Barrel Horse News is celebrating National Day of the Cowgirl on September 15, which aims to encourage women everywhere to adopt the strength, confidence and resiliency embodied by the cowgirl lifestyle, by catching up with professional barrel racers about their cowgirl community.
Every professional barrel racer knows it takes a team of support to chase NFR dreams and find success inside the arena. Outside of the arena, the camaraderie, encouragement and friendships are a big part of the “cowgirl community.”
In honor of a holiday in recognition of the spirit of the American cowgirl – National Day of the Cowgirl – professional barrel racers share the value of supporting one another as they persevere through the various challenges of rodeoing.
Chelsea Moore, barrel horse trainer and full-time mom from Rose Hill, Kansas experienced the cowgirl community as she spent the last two months on the road traveling between Northwest rodeos. Moore hasn’t gone to this many rodeos before and rodeoed as hard as she did this year, or ever rodeoed through August and September.
“Everything is getting more intense for the cowgirls trying to make the NFR. During the months of August and September is when I have formed and seen others form the strongest relationships and bonds with women out here on the road,” Moore said. “It’s the deep, heartfelt, honest and real conversations and connections we’ve made because we’re the only ones out here experiencing this right now and we all understand each other and respect each other for our grit and determination.”
Spending weeks, or months on the road traveling between rodeos can be both physically and mentally demanding.
“I used to think it was more of a fairytale out here and the girls that made the NFR were so lucky, but we are all lucky to be out here,” Moore added. “I’ll be watching the NFR through a whole new set of lenses after my personal experience of the hard work and intense ups and downs through an entire season, with so much respect for the people that qualify knowing first-hand exactly how tough it is to get to this level.”
Moore shared stories of encouragement through things like Dona Kay Rule calling a friend to make sure Moore’s layover spot was safe, or LaTricia Duke dropping a location pin with Moore two nights in a row to share a great spot to stay, Hailey Kinsel taking Moore and her daughter for ice cream and pizza during a break between rodeos or Leslie Smalygo inviting her for taco night which, she said was like a breath of fresh air after being away from home for so long.
“Things like Emily Beisel calling and checking on me and encouraging me knowing I’m struggling being away from my family and Abby Phillips opening her heart to me, sharing her experiences, determination and trusting God’s plan that have shown me community,” Moore said. “I feel like we’ve all bonded so closely, we all want each other to win at the end of the day and, at the end of the year I’ve learned these are some of the best, hard-working ladies in the whole entire world.”
Although, Moore shared that the competitiveness and focus is still there before each run.
“When we were in Calgary warming up my mom was with me and none of us really speak in the warm-up pen very much,” Moore added. “We’re all just really focused on the job at hand and my mom asked, ‘do any of you even like each other?’ and I told her ‘Oh yeah absolutely, we all get along great but when it’s showtime, we’re focused.’”
Beyond building relationships with competitors on the road, Moore adds that the cowgirl community also includes those who work for associations and organizations supporting rodeo, including women at the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association.
“If I was in a situation where I needed help or rescuing, after my husband and parents, I’d call the WPRA,” she said. “They are kind, smart and resourceful. We all have each other’s backs.”
Oelrichs, South Dakota cowgirl and 17-time NFR qualifier, Lisa Lockhart said having a good support system is a game changer, whether it’s family or friends. The seasoned professional knows what both sides of winning and losing can look and feel like, and said we are all in this together, so the support system is amazing.
“The cowgirl community is wonderful,” Lockhart added. “We are all always checking on each other’s horses, travels and certainly lending moral support when needed. I love this lifestyle of horses and humans. I say life is all about having good connections, and there’s so many connections in our industry!”
To four-time WPRA World Champion and seven-time NFR qualifier, Hailey Kinsel said cowgirl community is about helping each other learn and grow to be better people, horsewomen, and stewards of the land, animals and families.
“I get to see this every day with the women in professional rodeo,” Kinsel said. “They are tough enough to carry not only their own load, but help you carry yours, always willing to lend a hand. I have personally experienced this for years with the women that I look up to and compete with, and I’ve even seen this camaraderie grow over the last few years.”
Kinsel knows that everyone wins and losses from time to time and said it’s important to support each other through the highs and lows.
“I have so much respect and adoration for the other professional barrel racers and breakaway ropers going down the road,” Kinsel said. “We love any chance we get to work horses together, have some downtime hanging out at the trailer, going out to eat or checking out what each town has to offer.”
Kinsel added that it helps you to enjoy your sport even more when you can be selfless and support one another, even when it’s not your turn to win.
“I feel so blessed to be in an industry that values the cowgirl community, and I am thankful for each and every one of my competitors for reminding me of this,” she said.
Four-time NFR qualifier and 2022 American Rodeo Champion, Shelley Morgan said that at the end of the day, when you enter the arena, it’s you and your horse against a time clock, not necessarily against a fellow competitor.
“We hang around in the warm-up area at a rodeo, or visit at the trailers in between,” Morgan said. “We share, we listen, and we like to see each other do great things. We don’t mind sharing with each other, whether it be victories or struggles, or just plain defeat. We share ideas, we offer thoughts about things that have worked for us that might help each other, we step in when there is a need, we check on each other and each other’s horses. We care about helping each other be their best.”
Morgan echoed that a great support system is a must because of the ups and downs involved with rodeo, like having someone to listen to you and encourage you when things aren’t going how you expected or someone to share the victories with, that didn’t let you give up when it was hard.
“I feel like every year I get to know someone new a little better, gain another friend,” Morgan explained. “Whether it be a fellow barrel racer or someone whose house we stay at, everyone is so willing to lend a hand or go the extra mile it seems. I’ve really met some awesome people, and each has helped me in so many ways, it has made me want to be a better person because I have felt the awesome feeling of someone doing that for me. We can always try to do better and be better!”
More information about National Day of the Cowgirl can be found at https://nationaldayofthecowgirl.com/
