News Release
Ridge Riders / Teton Ridge
Ridge Riders, Arizona’s first-ever professional bull riding team set to compete in the inaugural PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Team Series, announced today that the team has signed Keyshawn Whitehorse (McCracken Spring, Utah) via free agency.
Known as the “pride of the Navajo Nation,” the 2018 PBR Rookie of the Year has reached numerous milestones in his young career since his debut, including being a three-time PBR Global Cup qualifier.
“I’m ecstatic to be part of this team,” said Whitehorse. “I’m looking forward to standing next to my fellow riders and the great folks at Teton Ridge as we claim the championship title at the end of the year.”
Growing up in the high desert of rural southern Utah, Whitehorse began his career at age five, mutton busting, working his way up to steers and eventually bulls. His father was a hobby bull rider and enjoyed watching the PBR on television. Whitehorse also credits PBR veteran Robson Palermo as being a tremendous mentor, helping him with his riding style as well as the general disciplines of the sport.
Proud of his Navajo roots, Whitehorse draws on spiritual traditions before each ride, with a methodical preparation including a prayer ritual that blends Navajo tradition and Christianity. Rather than seeking to dominate the bovine, he prays for a partnership — a core value that aligns with the Ridge Riders.
Whitehorse will join Luciano De Castro (Guzolandia, Sao Paulo, Brazil), Mauricio Moreira (Gaviao Peixoto, Sao Paulo, Brazil), Eduardo Aparecido (Gouvelandia, Brazil), Chase Dougherty (Decatur, Texas) and Marco Eguchi (Poa, Brazil) who were selected to the team during the PBR Team Series Draft.
The Teton Ridge-owned Ridge Riders call Glendale, Ariz.’s Gila River Arena home and will host their homestand event and surrounding festivities on October 14-16, 2022 which also serves as the final game for the regular PBR season.
Tickets for the three-day event are on-sale now and can be purchased online at Ticketmaster.com and PBR.com, at the Gila River Arena Box Office, or by calling PBR customer service at 1-800-732-1727.
To follow the Ridge Riders journey please visit arizonaridgeriders.com, @arizonaridgeriders on Facebook and Instagram, or @AZRidgeRiders on Twitter.
About Teton Ridge
Teton Ridge is a multi-platform, wholly American-owned brand and media company devoted to the iconic American western way of life and western sports. Teton Ridge’s Sports division was created with the singular focus of elevating classic Western sports and America’s western culture on the world stage, while broadening audiences around the globe as well as at home. In 2021, Teton Ridge acquired The American, the iconic event of the rodeo circuit, to continue to expand the audiences for rodeo sports and make it the world’s premier Western culture event. For more information about Teton Ridge, please visit tetonridge.com or @tetonridge on Instagram @tetonridgeusa on Facebook.
About PBR (Professional Bull Riders)
PBR is the world’s premier bull riding organization. More than 500 bull riders compete in more than 200 events annually across the televised PBR Unleash The Beast tour (UTB), which features the top 35 bull riders in the world; the PBR Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour (PWVT); the PBR Touring Pro Division (TPD); and the PBR’s international circuits in Australia, Brazil, Canada and Mexico. In July 2022, PBR will launch the regular season of the PBR Team Series — eight teams of the world’s best bull riders competing for a new championship. The organization’s digital assets include PBR RidePass on Pluto TV, which is home to Western sports. PBR is a subsidiary of IMG, a global leader in sports, fashion, events and media. For more information, visit PBR.com, or follow on Facebook at Facebook.com/PBR, Twitter at Twitter.com/PBR, and YouTube at YouTube.com/PBR.
