World Champion Saddle Bronc Riders, 1990-1992, 1996, 1999, 2000, 2004
Born in Huron, South Dakota, brothers Robert, Billy and Dan Etbauer’s accomplishments are legendary ~ seven world championships between 1990 and 2004, and 42 NFR qualifications.
Robert, 1985 PRCA Saddle Bronc Riding Rookie of the Year, captured the world saddle-bronc title in 1990 and 1991, and earned NFR average titles in 1991 and 1995. He also is a three-time Prairie Circuit saddle-bronc champion (1988, 1997, 2000).
Billy won five world saddle-bronc titles (1992, 1996, 1999, 2000 and 2004) ~ just one shy of the record held by Casey Tibbs and Dan Mortensen. He is the only cowboy to surpass $3 million in single-event earnings. Billy also won the Prairie Circuit’s saddle-bronc title in 1991 and 1992.
Dan is a 10-time NFR saddle bronc qualifier. He was the 1995 reserve world champion, finishing second to Mortensen, while Billy finished fourth and Robert fifth. He won the Prairie Circuit’s saddle-bronc-riding title in 1989, 1993 and 1995.
The trio is the only set of brothers to qualify for the NFR in the same event in the same year, and they accomplished the feat eight times. Robert and Billy Etbauer were inducted in the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in 2012.
