Two professional breakaway ropers sporting the last name “Williams” are poised to return to the NFBR in 2025, buoyed by consistent paychecks everywhere from RodeoHouston to the Calgary Stampede.
With Hali Williams currently sitting No. 4 in the World Standings with $130,475 and Joey Williams at No. 11 with $109,174, they’re both on track for another trip to Las Vegas, thanks to their horsepower, strategy and steady determination.
The Breakaway Roping Journal wanted to shine a spotlight on their solid summers, thanks to Top Hand Ropes. ⤵️
Hali Williams: Healthy and Hungry
Q: This is the first summer you’ve been fully healthy since your ankle/foot injury. How has that changed things?
Hali: It’s been really exciting. The last two years I felt like I was competing with one hand tied behind my back—just trying to get by without jarring my leg. This summer I actually got to experiment, play different strategies, and feel more like myself. At Puyallup especially, it was like flipping a switch. Yoga and Pilates helped loosen everything up, and suddenly I could ride the way I used to.
Q: You’ve had multiple horses in your string this year. How did you decide who to ride where?
Hali: Early on I rode my young one, Blaze, a lot, and then used Red Light when I knew the setup called for him. Blaze is wicked fast—he lets me float across the line and still be 1.6 or 1.7. Red Light is my confidence horse. No matter what, he makes things feel easy, though he doesn’t always stay tight. And Chester—he’s my handyman. He can do anything: short setups, mud, Salinas, Sheridan. Having all three has let me pick horses for the setups instead of asking one horse to do everything.
Q: You’ve climbed from 29th earlier this season to No. 4. How does it feel being in this position now?
Hali: Honestly, it’s a blessing. At the start of the summer I couldn’t string two runs together. I’d be just a hair off, over and over. I finally had to stop overthinking and trust the basics—and God’s plan. Once I did, the checks started to come. To be sitting fourth now and not sweating the cutoff is incredible. Last year I was on the bubble, watching everyone else. This year, I get to focus on making smart runs and maybe even taking a shot at a gold buckle.
Joey Williams: Still Hitting it Hard
Q: Your winter looked solid—what set the tone for you this season?
Joey: Houston. I finished third there, and it gave me enough money to say, “Okay, let’s make a run at this again.” I didn’t really have big wins, but I placed at almost every winter rodeo. That consistency gave me a base to work from.
Q: How did the summer go compared to past years?
Joey: Different, for sure. Usually I hit big here and there and stay home more, but this year I entered more rodeos and traveled harder. It hasn’t been the fireworks kind of summer—it’s been steady. Placing along. No headline wins, but enough splits and thirds and fourths to keep climbing.
Q: You’ve been riding Baybe this year, but also your red mare Reba. Tell us how you chose between them.
Joey: Baybe actually came up three-legged lame at home mid-summer, and I thought she might be out for the year. Thankfully it turned out to be an abscess or bruise. She bounced back way quicker than we expected, and by Calgary I was back on her. But in the meantime, my other mare, Reba, stepped up huge.
Q: Let’s talk about Reba—she hasn’t gotten as much spotlight. Who is she?
Joey: Reba is out of a full sister to Baby and by our stud Smoke N Sunrise. We raised her, my husband started her, and I’ve roped on her for a few years. She used to get the “dirty work”—mud runs, first rounds. But this year she carried me all summer when Baby was out. I probably even won more circuit money on her than Baby. She scores hard, stays up in the bridle, and really shines on longer scores. Honestly, I couldn’t be prouder of her.
Q: With the standings tightening, what’s your outlook on the home stretch?
Joey: Simple—finish it out. I’m entered in a few Texas rodeos and just want to cross the line steady. This would be my fourth NFBR, and to do it on both Baby and Reba means a lot. They’ve both kept me consistent, and that’s why I’m still in the Top 15 fight.
Final Word
Hali is headed to Sioux Falls for the Cinch Playoff’s finale at the Governor’s Cup, while Joey is hitting a smattering of Texas ProRodeos to hold her World Standings position as her peers rope in Sioux Falls where big paydays await.
So far, their seasons have been a collection of respectable runs, building their earnings brick by brick. And while their consistency may not grab headlines, in 2025, it’s sending both Williams women back to the NFBR.
