Rylee George is competing in her first-ever NFBR in 2024, but the performance she put on throughout Rounds 1–5 looked more like one from a veteran, winning Rounds 1 and 5, earning $15,919.
“I’m excited to be here, and the two horses I brought—Royce and Deputy—are the best I’ve ever rode,” George, 24, said. “I’ve been just trying to take in every moment since I’ve come out here.”
Rylee George’s Day 1 NFBR record:
- Round 1: 1.8 seconds, $6,196.58
- Round 2: 3.2 seconds
- Round 3: 12.0 seconds
- Round 4: 2.0 seconds, $4,059.82
- Round 5: 1.7 seconds, $5,662.39
Find full 2024 NFBR results here.
Rylee George’s Day one recap
Rylee George’s two mounts on day one were 13-year-old bay gelding Wright Style, known as “Royce,” and 20-year-old sorrel gelding Fantaz Popularresort called “Deputy.”
George started the NFBR off with a bang, roping in 1.8 seconds on Royce in Round 1 as the second roper out. The time held throughout the round, earning her the round win and $6,196.
In Round 2, George made a 3.2-second run.
“My second calf was a little softer and [Royce] horse gave me a good go again, but I hit the panel with my rope leaving the box, so I took a couple more swings,” George explained.
Check out the 2024 NFBR horses’ pedigrees here.
She caught a barrier in Round 3 when her calf didn’t leave as strong as she expected, but regrouped for a 2.0-second run in Round 4, pulling another $4,060 check.
“My bay, I rode him on the first four and he was good every run,” George said. “He was getting a little nervous with the calves fighting the chute and [I knew] my fifth calf fought the chute real bad. So I got on Deupty for Round 5 because he stands there like a rock.”
George’s most stunning run of the day was a 1.7-second run in Round 5, tying the NFBR record. Her time held until the last run, when Danielle Lowman stepped in and matched it. They pair were Round 5 Co-Champions.
“In the fifth round, I actually knew that calf because I ran him through at the break in,” George said. “I knew he was a little bit stronger so I could take a better go at him.”
Rylee George’s Day two game plan
“Coming back [for day two], the pen we’ll start on is the softer pen, so I’ll probably run my first calf tomorrow on Deputy, and then get back on the bay horse,” George explained.
The Breakaway Roping Journal is on site to bring you the best moments and stories from the 2024 NFBR. Stay tuned for more social coverage and website deep dives right here.
