Indianz.Com > News > Cronkite News: Native bull riders make a splash on rodeo scene

Professional bull riders Whitehorse, Jesus find strong support from Native American community
Tuesday, March 30, 2021
Cronkite News
GLENDALE – It might have been the optics, but whenever professional bull riders Keyshawn Whitehorse and Cody Jesus entered the ring, the crowd seemed louder, more engaged. In fact, Gila River Arena appeared to shake at the sound of their names as they competed in the Professional Bull Riding competition.
Whitehorse and Jesus are both a part of the Navajo tribe which has deep roots in Arizona. Whitehorse, 23, grew up in McCracken Spring, Utah, and is currently ranked No. 4 in the world, and Jesus, 22, is from Window Rock. While neither rider finished in the Top 10 in the Valley event held earlier in March – Jesus was 17th – it was an ideal place for both riders to continue putting their mark on the sport.
When the PBR tour came to Glendale on March 12th, competitors had to first finish the final round of the Built Ford Tough Invitational presented by Cooper Tires from Del Rio, Texas, after it was evacuated due to the freak snow storm that hit the state. This is where Whitehorse shone, securing the Del Rio event with a 90.25 final ride and a total score of 177.25. Winning in front of hundreds of Native American fans was a special moment for him.
“I think it was kind of destined to be in that area, to have that finish in Arizona and have such a fan base on my side,” Whitehorse said. “I think all in all it comes down to be very special for me, because of how I finished there with the great fans and I had a lot of my family there.”

Professional bull riders Whitehorse, Jesus find strong support from Native American community
Note: This story originally appeared on Cronkite News. It is published via a Creative Commons license. Cronkite News is produced by the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University.
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