Oceane Veilleux leads the WPRA Rookie standings aboard two standout geldings.
Oceane Veilleux continues her success in the arena, currently leading the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association Rookie standings in the barrel racing. After winning the Resistol Rookie Roundup in April aboard Frenchmoney To Vegas, the 19-year-old Canadian maintains her lead in the standings by over $6,000.
Her main mount Heavens Guy (JL Dash Ta Heaven x Easy Guys x Holland Ease), who has over $160,000 in EquiStat reported earnings, spent most of the spring recovering from an injury and swimming to stay in shape. Veilleux is excited to have “Ice Cream” back in the trailer for summer rodeos.
“I’m excited to be able to run them both, but having Ice Cream back is good so I can give ‘Vegas’ a little break. For the whole month he has been a rodeo horse, so he’s not used to all that traveling and all these rodeos back to back,” Veilleux said.
Originally from St-Alfred, Quebec, Veilleux is a student and rodeo team member at Texas A&M-Commerce majoring in biology, with future career goals of attending pharmacy school.
“These girls are really fast so I’m just like whatever happens, happens, but I’m for sure trying for the Rookie of the Year,” Veilleux said. “Over the summer anything can happen, so I’m really trying to make every rodeo count.”
WPRA Rookie Standings as of June 18, 2024
1. Oceane Veilleux, St-Alfred, QC, $24,383.85
2. Millie Marquart, Mason, TX, $18,304.79
3. Sadie Miller, Jonesboro, AR, $13,790.71
4. Tiffany Lujan, Stephenville, TX, $11,594.50
5. Julie Plourde, Saint-Gedeon, QC, $11,295.15
