Jared Parsonage Makes History, Retires as Champion

AIRDRIE, Alta. – Jared Parsonage made Canadian bull riding history in 2025. Earning more than $300,000 in a single calendar year across all associations, he became the first athlete ever to claim both the PBR Canada Championship and the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association title in the same season.

Then, with his family by his side, he walked away from the sport.

Announcing his retirement, moments after clinching the PBR Canada Championship inside Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Parsonage revealed he had known all season it would be his final campaign.

"I've known all year it was going to be the last year. I just never told anybody because I didn't want people talking about it," Parsonage said. "Once they talk about it, it's the centre of focus and it's this big sob story every time you go somewhere. I didn't want that. I didn't want any part of that. I wanted the focus to be on winning."

And focus on winning he did.

Going a perfect 4-for-4 at the 2025 PBR Canada National Finals to secure both the event win and the national title, the Maple Creek, Saskatchewan cowboy capped his career the way every athlete dreams of, on top.

"If you're a bull rider in Canada, especially a young bull rider, that should get you motivated for the opportunities that lie ahead, and the growth bull riding has seen in Canada in the last number of years,” Parsonage explained. “That's real money, it doesn't cost you much to win that money, and if you can't take it seriously and treat it like the professional sport it is, I guess you're not that serious about it.”

"I feel like if I was 22 years old and somebody just did that, I'd be like, holy cow, there's a ton of opportunity available. It's out there for the taking."

At 32 years old, Parsonage said the decision to retire came naturally. With his wife Tulsa and their two sons at his side, he knew it was time to shift focus.

"Everybody sacrificed a lot through the years for me to be able to be gone rodeoing like this and bull riding like this. And at the end of the day, I feel like I've taken a lot away from the sport. My glass is obviously really full," he said.

"It's been a big part of my life that I'm super grateful for. The friends and the places and all that stuff. It's bigger to me than the awards a guy has won."

Now, he says, it's time to be home, doing chores and helping his family pursue their dreams.

"I'll be just spending time with the kids. Tulsa likes to go barrel racing, and my mom and dad like to go team roping and barrel racing. And maybe it's just time I stay home, do the chores, and be the one who's around so they can do all these other things. I look forward to doing that."

Parsonage began competing in PBR events in 2014, becoming a regular on the PBR Canada tour from 2015 onward. He also made two trips to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, in 2022 and 2023, while collecting three Canadian Pro Rodeo titles. He credits a competitive generation of fellow Canadians for pushing him to greater heights.

"There's a set of bull riders in Canada that are all about 30 years old that are pretty hard to beat. It's been a good generation of bull riders, to say the least," Parsonage said.

"Jordan [Hansen’s] been there, done that. There's a whole crew of us. It doesn't matter what association it is, they've all been pretty hard to beat. They've been a tough, tough crew and lasted a long time. I think we've all made each other better over the years. Having guys that good going has made a person better, and that's probably one of the best things for the sport."

In his final outing, Parsonage was pushed to the wire by Dakota Buttar, who delivered a crucial score in the championship round of the National Finals and forced Parsonage to ride his final bull to clinch the title.

"Dakota rode awesome. He always rides awesome. All those guys go," Parsonage said. "It's no fun running away with it. You might as well have to have a little pressure and have to make it count to try and win."

During the championship celebration, PBR Canada General Manager Jason Davidson presented a pair of matching buckles to Parsonage's sons—an emotional moment that the veteran cowboy says he'll never forget.

"He got me good there. That was pretty darn cool. I owe the world to him for that one. I kind of told him before the event that night. He had an idea. To me, that's the most exciting part of it all. That was so cool. I appreciate that big time. That meant a lot. It meant a lot to us as a family," Parsonage said.

Taking the microphone to address the crowd, Parsonage offered one last thank you to the sport and the people who supported him along the way.

"I knew I had to say something, just out of respect to the sport that's done so much for me, and respect to the fans and everyone," he said. "It's something that's provided so much to my life. I knew I had to say something, but I didn't know how I was going to do it. I kind of told Jason, if I win tonight, I'll say something on stage."