“It’s crazy to think my name’s even in the same sentence as him,” Webb said after winning his
third title. “Him and his family were a huge part of me growing up roping. I spent a lot of time at
their place. To even be mentioned with Roy in the same sentence, that’s hard to wrap my head
around.”

The connection runs deeper than record books. Webb’s father, Dirk, remembers the days spent inside Cooper’s arena.

“We used to go over to Roy’s all the time,” Dirk said. “Riley rode with him and did things with
him. They’d shoot the BB gun, do everything, just him and Roy. Roy always told us, ‘Y’all are
going to have fun.’ Roy was special to us.”

Measured in Milestones

Webb’s trajectory has never wavered. He earned the 2022 Resistol Rookie of the Year titles in both the tie-down and all-around races, qualified for his first NFR that same season and finished the year 10th in the world. During Round 4 of the 2024 NFR, he became the youngest cowboy in PRCA history to surpass $1 million in career earnings at 21 years, 4 months, 4 days. His 2024 season ended with $475,214, breaking his own single season earnings record—a mark he topped again in 2025 with a record $555,544.

Then came the most dominant Finals of his career. Webb placed in seven rounds at the 2025 NFR and roped all 10 head in 82.3 seconds, winning his second consecutive average title and $94,036, pushing his NFR total to $250,411. Through 30 rounds across his last three NFRs, Webb has caught 30-for-30, stopping the clock in 244.9 seconds—an average of 8.16 seconds per run.

“My rookie year here in ’22 was tough,” Webb said. “But when I left here, it lit a fire under me, and that fire’s still burning.”

The 2025 NFR had its full-circle moment, too. Webb’s 7.0-second run won Round 3 and $36,668—the same round where he won his first career NFR buckle in 2023. His dad wore that 2023 buckle inside the Thomas & Mack that night.

“There’s guys that work their whole life trying to win one world title,” Dirk said, teary-eyed in Las
Vegas. “And he’s got three.”

The 6.5 Heard Around the World

Webb opened 2026 the way he closed 2025: making history. In the RodeoHouston Shootout Round this March, Caleb Smidt’s 7.4-second arena record—untouched since 2017—fell three times in a matter of minutes. Kincade Henry went 7.3. Shane Hanchey answered with a 7.2. Then Webb, the last man to back in the box, stopped the clock at 6.5 seconds inside NRG Stadium.

“I had a guy text me out of the blue and said, ‘Are you at Houston? Riley just went 6.5,’” Smidt said. “I believed him, but it was kind of hard to believe that somebody could tie one in 6.5 there.”

Smidt didn’t need long to make peace with it.

“That’s impressive,” Smidt said. “But honestly, it didn’t really surprise me. I think that guy’s going to break every record ever wrote down in the calf roping record book.”

The 6.5 didn’t just rewrite the record—it won Webb the 2026 RodeoHouston title, one of four wins he stacked before summer alongside the Dixie National Rodeo in Jackson, Mississippi, the Georgia National Rodeo in Perry and the Waller County Fair & Rodeo in Hempstead, Texas.

The Horse That Changed Everything

No piece of Webb’s story looms larger than Marked Up Cat, “Rudy.” The Metallic Cat son has carried Webb through all three world titles and both average titles. Rudy earned the title of 2025 AQHA/PRCA Tie-Down Horse of the Year, voted on by the top 25 calf ropers in the world.

“That horse, Rudy, he’s so special,” Webb said after his third world title. “I’ve talked about him the last three years here. He just lets me win.”

Webb bought Rudy in August of 2022 from Lane Livingston, writing a check most 19-year-olds wouldn’t dare.

“When he bought him two-and-a-half, three years ago, that was a big check for a 19-year-old kid to write,” Dirk said. “But it’s paid off. And he’s pretty special to all of us.”

Even Rudy’s quirks have become part of the legend.

“He’s a jerk,” Webb laughed. “He pins his ears back, doesn’t like anyone to mess with him. I mean, he’s got an awesome personality. He’s so broke—you can walk him around, put a kid on him, and then ask him for his life in the Thomas & Mack.”

Two Number Ones

In February, Webb added the kind of insurance policy only a three-time world champion thinks to buy: another No. 1 horse. He purchased Lights On CD, “Patron,” from Stetson Vest, and the 15-year-old sorrel gelding—by CD Olena out of RG Miss Starlight—has been nearly automatic since stepping off the trailer. Webb took Patron to 10 rodeos through late May and won or placed at eight of them, banking $76,000 with wins at Jackson, Perry, the Hondo and Corpus Christi.

“He’s built like Rudy, kind of just a little taller, longer stride,” Webb said. “He compliments Rudy really good. And he’s very easy to rope off of. He scores good and lets me turn calves, gives me a good pocket from the stirrup to turn them in time fast.”

Patron is no project, either. Rhen Richard trained him, qualified for the NFR on him and watched him earn reserve Horse of the Year honors as a 7-year-old before the horse went to Vest.

“I think Patron’s got some characteristics like Rudy, so that makes it easier to swap back and forth,” Webb said. “It’s not a total different change. He’s just very, very easy. I feel like I’ve got two number ones.”

The Team Behind Webb

Webb is quick to spread the credit. His dad, Dirk, built his foundation from the ground up, and Jade Connor—one of the most respected calf roping minds in the game—has helped sharpen it.

“Lots of work. A team. A big team,” Dirk said of what it took. “He pushed us. We didn’t push him.”

“My parents, they’ve been a huge blessing to me,” Webb said. “Trying to get me horses when I was younger, taking me everywhere we could go, entering me just to get experience. I couldn’t have done it without them. They’ve spent the time, the money, opening gates, videoing runs, driving all night. They’re just as much a part of this as I am.”

What’s Next

Webb left home June 7 for the summer run with both Rudy and Patron in the trailer, Woodward the first stop on a road that ends back in Las Vegas. Waiting there: a shot at a fourth consecutive gold buckle—and more pages of the record book to rewrite.

“When I was growing up, watching rodeo, $50,000 made the Finals and a little over $100,000
won the world,” Webb said. “Now we’ve got a chance to win half a million dollars in one event.
That’s crazy to even think about. This is such a blessing.”