An Interview with
RHEN RICHARD
Rodeo Life: What is it like compe��ng against your rodeo
idol, Trevor Brazile�� Have you learned anything from
compe��ng against him over the past seasons��
Rhen Richard: I used to spend a lot of ��me at Trevor’s in the
winter so I’ve known him for a long ��me. I try to be a visual
learner towards him. If you really want to learn and you watch
guys like Trevor – there’s always something to learn.
RL: You are a decorated cowboy with many renowned
rodeo buckles under your belt, what has been your
favorite win of your career and why�� Where do you
keep all of your champion buckles��
RR: My favorite is Presco�� ��ust because it’s a pres��ge
buckle and its cool looking. It’s a really old rodeo and they’ve
had great tradi��ons there forever, so to win that buckle was
rewarding. I’ve got a trophy case in my house where I keep all
my buckles.
RL: What buckle are you spor��ng for the 2019 season��
RR: I actually broke my Presco�� buckle, that’s what I usually
wear, I broke it at San Antonio. Right now, I’m wearing my
2017 St. Paul All-Around buckle – It’s a really cool buckle.
RL: What was it like breaking that million-dollar
barrier in earnings this season��
RR: It was a really cool accomplishment for me, there’s not a
ton of guys that have rodeoed who can say they have done
that, so for that to happen that was meaningful to me.
RL: What is the greatest thing you’ve learned in the
ten years of being a part of the PRCA��
RR: The hardest part for me was ��ust learning how to not
try too hard and beat myself up. I grew up really into sports
and it’s ��ust a di��erent way of compe��ng. You learn how to
compete in sports, but it’s a di��erent mindset. In sports, you
can try a li��le harder and be more intense and you bene��t
from it�� in rodeo it’s the opposite, you have to learn how to
calm yourself down and not try too hard and beat yourself
up when things go o�� course.
RL: You were a huge football star in High School and was
o��ered scholarships to several universi��es, how hard was
it to choose between pursuing a career in football vs. rodeo��
Do you s��ll get out on the football ��eld when you aren’t
out domina��ng in the arena��
RR: At the ��me, I had the rodeo bug so bad – I wanted to
rodeo. If young people have the opportunity to go play sports,
I hope that they take that chance while they’re young because
you can always come back and rodeo. Looking back, I kind
of wish I pursued it, but I have no regrets. I’m thankful for
everything I’ve gained from rodeo and hopefully, I can keep
moving forward and ge��ng be��er.
ro
I h
yo
of
ev
m
My M
dad s��ll coaches li��le league here Roosevelt where we
liv
live. In the fall when they’re playing, I come home from
ro
rodeoing and we go watch high school football games. Some
of
of my best friends coach high school football, so I’m around
it
it when I’m home and s��ll really en��oy the sport. I’m a big fan
of
of football. ��e’ve been raised in a football life with my dad
be
being a former college football player. It’s been a big part of
m
me growing up.
RL
RL: What was it like to debut at the Wrangler Na��onal
Fi
Finals Rodeo as the only cowboy quali��ed for two events��
H
How was your ��rst WNFR experience�� What did you learn
fr
from it that you can use for this season and hopefully at
th
this year’s WNFR��
RR
RR: I had this idea thought up in my head on how it was going
to
to be and when I ��nally got there and got into the rou��ne it
su
sunk in that this is ��ust another rodeo. It’s is no di��erent than
PRCA ProRodeo photo by James Phifer
��
Rodeo LIFE 51