WEST VALLEY CITY — Traveling the country, competing in rodeos with your older brother, who just happens to be the World Champion in the sport you share, could be intimidating for some young men.
But for Alex, Jake and Jesse Wright there is nobody they'd rather follow into the chute than eight time National Finals qualifier and reigning World Champion saddle bronc rider, Cody Wright. He also happens to be the oldest of seven Wright brothers, who seem to have a knack when it comes to riding bucking horses.
"There is no pressure," said Jake Wright, 22, of competing in the wake of his brother's success. "I just want to ride like him. It's a long road, and his are big shoes."
Jake, his identical twin, Jesse, Alex and Cody Wright aren't just brothers. They're traveling companions touring the country in a three-quarter ton truck and trailer, as well as colleagues and competitors on the rodeo circuit.
The four men were part of Tuesday night's Days of '47 Rodeo line-up and all four earned scores in the saddle bronc competition. Cody tied the high score of the week with 83 points, and he currently sits in second-place in the World Standings.
Jake had a big win last week that put him at No. 15 in the standings, but he only managed 63 points Tuesday night at the Maverick Center.
"He was alright," Jake said of the horse Colonel. "I should have rode him a little better. It was a bad day."
His twin brother Jesse, who is currently fifth and competed in the NFR last winter with Cody, earned 69 points riding Mater. Alex, who is ranked No. 33, earned 72 points on Hazardous Moon.
Cody said he'd ridden Double Vision last year, but his brothers helped him out with how long his reign needed to be. He said it could just has easily have been one of them with the high score.
"They didn't draw the best," said Cody. "If they drew my horse, they'd have made the same ride I did, maybe better."
The brothers say there is no sibling rivalry, only cooperation and commaradarie as they navigate a tough business together.
"It's easy to pull for one and other," said Cody, whose 15-year-old son Rusty will rodeo for his alma mater Milford High next year. "There is nobody I'd rather see win than one of them."
Cody said that despite his success and position as oldest son, he doesn't try to be a father figure to his younger brothers.
"I just want to be their friend," he said laughing a little. "If I tried to (parent) them, they might try to run me out of the truck."
The brothers said life on the road together is just a good time and their camper is "a home away from home."
"We tell each other what's wrong; we keep each other up, and we know each others boundaries," said Jake.
Cody said the brothers have a system and they all pull their weight. He's responsible for entering the men in rodeos, so he can rattle off their schedule for the next action-packed week, which includes competing in Ogden on Friday.
"We don't ever get too serious," said Cody laughing. "We take turns driving, there is no complaining. It's an easy breeze."
Cody said winning his second World Championship in December was the culmination of a childhood dream.
"It's something I've dreamed of working toward my whole life," he said.
Despite a few more fans and a lot more media interviews, Cody said not much has changed in his world since he won the title.
"I don't feel any different," he said smiling. "I hope people treat me the same. I just want to be me."
And as for his brothers, well, he knows how they feel.
"They don't care," he said laughing. "They're not afraid to stomp me into the dirt."
In addition to the appearance of the Wright brothers, Tuesday night's bull riding was a crowd pleaser. On Monday only one cowboy managed to earn a score. Tuesday, six cowboys earned scores. One competitor, Gunar Ramsey Lumpkin had his lower leg stepped on by a bull after he was thrown off and left the arena in a cast.
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Results from Tuesday's rodeo
Saddle bronc riding: 1. Cody Wright, Milford, Utah, 83 points; 2. Jeff Willert, Belvidere, South Dakota, 76 points; 3. Steven Dent, Mullen, Nebraska, 74 points.
Steer Wrestling: 1. (tie)Clayton Morrison, Cavalier, North Dakota, and Darrell Petry, Beaumont, Texas, 4.0 seconds; 3. Brad McGilchrist, Marysville, California, 4.1 seconds.
Tie Down Roping: 1. Clay Cerney, Brazoria, Texas, 8.0 seconds; 2. Trevor Thiel, Greely, Colorado, 8.8 seconds; 3. Monty Lewis, Hereford, Texas, 10 seconds.
Barrel Racing: 1. Lauren Cox, Cotulla, Texas, 14.30 seconds; 2. Norma Wood, West Jordan, Utah, 14.39 seconds; 3. Nancy Hunter, Neola, Utah, 14.56 seconds.
Bareback riding: 1. Matt Bright, Azle, Texas, 82 points; 2. Clint Cannon, Waller, Texas, 80 points; 3. George Gillespie IV, 68 points.
Team Roping: 1. Brock Hanson and Ryan Motes 4.1 seconds; 2. Jesse Sheffield and Ryan Mayfield 5.3 seconds; Kaleb Driggers and Brad Culpepper 9.6 seconds.
Bull Riding: 1. (Tie) Jake Wade, Alamo, Nevada, Travis Atkinson, Lehi, Chance Smart, Philadelphia, Mississippi, 86 points; 4. Shawn Harris, Prarie City, South Dakota, 83 points.
In addition to the traditional rodeo events, this year's rodeo marks the return of the Days of '47 Art Show. Each night the gallery opens at 5:30 to the public, and is located in the gift store on the second floor to the public. Most of the art is for sale, and all of the artists have a connection to the Days of '47 Rodeo.