RED LODGE — Few rodeo families are as decorated with world-title glory as the Wrights.

With that pedigree in tow, it only made sense that Ryder Wright (a two-time Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association world champion in the saddle bronc) would make a stop at the Red Lodge Home of Champions Rodeo on Tuesday evening during the hallowed holiday weekend for rodeo athletes known as "Cowboy Christmas."

Elite-level saddle bronc riding is in the Wright family's blood. Ryder's father, Cody, is in the ProRodeo Hall of Fame as a two-time PRCA world champion in the event. Two of Ryder's uncles, Jesse and Spencer, are also saddle bronc world champions. And brother Stetson, one of the finest cowboys on Earth as the five-time reigning all-around world champion, also captured a saddle bronc crown in 2021 on top of two bull riding world titles.

Ryder Wright of Beaver, Utah competes in the saddle bronc during the Home of Champions Rodeo in Red Lodge on Tuesday. Wright scored an 81.5 on Voodoo.

But with Stetson (the Home of Champions' defending co-winner in the saddle bronc) scratched from the first performance daysheet in Red Lodge as he continues to recover from a hamstring injury that forced him out early in last year's National Finals Rodeo, it was Ryder who was the family's lone representative Tuesday.

And as the Wrights tend to do in big moments, Ryder showed out.

The Utah cowboy and current No. 4-ranked saddle bronc rider in the world (as of Tuesday evening) took Voodoo for an 81.5-point ride in front of an electric crowd at the Red Lodge Rodeo Grounds, being part of the first performance of the 95th year of festivities in the event.

It was a solid start to a busy Fourth of July stretch for Ryder, who goes from Red Lodge to St. Paul and Molalla, Oregon this week in attempts to beef up his stature in the world standings — and close the gap on leaders in his hunt for his third world championship.

"I'm feeling pretty good," Wright said. "Seems like when there's good horses under me, it seems to work out, so we'll just keep the ball rolling.

Ryder Wright stands for a photo during the Home of Champions Rodeo in Red Lodge on Tuesday.

"(Voodoo) wasn't real user-friendly, but you know, we'll take what we got and roll with it. Hopefully (have) some better luck tomorrow."

Wright's score put him tied for fourth in the saddle bronc standings after the conclusion of Tuesday's performance in the three-night showcase in Red Lodge with Faith, South Dakota's Traylin Martin. Wall, South Dakota's Cash Wilson, who tallied an 87-point ride on Angel Cat, leads the field. 

Wright did finish ahead of saddle bronc world No. 1 Damian Brennan on Tuesday, however, as the Australian cowboy only managed a 79.5 on Pretty Woman to finish tied for sixth place.

And as Wright trailed Brennan by over $31,000 entering Tuesday and still has second-placed Lefty Holman and third-placed Melstone native Sage Newman to surpass on his way to get him, too, he'll take what he can get as he seeks his first world title in the event since 2020.

An eight-time NFR qualifier who entered Fourth of July week off of the back of a strong win last week in Reno, Nevada, Wright's season earnings of $103,643.07 entering Tuesday is a high number that has him in good shape with a while to go before the 2024 NFR in Las Vegas in December, in which the top 15 athletes in each rodeo event will qualify.

But as steady of a force as both he and the Wright family is in rodeo, Ryder is focusing on keeping his wits sharp and rides consistent throughout the sport's summer rush and remainder of the season as a whole.

It's something that has served the 26-year-old well in his career so far. Can it serve him another buckle at year's end, too?

"Just keep a positive mindset," Wright said about how his two world titles have prepped him for future seasons. "Rodeo is everything mental. They say it's 80% mental, the rest is in your head. It's all upstairs, so I try just to stay positive and keep my mental game sharp."