Echuca saddle bronc rider Dean Oliver is back on top of the country.

Oliver claimed his second Rodeo Services Australia title in three years at the 2025 National Finals in Warrnambool on December 5 and 6.

In the two-round finals, Oliver started in great form, topping the leaderboard in his opening ride with a score of 80.

He then logged 77.5 in his second ride, good for third on the night but enough to earn the overall result.

The event was a culmination of a year of riding, Oliver one of the top 12 open saddle bronc riders on the circuit to qualify for the final.

“It starts on the first of January and finished up the other day and there are numerous events during the year that you travel to,” Oliver said.

“Every dollar is equivalent to one point, so the more prize money you win, the more points you accumulate for the end-of-the-year score.

“(I) won the round on Friday and then finished third on Saturday and so then overall those points combined to the tally that I already had.”

Rodeo Services Australia is one of three major rodeo governing bodies in the country, along with the Australian Bushmen’s Campdraft and Rodeo Association and the Australian Professional Rodeo Association.

Oliver has been in good form in the RSA over the past few years, also winning the 2023 title and placing runner-up last year despite missing much of the season with a broken leg.

The Echuca rider has been on the rodeo circuit for 19 years, having always had an interest in the sport.

“(It's) probably the generational thing, I suppose,” he said.

“It's part of something I've grown up with, part of work and (I've) got a family history and so forth.

“I used to watch it on the telly as a kid, and it was just one of those things I wanted to try.”

Oliver credits his recent strong form to interacting with horses more regularly for work and outside competition, training and breaking in the animals at his property in Echuca Village.

Saddle bronc riders don’t ride their own mounts during competition, so becoming quickly accustomed to your assigned horse ahead of a ride is a crucial skill in the sport.

“Even though it's a rodeo event, there is a lot of horsemanship that goes into it,” Oliver said.

“Being able to read the animal and then knowing how to lift on your rein properly, which is what holds you down in the seat.

“One of the things that you have to do in saddle bronc riding is called your mark out, which is the first jump out of the chute

“Your feet have got to be up over the horse’s shoulders and there’s been lots of money lost from people that haven’t done that, so it’s one of the tougher things to do.”

While staying mounted is a crucial piece of the puzzle, saddle bronc is primarily a form-based event, with points scored for the riders’ spurring technique and body control throughout a ride.

Oliver now looks ahead to beginning his title defence as a new season begins in the new year.

His first event of 2026 will be the Hatherleigh Rodeo on January 3.

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Sunday, 29th March 2026

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