The Bareback/Bridleless class at the Cinch Cinch RSNC World Finals is always a crowd favorite, and in 2025, it delivered again—this time with grit, grit, and a touch of drama. Hunter Brzymialkiewicz of Waller, Texas, and Annabelle Terrell of Austin, Texas, teamed up to sort 30 head of cattle in 154.35 seconds in three perfect rounds, taking home Professional’s Choice championship buckles, custom jacket certificates and a $1,776 check for their efforts.
And they did it with style—and pain.
“So right before we walked in, I mean I guess I get a nervous twitch or something,” Brzymialkiewicz said, explaining the limp he developed between Rounds 2 and 3. “I was throwing my knife into the dirt and missed. It got my foot.”
That toughness came in handy, especially considering the format. Competing without a saddle or bridle requires elevated levels of trust between horse and rider.
Brzymialkiewicz rode his 2018 mare Creyzy (Reyzin The Cash x Pars Tilly Lace), aka “Lola,” while Terrell piloted her 2013 gelding Bar Time Elvis, (TWR Bar Time Blues x Red Diablo Kisses), who’d carried her to victory in the Western Heritage All Levels earlier in the week.
Both riders, who comprised a #13-rated team amidst an all-levels class, showed exceptional feel and timing throughout their runs. Terrell, who is applying to vet school this summer, rode smart and steady in the herd.
“I’m on my Western Heritage horse,” she said. “I did that on purpose because he has a very smooth trot. He has very little herd presence, and I just love how he moves in the herd.”
Her game plan for the class was as smooth as her horse.
“I just wanted to take it easy, get a few head out, not push anything too bad at Hunter.”
That strategy paid off—and the duo’s chemistry in the pen didn’t go unnoticed.
“I mean it for sure helps because I know what Hunter can handle, and he knows what I can handle,” Terrell said of having a well-established history of sorting with Brzymialkiewicz. “So we know when to check up. We’re able to read cattle and read each other.”
Getting to work cattle at home gives Brzymialkiewicz, the reigning World Champion of the #14 Ranch Hand, a solid edge when it comes to understanding the herd.
“Well, I mean between cows and calves, it’s always something different,” he said. “And knowing the different moves to make and the different things to do with cattle is a huge help.”
Overcoming the discomfort of an ill-thrown blade, Brzymialkiewicz and Terrel were able to secure a perfect 10 head in each round thanks to a smooth horse and hand, plus a good read on the herd from the gate. It was clear that their performance raised the bar—and warranted an enthusiastic hat throw when the last cow ran through.
With the win, Brzymialkiewicz and Terrell not only brought home the hardware, but also left a lasting impression on fans and fellow competitors. For Terrell, with her sights set on veterinary school, and Brzymialkiewicz, whose knife skills may need a tune-up, the moment was memorable for all the right reasons.
“Well, good thing he’s better at sorting than throwing his knife, right?” the Equine Network’s Amy Wilson joked in her livestream interview with the dually crowned world champs.
“Oh yeah,” Terrell replied with a laugh.
Turns out, ranch sorting champions don’t just know how to read a cow—they know how to steal a show.
This article appears in the Summer 2025 issue of The Ranch Sorter, featuring World Champion stories, event recaps, regional results, and more.
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