Despite Success, Stetson Wright Still Soaking Up Fatherly Insight

Cody Wright looked out over the faces staring back at him in late November. In all, 70 up-and-coming cowboys had journeyed to Ogden, Utah for the opportunity to learn at The Wright Way Saddle Bronc Riding School.

Cody, a two-time world champion and Hall of Famer, was joined by many members of the Wright family, including his son, Ryder, also a two-time world champion, and brothers Jesse and Spencer, each with one world championship to their credit.

He had no idea there was a 71st student listening in. 

While also serving as an instructor at the three-day clinic, Stetson Wright wasn’t just offering advice on how to ride, he was still gleaming information from his father. Even seven-time world champions don’t know it all. 

“I didn’t know he was still picking up anything I was putting down,” Cody said with a laugh at the notion. “I thought maybe I was starting to learn more from them than maybe they were learning from me. It’s definitely fun to think that I’m saying something that is maybe going to be a benefit to him in the future.”

Entering the 2023 National Finals Rodeo, Stetson is on track to reach rare air in the sport’s history. 

With almost $460,000 in his ledger for the all-around standings, the Beaver, Utah native is more than $300,000 ahead of the next closest competitor, all but assuring him a fifth straight all-around world title. Stetson is likely to join Trevor Brazile, Ty Murray, Larry Mahan and Tom Ferguson as the only other cowboys to win five or more all-around titles consecutively. He also has the lead in the bull and saddle bronc riding, which would give him a third and second world title in those events, respectively. 

Since joining the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association in 2018, Stetson has found his rhythm, leading to unparalleled success. Despite it all, there always seems to be a tidbit he’ll pick up every time his dad opens his mouth. 

“We all have our own way of going about it, but it was all formed off, of course, my dad. He was the starter of it. He’s the reason the Wrights are who the Wrights are,” Stetson said. “Even though I’m supposed to be instructing and teaching the school, my dad will say something I haven’t heard before and I’m always learning. You would have to be there to see it, but the wisdom that he has towards bronc riding, the stuff that people don’t understand, I would say that he knows just about everything and has gone through it.”

That knowledge base helped set Stetson and his brothers up for success at pro rodeo’s highest level. 

For Cody, it’s all part of his role as the family’s patriarch and, in retirement, as an ambassador for the event. Potential future saddle bronc world champions were eagerly listening in. And even one with titles already to his credit still wanted to hear what he had to say. 

“I hope I leave nothing in the tank. I hope I can tell them everything I know,” Cody said. “I don’t want to have a secret. I’d like them to ride better than me personally and I think that they do. I think they ride better than I ever did, Stetson and his brothers. I’m glad to hear that he’s open-minded and still trying to learn, and I know that he is.”