OGDEN -- He was this close to winning $100,000 on "Showdown Sunday" at the Calgary Stampede on July 17.
Bareback rider Kaycee Feild, of Payson, had ridden Stampede Warrior, of Calgary Stampede, for 91 points to take the showdown round lead. The fourth and final rider was Clint Cannon, of Waller, Texas.
Cannon spurred Street Dance, of Kesler Rodeo and a 2010 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo horse, to 92 points, bumping Feild out of the top spot on the bareback riding leader board.
"I rode the best I could and left with a lot of money, about $48,000," the 24-year-old Feild said. "I was disappointed I didn't win the $100,000. I knew the horse that Clint had, and I had won Cloverdale (British Columbia) on that horse.
"I knew Clint had the horse to win it on or tie me," he said. "I was hoping for a ride-off."
The money Feild won at the Calgary Stampede does not count toward the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association world bareback riding standings where Feild is sitting third ($70,214).
"The best guys are going to be at the top this time of year," he said. "Where you want to be is Las Vegas (Wrangler NFR, Dec. 1-10), where there is a lot of money to be won and a lot of good horses. "If you want to make a living at rodeo, you have to make the finals," said Feild, who is a three-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifier.
In Saturday's fourth performance of the 78th annual $134,307 Ogden Pioneer Days Rodeo, Feild drew Three Hills Rodeo Inc. Tequila Sheila, a gelding.
"I've never seen him before," Feild said. "I talked to (saddle bronc rider) Wade Sundell in Salinas, Calif., on Friday and he said the horse would have one move, go straight and pop off. He was a hopper.
"He was pretty weak and pretty easy to ride; it was not a good draw," he said. "This is one of the (Wilderness) circuit rodeos, and I have to go to 15 to qualify for the Wilderness Circuit Finals."
Had Feild had his pick of the horses out Saturday, he would have taken Three Hills Rodeos' Mama Mia, which went to the Wrangler NFR last year.
"I've been wanting to get on him for a while," he said.
Out of a right-hand delivery, Tequila Sheila went straight down Ogden Pioneer Stadium after leaving the chute hard.
"He made the one big move and loped off," Feild said.
Feild scored 82 points at the Days of '47 Rodeo, which should get him a check, he said.
He didn't make the short round at the Snake River Stampede, which concluded Saturday in Nampa, Idaho.
Feild split first and second with Bobby Mote (83 points, $3,554) in the first round of California Rodeo Salinas, a Wrangler Million Dollar Tour Gold Rodeo. He is up there today in the short round.
Feild leaves Salt Lake International Airport at 7 a.m. today and flies into San Jose. He then drives to Salinas.
Feild finished fifth in the 2010 world bareback riding standings with $161,190 despite breaking his right arm the first week of June when a horse reared in the chute at Livermore, Calif.
"I went to Caldwell (Idaho) and Ellensburg (Wash.), but my arm wasn't quite right," he said. "I sat out until the finals. I'm 100 percent healthy, and this year has been a lot of fun.
"I spent a lot of time with my family, only going to 10-15 rodeos early on," Feild said. "I've hit it hard since the first of June. I've got the finals made, but I still go 100 percent at every rodeo I have because I want to win."
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