Seven-time Indian National Finals Rodeo breakaway qualifier Erin Jones added the barrel racing and the women’s all-around titles to her name at the 2025 INFR in Las Vegas, Nevada, October 14-18.
Spending the majority of her rodeo career in the breakaway, Erin Jones of Chinle, Arizona competed in the women’s all-around race this year after qualifying in both the breakaway and barrel racing, thanks to her 7-year-old grade mare, “Hailey.”
“My barrel horse is Hailey and my breakaway horse is Stella, she’s about 8 year old and they are sisters,” Jones said. “They both came from Kassidy Dennison. They both didn’t know a thing about barrels or roping until it came down to training and seasoning them and they caught on quickly.”
When Jones got Hailey she was 3 years old and only halter broke.
“At the time I was going to school and living in the city, so my father and older sister worked with her,” Jones said. “Then when I moved back home and started doing more rodeos again, I was lucky enough to be her jockey and get her seasoned.”
After an exciting year, Jones made her way to the South Point Arena where she started the final with a round one win in the barrel racing. Their time of 15.350 earned the pair $2,338. In the second round they placed fourth with a 15.483 for an additional $1,423. Out of the money in round three, the pair split fourth place with Gabriyelle Irving in round four with a 15.493 for another check worth $1,270.
With a time of 61.920 on four runs, Jones claimed the barrel racing average title and another $4,667.
“Our finals went fantastic! Hailey knocked it out of the park even for it being her first time running at South Point,” Jones added. “I had a lot of confidence on both my horses because I ran them all year long and I didn’t really change much. Ijust kept riding them like I’ve always been.”
In the breakaway, Jones’s goal was to place in the average to stay in contention for the all around title.
“I just knew I had to catch my calves to keep leading the all-around,” she said. “I was able to catch all four rounds and end up No. 7 in the average.”
In total, Jones won just under $11,000 in Las Vegas and the women’s all-around champion trailer.
“I’ve always been a breakaway roper, but never had a big win like this before until now,” she said. “The crowd is awesome, especially having family and relatives and your tribe together, it’s a big crowd and lots of cheering.”
In addition to INFR rodeos in 2026, Jones plans to also get her Women’s Professional Rodeo Association permit.
“A huge thanks to everyone who supports, cheers, helps us out down the rodeo road,” Jones concluded. “Especially to my family because without my parents I wouldn’t have these two beautiful, athletic equines and trailers!”
