story by Lily Weinacht
Bella Sauvage is working on her third consecutive qualification to the NJHSFR this spring. The 14 year old from Selden, Kansas, was the 2016 KJHSRA Barrel Racing Champion – her first state title – and was named Young Guns Breakaway Roping Champion this winter. “I love getting to see everyone at rodeos and competing with my horses; they make it a lot of fun,” says Bella. “When I go to the big rodeos like Nationals, the crowd and everyone there just makes me want to keep going.”
In addition to breakaway roping and barrel racing, Bella competes in pole bending, team roping as a heeler with Chase Jackman, and running ribbons for Stratton McGhee. “Barrels are probably my favorite, because I like to go fast. I really have to focus on keeping my horse round and off the barrels.” Bella works with her barrel horse with the help of Kristy and Monte Berger, and her farrier, Jim Bond, to keep her horses sound. “I look up to my dad, Heith, and my grandpa Bill Sauvage,” Bella adds. “My dad helps me improve and practice and make sure my horses are doing good. I wouldn’t be where I am without my grandpa helping me buy horses and keeping the truck and trailer working good, and he comes to my rodeos too.”
Bella and her 18-year-old brother, Bodie, make their home outside of Selden with their dad, Heith. Bodie competes in team roping, tie-down roping, and reined cow horse. “I have a gray mare named Jewels that I use in barrels. She’s really quirky because she doesn’t really like anyone other than me,” Bella says with a laugh. “My pole horse is a sorrel gelding named Chip, and he’s really fun since he likes to run fast. My breakaway horse is a chestnut pony named Ricky Bobby who loves to breakaway. He eats ‘em up!” Bella and Ricky Bobby won the breakaway roping at the KPRA rodeo in McCook, Nebraska, with a 2.6 this spring, while Bella and her other two horses won the Open 1D and placed third in the 1D at an NBHA race in April. Bella’s family runs cattle, and she also has a dog, Joe, a goat named CJ that she raised, and several cats.
Bella is finishing eighth grade at Golden Plains Middle School, where she enjoys math and world history. “We’ve been working on algebra, and in history, we finished the Civil War and now we’re on Reconstruction. I’ve played basketball with the Golden Plains Bulldogs since I started junior high, and this season, we went undefeated and won our league.” Once she’s home from school, Bella practices, and during the summer she helps her dad check cattle. Bella also helps her mom, Shani Hunziker, with farming and planting corn. “Usually we try to go to jackpots if we’re not at rodeos, and we ride all the time. We’ll ride up and down the road or in the pasture.”
When she’s off to a rodeo, Bella never leaves without her boot bag for her horses and her medicine bag. “I forgot my boots one time and had to wear my brother’s which was okay. They were just a little big,” she says. “My goal is to hopefully win a National title, and keep on winning at state. I’d like to rodeo full time someday, but I’m also interested in going into chiropractic or photography.”
