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GENOLA, Utah County — Utah native Kaycee Feild brought home the title of world champion bareback rider earlier this month – for the sixth time.
To put this in perspective, he basically brought home his sixth Super Bowl ring, because that's exactly what the Wranger National Finals Rodeo compares to in rodeo terms.
That being said, a bareback world championship win brings home a little more than a ring. Try a custom rifle and a Ram pickup truck on for size, as well as the largest yearly cash earnings as the world bareback riding leader, and you'll have a pretty good idea of what this sort of accomplishment entails — speaking of external value, of course.
Feild's championship win came on Dec. 11 after a grueling competition at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas. While competing at this level is something he is accustomed to, Feild said it isn't something he goes into willy-nilly. In fact, his recent win came down to the final day — or if you're familiar with bareback riding, the final eight seconds.
"The world championship is a 10-day event, and you compete every night," Feild explained. "It is extremely hard on the body, and by that 10th night, you are pretty beat up. Going into the 10th round it was really close, so I knew I would have to really dig deep for this one."
Digging deep is something the 34-year-old Genola, Utah County, resident is not only accustomed to, but it is in his blood. His late father, Lewis Feild was a five-time world champion bareback rider, winning his first title in 1985, and is a legend in the professional rodeo and cowboy world.
Continuing his father's legacy is what Feild says is a major driving force for him — and not just in his career, but in life.
"What my dad started is something I want to carry on," Feild said. "Yeah, he was a great cowboy and athlete, but he was an even better man. He left a little too early, but his impact has left a legacy that will go on forever."
That legacy, Feild said, is less about bareback riding and more about humanity.
What my dad started is something I want to carry on, Yeah, he was a great cowboy and athlete, but he was an even better man.
–Kaycee Feild, world champion bareback rider
"Whenever I go places, I hear about my dad and what a great person he was," Feild said. "The Feild name is more than a business; it's about being a good human."
Feild is married with three children. His family, he said, doesn't think much of his rodeo success because he doesn't bring work home.
"I leave business and competition in the arena so that when I'm home, I'm home," Feild said. "Sure, my kids love horses and playing around, but when I'm home, I'm a dad. And that's who I am to them."
But before you think that work is over for this six-time world championship rider, think again. As any athlete knows, the main work happens during the breaks. Right now, Feild is working on recovering from the toll that competition put on his body, while also tactically training for his next big competition scheduled for Feb. 5 in Fort Worth, Texas.
Feild posts about his rodeo competitions and preparation on his Instagram account, @kayceefeild.
