Another WPRA member looking for her first trip to the National Breakaway Finals is Haiden Thompson. In 2025, she won the Resistol Rookie of the Year and now she finished atop the earnings leaderboard for breakaway roping with $24,026, she is quickly making a name for herself in the professional ranks.
“It was memorable,” stated Thompson about her Cowboy Christmas week. “I won money at six out of eight rodeos. I am super happy my horses worked well and I drew good calves. It was the true definition of planes, trains and automobiles. I am super thankful for all the people that helped me out during the week.”
Thompson picked up checks in Cody, WY; St. Paul, OR; Greeley, CO; Killdeer, ND, Mandan, ND and Prescott, AZ on three different horses including a borrowed horse from 24-time world champion Jackie Crawford in Greeley. Thompson’s biggest check came in a five-way tie for first at the St. Paul Rodeo in a time of 2.2 seconds good for $7,981, followed by her win in Mandan for $6,641 with a 2.0 second run. The only two rodeos she entered where she didn’t win a check were Oakley, UT and Basin City, WA.
She is traveling with world champion Martha Angelone who finished in the top 10 of earners as well with $13,590 good for sixth overall.
“Martha got the short end of the stick that week as we had to split up in the beginning and she had to do all the driving while I was flying everywhere so super huge thanks to her,” Thompson said. “It is definitely more fun when we are both winning for sure. She had a great week but didn’t draw as well but where she did draw well, she made it count.”
You can bet this traveling duo is looking to ride this momentum all the way to December. Thompson doesn’t take these kinds of highlights lightly.
“Growing up in Wyoming I didn’t have as many opportunities like most have so I was more of an all-around cowgirl versus a breakaway roper and honestly growing up I was not a very good roper,” noted Thompson. “To have the opportunity I have now and have the rodeo committees put up the money that we have a chance to run for is pretty awesome. To be able to make a living doing this is a dream come true.”
