The petite blonde Hobbs, NM cowgirl Anistyn (Ani) Abel took the Perry, GA NJHFR by storm when she roped her way to a 2023 Reserve Champion Breakaway Roping title (8.07 seconds on three) and fell third in line for the All-Around title.
Ani arrived in Georgia qualified in Ribbon Roping, Goat Tying and Breakaway Roping. She made the short go in the latter two events, landing 17th in the nation in the Goat Tying. Multi-event success is not a new pattern for Ani who regularly works six events at the Junior High rodeos — the three events she qualified for Nationals and Barrels, Pole Bending and Team Roping (as a header). It also doesn’t leave time day-to-day for much else except schoolwork and practice.
As before, Ani will homeschool through Tatum Schools for her 8th grade year. She says her favorite subject is Social Studies and learning about all the places around the world. Her goal is become a veterinarian. “I like going to the vet and watching what they do,” she said.
Ani’s recall of her very early rodeo life involved her favorite event, the Goat Ribbon Pull. She said she liked going fast and getting off at a run which describes her basic personality for rodeo today. At 13, she’s a formidable competitor in the speed events as well as the roping. Breakaway Roping is her favorite of all.
Ani’s older sister by five years, Rylee Grace, paved a solid road for rodeo successes and is now rodeoing as a freshman with the Tarleton State University rodeo team. Ani said she will miss Rylee’s help and encouragement. “She taught me how to tie goats. Now I get the practice pen to myself, but I’ll miss her help. She took half the horses so that will be less work. But she’s my biggest fan and I’m hers. I am excited for her.” Both mom and dad take part in the daily 2-plus hours in the practice pen so Ani’s not without help and coaching.
Ani says both her parents were big influences in her rodeoing. Her dad Kelsey was a calf roper, but now he says, with a laugh, that his job is “finance and maintenance for the kid rodeos.” Casey, Ani’s mom, was a breakaway roper and team roper (header) and can still handily do both. Both parents help Ani in the roping box at the rodeos. Dad is an avid note taking “calf tracker” and Mom watches the start. “They are almost always right,” Ani said. Ani’s aunt, Fallon Jordan, trains barrel horses and has been her coach and mentor for that event.
She believes her fine-tuned skill in Breakaway starts first with the horses she rides. Her rule of thumb for speed and accuracy is “get your tip down and your elbow up.” When she leaves the roping box, she says her eyes are right down the calf’s back and the rule is, “throw your rope when you can and don’t track over its back.”
Ani’s rodeo string consists of a 14-year-old black mare, Gidget, for Breakaway that was also was Rylee Grace’ previously. Melman is her 10-year-old sorrel Barrel horse. “I like how chill he is and the way he turns. He’s not automatic, I really have to ride him,” said Ani. “Then I have Coyote for Team Roping and Goat Tying. He’s a bay, 21, and he’s the best one that we own. He came to us for team roping five years ago, but then about a year ago we started tying goats off him too. You can Breakaway off him and run Barrels too.”
Living less than 10 minutes from the Texas state line and a daughter now rodeoing in Texas, the Abels opted to travel that direction for the coming rodeo season. Ani will compete in the five weekends of Texas Region 2 Junior High rodeos in the 2023-24 season, but will also “jackpot” at some of the NMJHRA rodeos.
She says she will really miss her friends at the New Mexico rodeos, but knows most of her competitors in Texas Region 2, so is anticipating a good year. “Ani has a true love and passion for the sport of rodeo,” explains Casey. “She doesn’t dwell on the hard places. She is very quickly on to the next one.”
When you see a hot pink adorned cowgirl hit the arena, it will likely be Ani, making another run in a new season, but very much in Ani Abel style.