Tricia Aldridge and Adios Pantalones delivered another defining performance at the 2025 NFR, stopping the clock in 13.64 to win Round 8 and add a second round victory to their remarkable debut campaign inside the Thomas & Mack.
From the back of the infamous tunnel Aldridge could watch most of the performance unfold. She could see horses ahead of her struggling with the footing, and had to make a decision.
“You want to take care of your horse and put the horse first,” she said. “But every horse out there is a different style, and what happens to one doesn’t necessarily mean it’ll happen to mine. All I want to focus on is staying centered, keeping him where he needs to be, and taking care of us the best we can.”
Aldridge has emphasized all week that riding Adios Pantalones isn’t about micromanaging.
“People think when you’re on that kind of horse you have a lot of control,” she said. “He’s really broke, and I could probably get one thing out of him—but it’s controlled chaos. Once you break that barrier, you have to trust your training.”
She’s learned the hard way that holding back doesn’t work.
“Sometimes you try to safety up, and it backfires worse,” she said. “If I’m not going to send him in there, I don’t need to send him at all. I don’t want to waste a run on him. I trust that he always takes care of himself, so I put him on the neck and tell him to take care of us.”
Aldridge’s strength lies in her technical feel— a foundation built through years of readying horses for futurities, derbies, and now ProRodeo’s biggest stage.
“Making sure he stays on his tracks is everything,” she said. “Even if something goes a little wrong, he can get me back where I need to be.”
One moment from the run still stands out for her.
“When he got around the third barrel, I vividly remember leaning forward like, don’t slow down. He rocked that barrel. He wants to be super honest, but when your money’s up, you’ve got to go for it.”
Adios Pantalones doesn’t just look at home inside the Thomas & Mack during the performances, he thrives off the quiet practice morning sessions.
“He just trots through, plays around, and has fun. I just try to keep him relaxed and moving forward,” Aldridge said.
Aldridge has battled through congestion and fatigue this week, but her outlook remains unwavering.
“The most fun part of the (Round 4 win) was just knowing that he could, and him getting to show the world that.”
Tricia Aldridge
She isn’t caught up in standings or pressure.
“It could have ended on the fourth night—I’d have been good,” she said. “Now it’s just icing on the cake. He doesn’t owe me anything. I just want him to have fun.”
And per tradition, he’ll be rewarded accordingly.
“Loralee (Ward) promised him six cookies if he won the round tonight,” Aldridge said. “I’m going to make sure he gets all of his cookies.”
Aldridge continues to be one of the most warmly received athletes of the 2025 Finals.
“It’s incredible that so many people spend their hard-earned money to come out here and watch, us” she said. “Their messages, their stories… the people are amazing. It’s so incredible that this horse has literally brought everyone together.”
Round 8 NFR results
| 1 | Tricia Aldridge | 13.64 | $36,667.95 |
| 2 | Wenda Johnson | 13.68 | $28,979.51 |
| 3 | Hayle Gibson-Stillwell | 13.76 | $21,882.48 |
| 4 | Kassie Mowry | 13.8 | $15,376.88 |
| 5 | Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi | 13.81 | $9,462.70 |
| 6 | Julie Plourde | 13.89 | $5,914.19 |