Tricia Aldridge Wins WPRA Reserve World Championship

The fairytale story of Tricia Aldridge and Adios Pantalones and how they captured the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association Reserve World Championship.

Tricia Aldridge capped a breakout season by finishing as the WPRA reserve world champion, turning heads all year with her standout stallion Adios Pantalones and delivering even more impressive performances when it mattered most at the National Finals Rodeo. 

                  “Adios” is the No. 1 all-time leading futurity horse and made a seamless transition into his first year of rodeo competition as only a 5-year-old, earning the lion’s share of Aldridge’s regular-season earnings. Aldridge credited faith and focus for helping her navigate the pressure of the Finals and the long season that preceded it.

“To do what he did as a futurity horse and then to [qualify for the NFR] — he won all but $400 of my [regular-season earnings],” Aldridge said. “I had this strange peace going in, because I know he has a story to tell. God has a plan, and He’s not going to leave it out there for you. He got me here, so he’s going to finish it out.”  

The season demanded more from both horse and rider than ever before, including a heavy summer schedule and 10 straight runs at the NFR.

“I think it’s a lot of strategy,” Aldridge said. “I’ve never had to ask a horse for that many runs ever. This summer we worked our butts off. We had to make a lot of runs. You have to fail and get up, then fail and get up and fail, and get up and then drive eight hours.

“Even coming [to the NFR], I’ve never had to make 10 runs in a row. It’s a lot to ask,” she continued. “You really have to trust your horse. He was great. He is incredible; there will never be another Adios.”

The duo from Texas came into the NFR full steam and never slowed down. In Round One, they turned in a 14.11 for fifth place and $9,463. They followed that in Round Two with a 13.73 for fourth place and $15,377. They were out of the money in Round Three with a 13.82 but came back in Round Four to win the round with a 13.42 and pick up $36,668. In Round Five they finished fifth with a 13.61 for $9,463. Round Six posed tough luck with a downed barrel, but they were back in winning form in Round Seven for second with a 13.52, worth $28,980. They earned their second NFR go-round win in Round Eight from a time of 13.64 for another $36,668 and finished fifth in Round Nine from a 13.69 for $9,463. They capped off their year and the NFR with another stellar run of 13.43 in Round 10, which finished second for $28,980. 

Looking ahead, Aldridge isn’t rushing to define the next goal, choosing instead to enjoy the moment and the partnership she has built with Adios.

“I don’t know what I’m going to do with Adios now,” Aldridge said. “I don’t know what the next goal is, but I know we’re going to have fun. I know we will still do some rodeos, because I think [Round 10 was] the first night in the alley that when they announced Adios, it got crazy. I could hear it change.”

After 10 nights in Las Vegas, the response was unmistakable — proof that Adios won over more than just fans of barrel racing, but fans in the rodeo world in general. 

“I’ve been here all 10 nights, and it’s been loud, but [in Round 10] I could hear them cheer, and Adios was just so proud, and you could feel him stick his chest out,” Aldridge said.

In Vegas, Aldridge and Adios won two go-rounds, placed in six other rounds, finished third in the average from an aggregate time of 141.40 for $60,325, and moved from No. 11 in the WPRA world standings to No. 2.  They earned a total of $245,385 in NFR earnings and finished the year in the WPRA world standings with $386,567. 

While the reserve world championship exceeded her expectations, Aldridge said it also reinforced that her journey is far from over.

“I thought it would have been cool to be in the top 10. I had joked like, you know, I knew I wasn’t going to win the world, because if God had let me win the world, I’d be retired tomorrow,” she said with a laugh. “I know I’m supposed to come back and do a little more. My work’s not done yet.”