LAS VEGAS — DECEMBER 13, 2025 — Each year the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presents special awards throughout the week beyond the awards crowned in the world standings race. These awards recognize accomplishments from horses, as well as inhonoring the spirit of the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association. This year was no exception. Halyn Lide’s Jettin Ta Heaven won the Horse with the Most Heart award, Carlee Otero’s AM Regina George won the Scoti Flit Bar award, and Julie Plourde was honored with the Best Dressed Award.
Jettin Ta Heaven Named Horse with the Most Heart
Halyn Lide’s main mount 2012 gelding Jettin Ta Heaven (JL Dash Ta Heaven x Zeros Gypsy Jet x Three O Jones) was awarded the 2025 Horse with the Most Heart, which is voted on by the top 15 barrel racers. “Keeper” was unfortunately unable to attend the 2025 NFR due to contracting EHV. As of December 15, 2025, Keeper was home and recovering well.
AM Regina George Wins Scoti Flit Bar Award
Carlee Otero’s 2018 palomino mare AM Regina George (A Smooth Guy x ORO Rose x Man In The Money) was awarded the Scoti Flit Bar Rising Star Award, which is awarded to an outstanding first-time qualifying NFR horse in memory of Lana Merrick’s Scoti Flit Bar. At the 2025 NFR, Otero and “Regina” won Rounds Three, Five, Nine and 10, plus they turned in the fastest time of the NFR. In Round Three they turned in a 13.54. In Round Five they ran a 13.43. In Round Nine they clocked the fastest time of the entire rodeo with a 13.20. They finished strong with the second-fastest time of the NFR, a 13.28, in Round 10. Thanks to Regina’s help Otero finished No. 5 in the WPRA world standings.
Julie Plourde Wins WPRA Best Dressed
Held in conjunction with the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame, the WPRA awarded the 2025 Jerry Ann Taylor Best Dressed Award to Julie Plourde. Plourde was a last minute addition to the 2025 Wrangler NFR replacing Anita Ellis, who was forced to draw out because of an injury.
On November 15, 2025, first-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier Anita Ellis suffered a fall, striking her head on concrete. She was rushed to the hospital where scans revealed a small brain bleed, a few additional small bleeds and fractures to the right side of her face. She was placed in the ICU where she remained until November 25, 2025.
Though on the road to recovery, due to the severity of her injuries, Ellis is not able to attend and compete at the 2025 NFR. Ellis sat at No. 8 in the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association world standings, having earned $146,992 on the year including the prestigious Calgary Stampede championship among others. Ellis was replaced at the 2025 NFR with No. 16 Plourde, marking Plourde’s her first trip to the NFR.
Initially from Quebec, Canada, Plourde made her professional rodeo debut in 2024, ending the regular season as WPRA Resistol Reserve Rookie of the Year. This year, she just fell short of finishing inside the top 15, coming in a little more than $12,000 behind, and concluded the 2025 regular season in the No. 16 position with $118,276.34 in earnings across 92 rodeos.
Awarded back number 119, Plourde plans to make the most of her NFR debut while honoring Ellis’s standout season and the high standard she set.
In a statement shared on Facebook, Plourde wrote:
“This is not the way I was expecting to make my first appearance at the NFR. Running down the alley of the Thomas & Mack is every little girl’s dream. My thoughts and prayers go to my fellow competitor Anita Ellis and Brandon Ellis. I will think about her every time I run next week.”
Throughout 10 rounds of NFR action Plourde rode Wateverock RC all while dressed in theme for each night.
