NFR Grand Entry Tradition in Question Amid Equine Health Concerns

It’s a little bit like the busy Las Vegas traffic, where you can somewhat trust your own driving skills, but you sure can’t control what the other drivers are going to do. That’s how many contestants describe the Grand Entry at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.

This tradition is often said to be more nerve wracking than actually competing. This year, that adrenaline, chaos, and pride filled lap around the Thomas & Mack Arena likely won’t happen due to ongoing concerns surrounding the recent EHV-1 outbreak.

This year, though, that fun tradition may be put on hold. Contestants have said they’ve been told the grand entry will likely not take place to keep horses safe. The close proximities during those exciting few moments bring up concerns with the recent rapid spread of this virus. Nothing has been officially confirmed by the PRCA or Las Vegas Events, but it makes logistical sense to bypass this part of the show.

Timed-event athletes typically ride their own horses, while bronc and bull riders borrow mounts from stock contractors for the lap. Regardless of whose horse they’re on, everyone understands its significance.

Especially for those first time qualifiers, this news has been tough to hear. On Instagram, Tuff Hedeman shared a moment that captured this disappointment. He spoke with Huntsville, Texas bull rider Bryce Jensen, who is entering his first NFR ranked 11th in the world.

“When I asked Bryce what he was looking forward to the most, his answer caught me off guard,” Hedeman wrote. “He said, ‘What I was looking forward to the most was the grand entry, which it sounds like isn’t going to happen. But I’m just happy to be here.’”

For rookies like Jensen, the Grand Entry isn’t just a lap around another arena, it’s the milestone that confirms they’ve made it. It’s an introduction to the brightest lights in rodeo and a moment they often replay for the rest of their careers.

While the NFR is planning to proceed as usual, the potential loss of the Grand Entry will leave a noticeable void. For now, the rodeo world waits for more updates. If the Grand Entry does take a pause this year, it will be exactly that, just a pause, not an ending. When this tradition returns, it will carry more meaning than before.