Buffalo native and Buffalo High graduate Cole Reiner is currently the #1 Bareback Bronc Rider in the world. Reiner will compete at the 2022 National Finals Rodeo Dec. 1-10 in Las Vegas.
Reiner, 23, started riding broncs in 2016 when he was 17. He attended Buffalo High School and was on the BHS wrestling team. He said he also grew up with rope.
In his junior year, he started riding broncs in the Kaycee and Buffalo night rodeos, but didn’t really start riding seriously until he got to college. He attended Sheridan College for a year and then Casper College for a year, now riding full time in rodeo.
“It’s been pretty quick from the start to now.” Reiner said. “I’ve had three trips to the NFR in the four years since I started riding.”
Asked about some of the most memorable rides he’s had, Cole said a ride before the 2020 National Finals for a horse named Virgil at the American in Arlington, Texas. He also remembers the walks in the national final. He added that one of the highlights was last year:
He enjoys life. “Just being able to go out and ride horses and call it your job is very special,” he said.
He talked about the cowboys choosing the broncs they will ride in each competition.
He said he has ridden most of the horses in the draw and is looking forward to competing in the national finals.
Just as cowboys are the best riders in the country, broncs are the best horses in the United States and Canada. And just like the cowboys, every year there are “Bucking Stock of the Year Awards” when the best bulls, bucking barebacks and saddle broncs are voted on and awarded first place.
He explained the difference between bareback, saddle bronc and bull riding. He said he has ridden saddle broncs three times but prefers to ride backless broncs.
Reiner talked about the rodeo circuit he travels each year to compete. “I live in Wyoming in the spring and fall and spend most of the winter in Texas and most of the summer in Utah. We start in Texas in January, February and March. From there we go to California in April and to Utah and Nevada in June and across the country in July.”
He added that August is mostly about rodeos in the Northwest. He said that last year they finished in Seattle and this year they will finish in Sioux Falls. There are over 600 professional rodeos across the country and Canada. Next year he plans to travel to the tumult of Calgary and is looking forward to it.
He said smooth travelers travel light: “We have our own equipment and carry our own things. We don’t take horses; we simply show up and the horses are provided by the stock contractors.” Those competing in timed events, calf roping and bulldogging, have their own horses. They travel with a truck and a trailer, and the roughest travel with trucks and trailers. Since all they have is bareback rigging or a saddle, they can even fly if necessary at the rodeo. He said they usually ride with two or three other riders and have their own group.
He said what he enjoyed most about the rodeo life was the feeling of getting on the bronc, having a good ride and hearing the crowd. He also liked to do something that not many people can say they do or have done. Traveling is another thing he likes to be on the circuit, traveling all over and making money doing what he loves. “It’s a pretty unique experience,” Reiner added.
He said rodeo is a small sport, just a few hundred raw riders and a few thousand timed event guys. He said they all get to know each other pretty well and they all help each other out.
He added about the support he received
Reiner will have a big standing ovation in Vegas. His parents, Joe and Michelle Reiner, along with his aunt Teri and uncle Tommy; his grandmother, Ann; his brother, Clay, and some friends from Buffalo will cheer him on. “We are very proud of him, happy for him and looking forward to an exciting NFR,” said Michelle.
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