Taylor Munsell stopped the clock in 1.9 seconds to split the 2026 NFR Open championship with Tiffany Schieck, winning the tiebreaker and earning $11,500 in the finals and $14,875 across the week in Colorado Springs.
Munsell has qualified for the NFR Open out of the Prairie Circuit every year, coming close to winning it a few times in the past—she’s broken a barrier once, she had missed one another year with a chance to win it.
This time, Munsell finally finished the job.
“I’ve gotten to go every year, and it’s been a bucket-list rodeo to win, that’s for sure,” the reigning world champion said. “I’m super excited. I kind of had a feeling that my time was coming. If I kept going, I was going to get it eventually.”
Munsell’s road to the win started by being first out in Bracket One. With little information on the start and a stronger set of calves, she had to decide how aggressive she wanted to be from the jump.
She knew the barrier had been moved to three foot-under after being two under in previous years, but she was not confident enough in the start to take the chance. Munsell was off the barrier just a bit and made the split decision to just get a time.
“Just go get him roped,” Munsell remembered telling herself. “See where it falls, and then tomorrow you’ll do what you’ve got to do.”
Her 3.7-second run placed second in the first round for $2,250. Only three girls caught in the first round of Bracket One, which made what Munsell needed to do when she returned as the final roper in the second round simple.
Catch, and she would advance. But, as true as that was, that didn’t make the job any easier.
“Being last out and knowing you just need to catch is a whole new world of nerves,” Munsell said. “I would’ve rather been first out again.”
Her second calf stepped to the right hard, presenting the kind of shot that you either take and be the hero or kick through to be safe in the average—which is exactly what she did.
Colonel, registered as Hotrod Song, is the Alva, Oklahoma cowgirl’s infamous gelding that has seen her to some of the biggest wins of her career, and the one who got the call at the NFR Open. When that calf stepped over in front of him and he backed off, Munsell kicked him through it and stayed safe.
“I joked that I’ve never petted my horse for being too tight before,” Munsell laughed. “The calf stepped across me, and my horse kind of shorted me out. I was like, ‘Perfect. I’m going to keep swinging and kicking now.’ I freed my horse up and just went and roped him.”
She split third in the round for $1,125 and won Bracket One’s average with 7.3 seconds on two head. Then she hit the road.
Between her bracket and the NFR Open finals, Munsell flew to Salinas, California, where fellow NFBR cowgirl Maddy Jacobs had taken her other horse, Ray. Munsell roped at Salinas, made the short round and then flew back to Colorado Springs for her shot at the NFR Open title.
In the finals, Munsell drew a calf she had only seen on video but knew should give her an opportunity.
“Well, I might as well try to win something here,” Munsell said of her thoughts before she backed in the box.
Schieck was seventh out and made Munsell’s decision even easier by running through one in 1.9 seconds.
“That made my mind up for me,” Munsell said. “I’m going fast.”
Munsell matched the 1.9, tying her with Schieck and forcing a tiebreaker between the two very different runs.
“She made an amazing, awesome run,” Munsell said of Schieck. “She made a hard run—I made a really easy run. I got so close to the barrier. She missed the barrier and roped him way out there in front of her. I nailed the barrier, and it all felt super easy for me. My horse was perfect.”
The run, worth $11,500, also marked a successful return for Colonel, who had three months off following RodeoHouston. After a flare-up before Houston, Munsell sent him to rehab rather than continuing to ride him through the spring.
Colonel returned at Greeley and had enough energy to buck with Munsell. Before Colorado Springs, she spent a few days at Linsay Sumpter’s house and ran about three calves on him before deciding they were ready.
“He feels as good as he has in a long time,” Munsell said. “It’s real exciting for the rest of the year to have him.”
The win was also meaningful because Munsell earned it while representing the Prairie Circuit, the circuit she has resided in for her entire ProRodeo career.
“It is super special,” Munsell said. “I feel like I’ve got a strong connection to my rodeos and my circuit, and it feels like home. I love going back for them.”
Munsell credited her mother and her mother’s friend, Jerry, with helping keep the operation moving while she flew between Colorado Springs and Salinas. They hauled the rig and helped get Colonel to Cheyenne while Munsell finished the California portion of her schedule.
“I couldn’t have done it without them,” Munsell said. “There’s a long list of people that make this stuff possible.”
After years of close calls, Munsell finally left Colorado Springs with the NFR Open title that had remained on her list.
“It’s a great title,” Munsell said. “I’ve wanted to win it for a long time. I’ve gotten close. I’ve broken a barrier to win it. I’ve missed one to win it. It was exciting to finally get the deal sealed.”
