Kinlie Brennise is making her strongest bid yet for a berth at the National Finals Breakaway Roping (NFBR) in Las Vegas, currently sitting No. 5 in the WPRA Breakaway Standings with $46,932.41 won thus far.
She got here thanks to a standout winter run that included a second-place finish at the prestigious Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo.
“It’s super exciting,” Brennise, 24, said. “It’s definitely a spot I haven’t been in before, but one I’ve been aiming for.”
Now in her fourth year of full-time breakaway competition, Brennise is entering the summer with confidence, experience, and horsepower on her side.
Her gelding, Rio, has been the cornerstone of her success at larger setups, while her mare Cat handles tighter arenas. After years of borrowing Rio from her brother, Brennise officially purchased the bay gelding following her Fort Worth success, making this her first summer campaign with him fully in her trailer.
“Rio fits all setups, and I feel like I win the most on him,” Brennise said. “My plan this winter was just—if it’s working, don’t change it.”
That mindset paid off. From Fort Worth through the spring run, Brennise capitalized on consistent performances and a sharpened mental game. She credits her growth to both competition reps and the guidance of mentor Marty Becker, who has helped her improve her roping while reinforcing the importance of mental preparation on the road.
“This is the hardest I’ve ever worked at roping,” Brennise said. “Every year my mental game has gotten stronger, and that’s probably where I’ve grown the most—just letting myself compete to my best abilities.”
She’s also fine-tuned her approach in the arena, learning to play smarter with every calf drawn.
“In the past, it’s always been ‘go for first,’ but now I know that even if I don’t have the calf to win it, I can still go make money,” Brennise explained. “You don’t always have to be 1.8.”
With a full slate of tour and circuit rodeos on deck—including her first appearance at the Calgary Stampede—Brennise will be flying to some stops while her mother helps drive her rig. She plans to haul with Josie Goodrich later this summer and continues to collaborate closely with breakaway roper Haley Kinney, even if they aren’t sharing a trailer full time.
As the July run approaches, Brennise is focused on staying consistent, roping smart, and relying on her tight-knit circle of support.
“It’s all coming together,” Brennise said. “Now I just want to win wherever I can—one calf at a time.”
