OGDEN — Even a defending world champion can have an off day.
But it’s an uncommon occurrence for Kaycee Feild, who joined his father, Lewis, as a second-generation world champion bareback rider in 2011.
Feild, who is sitting fourth in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association world standings ($54,631), scored just 75 points Saturday at the $145,728 Ogden Pioneer Days Rodeo.
The 25-year-old Feild, of Lake Shore, drew East Coast Otis, of Three Hills Rodeo Inc., a 10-year-old gelding.
“I didn’t know anything about the horse and had never seen him,” Feild said. “He left (the chute) real good, and after that, the horse had control of me instead of me having control of him. After marking him out, it was just trying to play catch-up.”
Feild, a four-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifier, set a new single-season bareback riding record with $319,986. He established a new WNFR aggregate record (8601⁄2 points on 10 head), and also set a record as the only roughstock rider to win — or split the win — in six rounds at a single Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.
His $179,327 won at the Wrangler NFR was a new earnings record for single-event competitors.
“Winning the world title is something I’ve dreamed of since I was a little kid,” Feild said. “I’ve made enough money to make the finals again, and there are still a lot of rodeos left.”
Feild didn’t make Saturday’s short round at the Snake River Stampede in Nampa, Idaho, after marking 77 points on Wednesday. It took 79 points to qualify for the 12-rider finals.
Given a choice, Feild would have picked Three Hills’ Mama Mia, the No. 3-ranked bareback horse of the 2011 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, for his ride at the 79th annual Ogden Pioneer Days Rodeo.
“She bucks and is not phony. She is always honest,” he said.
Tilden Hooper, of Carthage, Texas, took over the go-round lead with 84 points atop Three Hills Rodeo Inc. Mississippi Queen, a 10-year-old mare.
“I’m not happy with my ride,” Feild said. “There is always a rodeo tomorrow and you have to better yourself. I didn’t perform to the best of my ability tonight.”
Feild is getting married July 31 to Stephanie Calentine at his new Lake Shore home, which is close to Spanish Fork.
“She is from Billings, Mont. I met her two years ago in Cheyenne (Wyo.),” he said. “Getting on a bucking horse isn’t nerve-racking; getting married is. I’ll be more nervous saying ‘yes’ than nodding my head.”
With his wedding on the horizon, Feild didn’t enter The Days of ’47 Rodeo or California Rodeo Salinas.
He is up at Spanish Fork Fiesta Days Rodeo — a Wrangler Million Dollar Tour Silver Rodeo — on Monday and Cheyenne Frontier Days, which is a Wrangler Million Dollar Tour Gold Rodeo, on Wednesday and Thursday.
Feild hits the Eagle (Colo.) County Fair and & Rodeo on Friday and Deadwood (S.D.) Days of ’76 Rodeo on Saturday. The short round at Cheyenne Frontier Days is July 29.
“I’m so thankful and feel so blessed to have accomplished everything I have so far in this sport,” he said. “Rodeo is not such a chore any more. It’s a privilege to ride the best bucking horses in the world and being with my buddies doing what I love.
“I feel like I can get better every time I ride,” Feild said. “I love Utah rodeos, which are some of the funnest rodeos you can go to. The crowd gets behind everybody, whether they’re from Utah or not. And what better scenery is there than the mountains to the east when you’re in the chute?”
So what’s on Feild’s radar, other than his upcoming nuptials?
“Winning Cheyenne and Pendleton (Ore.) and then another gold buckle,” he said. “Ogden is one of my top 10 rodeos to come to. The money may not be as good, but it’s getting there. When you come here, you know you’re getting on something good. I’ve drawn really well at Cheyenne.”
Stace Smith Pro Rodeos, one of Ogden Pioneer Days Rodeo stock contractors, is producing Cheyenne Frontier Days this year.
Stace Smith, of Athens, Texas, is an eight-time PRCA stock contractor of the year (2004-11).
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