I thought, because 10 days in a row, it’s a lot for a horse. I was a little bit scared that after several runs, he would get a little bit excited in the alley. But actually, the more we were running, the more quiet it was. So he did really impress me. I was totally wrong on him.”
While Plourde and Rocky only earned two round paychecks (Rounds Seven and Eight) they stayed clean and consistent all 10 rounds for a total aggregate of 139.67 for the NFR Average win worth $94,035.54.
Carlee Otero and AM Regina George Win Round 10
Carlee Otero has been on an absolute heater at the 2025 Wrangler NFR. Aboard AM Regina George, Otero won Round 10 with a 13.28 marking the duo’s fourth go-round win. Otero earned a total of $156,672 at the NFR and finished fifth in the world standings with $325,165.75.
- Carlee Otero wins Round Nine
- Tricial Aldridge wins Round Eight
- Hayle Gibson-Stillwell wins Round Seven
- Kassie Mowry wins Round Six
- Carlee Otero wins Round Five
- Tricia Aldridge wins Round Four
- Carlee Otero wins Round Three
- Hailey Kinsel wins Round Two
- Kassie Mowry Wins Round One
2025 NFR Barrel Racing Round 10 Results
Place, Name, Time, Money Won
- Carlee Otero / AM Regina George / 13.28 / $36,667.95
- Tricia Aldridge / Adios Pantalones / 13.43 / $28,979.51
- Lisa Lockhart / Blazin Ta Betty / 13.55 / $21,882.48
- Emily Beisel / Tessin Dat Guy / 13.56 / $15,376.88
- Hayle Gibson-Stillwell / Buncha Dinero / 13.64 / $9,462.70
- Wenda Johnson / Tempting Moon Dash / 15.70 / $5,914.19
- Katelyn Scott / Justa DTF Frenchman / 13.77
- Julie Plourde / Wateverock RC / 13.99
- Andrea Busby / Diamond Center / 14.08
- Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi / JL Roc Lost a Sock / 14.09
- Hailey Kinsel / DM Sissy Hayday / 18.22 Kassie Mowry / CP He Will Be Epic / 18.59
- Tayla Moeykens / Heaven Sent Fame / 18.83*
- Megan McLeod-Sprague / Seis Corona / 19.16*
- Halyn Lide / Smooth As Rico Suave / 24.54*
2025 NFR Barrel Racing Aggregate Standings
- Julie Plourde / Krum, Texas / 139.67 seconds on 10 runs / $94,035.54
- Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi / Lampasas, Texas / 140.36 / $76,292.99
- Tricia Aldridge / Sanger, Texas / 141.40 / $60,324.69
- Kassie Mowry / Dublin, Texas / 141.83 / $44,356.39
- Andrea Busby / Brock, Texas / 144.62 / $31,939.60
- Hayle Gibson-Stillwell / Redcrest, California / 146.20 / $23,065.32
- Hailey Kinsel / Cotulla, Texas / 151.080 / $15,968.30
- Emily Beisel / Weatherford, Oklahoma / 152.22 / $8,871.28
- Lisa Lockhart / Oelrichs, South Dakota / 156.53
- Wenda Johnson / Pawhuska, Oklahoma / 161.60
- Megan McLeod-Sprague / Marsing, Idaho / 164.10
- Halyn Lide / China Spring, Texas / 170.37
- Carlee Otero / Perrin, Texas / 170.79
- Katelyn Scott / Odessa, Texas / 123.96 on nine runs
- Tayla Moeykens / Three Forks, Montana / 151.40 on nine runs
2025 WPRA World Standings (after Round 10)
- Kassie Mowry / $403,881.82
- Tricia Aldridge / $386,566.96
- Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi / $347,247.96
- Hayle Gibson-Stillwell / $328,640.66
- Carlee Otero / $325,165.75
- Hailey Kinsel / $324,063.89
- Emily Beisel / $290,675.12
- Lisa Lockhart / $280,008.15
- Julie Plourde / $237,688.77
- Katelyn Scott / $214,691.08
- Halyn Lide / $209,024.81
- Megan McLeod-Sprague / $198,577.48
- Andrea Busby / $186,863.72
- Wenda Johnson / $177,407.58
- Anita Ellis / $156,991.74
- Tayla Moeykens / $152,560.90
Was a very enjoyable ten days.
Good job girls at Vegas rodeo, seems like everyone had a fun time