MOUNTAIN VIEW COUNTY — Sundre-area youth Koaltyn Ogilvie is the 2024 National Finals Rodeo junior bareback champion.
Ogilvie, 14, the lone Canadian in his competition, beat about 35 other youth to win that title in Las Vegas last month.
His goal now is to go back to the National Rodeo Finals next year to defend his title, although by then, he’d be in the senior category, which is for 15 and 16-year-olds. He turns 15 in February.
“This is definitely a big confidence-booster for sure, coming into next year,” he said during an interview with the Albertan.
Koaltyn ended up seven points ahead of all the other competitors. Proud grandparents say his total was 237.5.
“I was 86.4 in the first round and I was 81.5 (coming out of) the second round,”
“It was really good. I had a 20-point lead on everybody before the short go,” he said, noting that the short-go involves the top 10 kids.
“I didn’t have a very good horse in the short-go. I was 70 points for fourth in the short-go.”
Koaltyn was asked if he was nervous or tense before the short-go, knowing he had that lead going into it.
“No, I was excited,” he said. “All I had to do was ride.”
Another special aspect of the competition was that Koaltyn’s dad Rob was able to be there with – and for – him.
“Dad helped me a lot,” Koaltyn said. “He helped me put on my rigging in the chute. He helped pay for mostly the whole trip.”
Rob said the chance to be there while his son competed was really special, as he wasn’t able to do so last year.
“It was probably the best (time) of my life so far. Yeah, it was good. It was fun watching and he did what he needed to,” he said.
Rob was asked if he was worried his son might get injured during the competition.
“Not at all,” he said. “He’s a good strong kid. He knows what he’s doing.”
Rob said if Koaltyn qualifies for the National Finals Rodeo next year, “we’ll do everything in our power to get him down there again.”
