Canadian barrel racer Jayden Wilson capped a standout 2025 campaign by claiming the Canadian Finals Rodeo Barrel Racing Championship aboard her home-raised gelding, Fame Is Dynamite, aka “Whiskey.”
The duo led the Canadian standings heading into Red Deer and delivered under pressure, securing the average title and earning Whiskey the CPRA Barrel Horse of the Year honor.
“It’s still kind of crazy to think about,” Wilson said on The Money Barrel podcast. “He placed at 31 of the 45 or so rodeos we went to this year. He’s just been so honest every single run.”
Wilson’s rodeo roots run deep. Her father, a former Canadian Finals saddle bronc rider, and her mother, an AQHA World Show competitor turned barrel racer, gave her and her sister an early start in the sport. Wilson grew up competing on seasoned horses, learning timing and feel before ever thinking about speed.
That foundation led to the partnership that’s now making headlines. Whiskey was bred, raised, and started by Wilson’s family. “We wanted a baby out of Dixie,” she said. “She was small, gritty, and always gave 100 percent. We thought if we could get a little bigger, faster version of her, we’d have the perfect rodeo horse — and that’s exactly what Whiskey turned into.”
Through five rounds at the Canadian Finals, Whiskey showed the same consistency that’s made him one of Canada’s top rodeo horses. “He doesn’t really want to run by a barrel or hit one,” Wilson said. “My job is to ride him to his point and stay out of his way.”
Off the road, Wilson works as a financial analyst, a career that offers stability and support for her rodeo goals. “I like knowing I get paid every two weeks,” she joked. “It’s a balance, but my company is really supportive. Sometimes that means working from the truck, whatever it takes.”
With nearly $300,000 in Whiskey’s career earnings and back-to-back Canadian Finals qualifications, Wilson’s next milestone will be her debut at the 2026 Calgary Stampede — a hometown rodeo for the Alberta native.
“I’ve always wanted to run at Calgary,” she said. “To grow up an hour away and finally get to go — that’s a big deal.”
Hear Jayden’s full conversation on The Money Barrel — including her path to the Canadian Finals, how she balances work and rodeo, and the story behind Whiskey’s rise to champion status.
This week’s episode is presented by Ride TV.