Hayden Welsh has bull riding in his blood, but the 20-year-old Gillette, Wyoming, native is quickly building a reputation all his own — long orange hair, rapid-fire Wyoming drawl and all.

Nicknamed “Iron Groin Welsh” and the “Ginga Ninja,” Welsh is hard to miss. His long, luscious orange hair almost perfectly matches the Kansas City Outlaws orange he wears on game day, and the second he opens his mouth, there is no mistaking where he comes from. Just make sure you are paying attention when he starts talking, because his lips move about a million miles a minute.

Welsh became the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 PBR Teams Draft in Fort Worth after nearly missing the opportunity altogether. He declared for the draft about 20 minutes before the window closed, and Kansas City quickly flew him into Fort Worth for the ceremony. The selection added another chapter to a bull riding family already steeped in the sport. His father, Bobby Welsh, qualified for the National Finals Rodeo seven consecutive times from 2005-11. Hayden jokes that there is at least one area where he definitely does not take after his dad: Hayden is quick in the chute.

Before joining the professional ranks, Welsh competed for the Wrangler Rodeo team at Odessa College, the same program once attended by two-time PRCA World Champion Jim Sharp, during the 2024–25 and 2025–26 seasons while studying business and business management. He has since made bull riding his full-time job, climbing to No. 5 in the PRCA bull riding standings during his rookie season and finishing fourth at the 2026 Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo. Not exactly the stereotypical rodeo rig, Welsh once chased checks down the road in a Ford Fusion Hybrid — proof that when it comes to chasing rodeo checks, Welsh will get there by any means necessary.

For as much personality as Welsh brings with him, he is about as humble as they come. His faith speaks volumes about who he is, and he gives all the glory to God for the opportunities bull riding has brought him. Even with the constant travel of professional rodeo and PBR Teams competition, Welsh still makes time for Bible study on the road, and his Bible remains his most-prized possession.

Away from the arena, Welsh is every bit the Wyoming outdoorsman. He enjoys skiing and snowboarding, dirt biking, riding ATVs, hiking, camping, fishing and boating, while cars and anything mechanical are among his biggest interests. If bull riding had not become his career, he says he probably would have become a diesel technician. His girlfriend and “future wife,” Mykhia Dymond, is an important part of his life, too, and he gives her plenty of credit for keeping the show on the road, along with their dachshund, Harper Morgan.

Whether he is flying down the road to the next rodeo with country, gospel or a fellowship and ministry podcast playing, or finding a little time to decompress with Cars, get used to seeing plenty more of Hayden Welsh and his fiery flowing locks.