Shad Mayfield won his first Calgary Stampede title aboard Peso, earning $58,875 and taking over the No. 1 spot in the PRCA world standings exactly 40 years after his dad, Sylvester, won the same rodeo.
Mayfield stopped the clock at 6.8 seconds in the Showdown Round on Sunday, July 13, roping in front of a packed house at Stampede Park and adding another major title to his already impressive resume. The win pushes his season earnings to $188,942—enough to overtake reigning world champion Riley Webb in the world standings.
“That’s where I’ve been trying to get to,” Mayfield said. “I’ve been fighting to keep up with Riley all year. He wins, then I win. We’ve been going back and forth, but this was the win I needed to finally take over the top spot.”
Horse Change Worth a Few Pesos
The win didn’t come easy. Mayfield struggled in the preliminary rounds of Pool A and barely advanced to Championship Sunday.
“I rode Lollipop and Tootsie Pop early in the week and they were just too strong for Calgary,” Mayfield said. “You can’t jerk heads down there. You’ve got to go fast and be controlled.”
So, he made the call to Logan Bird and asked for a shot at his standout gelding, Daddys Shiner Cat—better known as Peso. Bird agreed, and Mayfield made the switch for the final two rounds.
“I’ve watched that horse for a long time and always wanted to ride him, but a lot of guys ride him and I didn’t want to overdo it,” Mayfield said. “But I knew I needed to change something up to have a shot at winning, and Peso gave me that.”
Peso delivered. Mayfield posted a 7.0 in the 9-man round, then laid down a 6.8-second run in the Showdown Round to secure the win and the $50,000 check.
“It felt like I was just standing on the ground roping the dummy,” Mayfield said. “That horse is so fast, so easy. His neck is short, so it feels like you’re right there on top of the calf. He just makes it feel smooth and fast.”
With Mayfield, Ty Harris, Joel Harris, Kyle Lucas and Bird himself earning checks on Peso throughout the week, the horse helped rack up $99,940 in total earnings at the Stampede. As owner, Bird receives 25% of those payouts in mount money.
“Logan’s getting a good chunk, and he deserves it,” Mayfield said. “He makes sure that horse is there, makes sure he works, and we’ve got to give back to that. That horse deserves every bit of it.”
Following in Sylvester’s Footsteps
The win was more than just a boost in earnings or standings—it was personal. Mayfield’s father, Sylvester, a two-time NFR qualifier, won the Calgary Stampede in 1985. Now, 40 years later, Mayfield earned a bronze of his own.
“My dad was pumped,” Mayfield said. “He was the one who told me to get on Peso. He joked that the Canadians would be on my side, but he also knew that was a great horse. It meant a lot to him to see me win the same rodeo he did.”
Mayfield’s Mentality
Mayfield has built his career on composure in high-pressure moments. From major wins in Fort Worth and San Antonio to his 2020 and 2024 gold buckles, he’s shown that he knows how to finish strong.
“When I get in those shootout rounds, I feel like I know how to capitalize,” Mayfield said. “I knew I had a good horse under me and I knew I had to win first. There was no other option.”
That focus comes from a relentless competitive drive—one that keeps Mayfield checking the standings daily and comparing year-over-year progress.
“It’s personal to me when I lose,” Mayfield said. “I check the standings every day, penny by penny. I take pictures of where I was in past years and try to beat myself. It’s not just about beating everyone else. It’s about beating the version of me I was last year.”
After a tough week in Colorado Springs, where he left empty-handed, Mayfield was determined not to let Calgary slip away. He took the frustration and turned it into fuel.
“I didn’t do any good at the NFR Open, and I was pretty upset about that,” Mayfield said. “I wasn’t going to let Calgary go the same way.”
He didn’t—and now he’s carrying the Mayfield name into a new chapter of Calgary history.
