story by Gigi Robey
One thing this 12-year-old girl knows about rodeo is how to work through any disabilities you may face. Last year, the day after state finals, Bailey Mudd from Lake Charles, Louisiana, hurt her ankle; however, this didn’t stop her from competing in the National Junior High Rodeo Finals in Tenn. This was her fourth injury throughout the year. She got this attitude from Amberley Snyder, her idol, a barrel racer who was paralyzed but still competes in rodeos despite her disabilities. “She doesn’t let her disabilities stop her.” States Bailey. Bailey attends Grand Lake Junior High, she likes 8th grade math, because her teacher makes in fun and educational. Bailey made the National Junior High Finals in sixth grade in the ribbon roping, competing with her partner, Austin Hebert. She competes in pole bending and breakaway, but pole bending is her favorite because she gets to ride her favorite horse Sandan. Sandan, in spite of his age – 26 – is fast and good at his job, their fastest time was at state finals, 20.3. She made it to nationals her 7th grade year on him. Kid Rock is her breakaway horse, he’s quick and hard to ride for most, but not her. Her goal this year is to make nationals in both breakaway and pole bending, along with catching at least 10 calves out of the thirteen rodeos. The first rodeo is at the end of September, she is very ready for it to start back. She grew up riding horses, and couldn’t recall an exact start, but it’s something she enjoys with her whole family. Both of her younger siblings, Bransyn age 7 and Marcie age 11, ride too, and Marcie will start rodeos in the LJHSRA this upcoming year. Bailey was introduced to rodeos by her parents, both are very involved, her mom, Leslea, was Miss Rodeo Louisiana in 2001, and her dad Bobby, is a calf roper in the PRCA.
“It’s cool we both rope, he rodeos with the best of the best at his level, and I rodeo with the best of the best at my level, so we do the same thing. My dad helps me a lot, 24/7 we are out in the arena. I’m very fortunate to have a dad that calf ropes; if I do something wrong he will catch it” She said.
She said her parents keep her active and motivated. The whole family travels to rodeos together. Parents in the front, kids in the back. Now, her dad is a farrier, and her mom is a kindergarten teacher at Grand Lake School, which is also where Bailey goes to school. Bailey is in the 8th grade and enjoys math the most, her teacher makes it fun and educational. Her friends in rodeo are another support system, especially Ashley Austin. Bailey stays busy with practice almost every day, along with getting into livestock showing with 4H, junior high beta club, Calcasieu Rodeo Club, and junior high rodeos. But when she isn’t she likes to help with fundraisers to find a cure for cancer. After her aunt, Wendy McCalister, went through breast cancer, Bailey became passionate about helping raise funds for cancer organizations. Her nerves are her biggest weakness; however, she says she only gets them at state finals, because there she lays it all on the line. State finals is her favorite rodeo of the year “everybody gets together, we cook and hang out, also everyone works their hardest there to get to nationals.” The Mudd family was very fortunate to not have any flood damage in the recent events in Louisiana.
