Britni Carlson made history at the Pendleton Round-up by reaching the short round in barrel racing and breakaway roping. The cowgirl came close to winning the all-around, but finished third in breakaway and tenth in barrels. Carlson made the top ten in both events, which was no easy feat given the small number of athletes competing.
After the first round in breakaway, Carlson was on a roll, finishing in 2.4 seconds. Although she is ranked low in the world for barrels and breakaway (last updated on September 11th). Carlson is definitely one to watch out for in the coming seasons, as she has been making her mark at rodeos all season.
Her first round run earned her over $6,000, her highest weekend earnings of the 2025 season. Her third-place finish in the average increased that total by another $6,797.
So far this season, she has competed in 37 rodeos and won a total of $7,395.91. Her performance at Pendleton doubled her earnings and put her in the spotlight, as she defeated competitors in the first round, including Bailey Patterson, who won the top prize in breakaway roping.
Carlson Looking to Make Mark on 2026 Season After Strong Finish in 2025
She broke into the top ten in the barrels, and with Pendleton being the season’s final big rodeo, it was time for athletes like Carlson to make their mark and set high standards for 2026.
With the top 15 for the National Finals Rodeo almost set, Carlson can set a high standard for herself next season, having proven she can compete with the best in barrel racing and breakaway roping.
The cowgirl from Pendleton, Oregon, is a powerhouse in the Northwest and is currently ranked in the top 200 in the world for both events.
It’s unusual to see an athlete so low in the world rankings perform so well at such a well-known rodeo. Carlson may be done for the 2025 season, but he does not intend to sit out next year.
As of September 15, the total payoff for breakaway roping at Pendleton was $83,918, but official figures for barrel racing and breakaway roping have yet to be released. The final numbers are sure to shake things up as the 2025 regular season concludes on September 30.
