ROOKIE HIGHLIGHT Bunting Bests Barrel Racing Field in Redding By Kristen M. White R ookie Miley Bunting is putting her focus on circuit rodeos in her home state of
California. It just so happens that one of those circuit rodeos is Redding, and her recent victory there was both a circuit win and a checkmark on the bucket list of top rodeos in professional rodeo. Bunting landed the single-run win with a strong performance of 17.32 seconds, enough to edge out Sue Smith in 17.36 seconds. It’s the biggest win of her budding pro career so far, and Bunting is just humbled and honored to put her name in the Redding Rodeo history books. “I felt really blessed to be able to win it,” she said. “I was third out on the ground and I was a little worried because sometimes my horse isn’t the best in the gate, but he was great. Just walked up there, and after we turned the first barrel well, I knew it was going to be a good run.”
Miley Bunting bested the barrel racing field in Redding, California, in just her first year as a WPRA card holding member. Bunting filled her permit in 2022 and is now making headlines as a rookie. Photo by Crystall Amen
up through junior high and high school rodeo ranks. Although her parents weren’t rodeo competitors, she had friends involved, as well as her two brothers. The family runs a cattle ranch, so riding and roping came naturally. She graduated high school in 2021 and went to beauty school for facial treatments. Bunting filled her permit in 2022 and is now in her rookie season, where she said she’s staying primarily close to home. “Making the circuit finals, that’s my goal in my rookie year,” she said. “Pretty much any circuit rodeos that are available, we go to.” Bunting has the assistance of her trusted horse, Click. She bought him as a 4-year-old futurity horse about seven years ago, so they grew up together. Their connection was quick from the start. She said she purchased him in January, and in May of that year, the duo competed at the California Junior High Finals rodeo (her 7th grade year) where Bunting won every round. Redding already held a special place in Bunting’s heart, because it was this time last year when she and her soon-to-be husband Kolby Bravos (a roper) got engaged. “Last year during slack for Redding I got home really late, and Kolby was roping, and he proposed that night and I was totally surprised,” Bunting recalled. “So, Redding was already special for me and this makes it more so.” They’ve got a June wedding planned, so between regular jobs, wedding plans and rodeoing, the couple has their plate full. Bunting said they’ll continue to concentrate on the circuit rodeos and see where that takes them this season.
Bunting was up during the performance, so she had a pretty good idea of what kind of time she needed to snag a check. She saw her time and said, with a laugh, that she was almost hoping to take second, so she didn’t have to speak on the microphone, as is customary for Redding winners. But she got through her speech in fine fashion and pocketed $4,365, which will definitely help with future rodeo entries. The cowgirl from just down the road in Red Bluff, California, came
Miley Bunting didn’t waste anytime getting around the cloverleaf patter in Redding, California, stopping the clock in 17.32 seconds enough to edge Sue Smith with a 17.36-second run. Photo by Hailey Rae
12 WPRA NEWS JUNE 2023
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