by Siri Stevens
Braylin joined the AJRA this year. “I love the rodeos,” said the 7 year old from Coleman, Texas. She went to her first AJRA rodeo in Hamilton, Texas, at the Circle T Arena. “That place was awesome. It had two indoor arenas and it was really cool.” Most of the AJRA rodeos are within 150 miles from home, so it works great for her family. Braylin has been riding horses since she was one, learning from her mom (Ashlee) and dad (Jeff). “I remember riding Phoebe, and trotting on her, and I was sliding off, but I was still smiling.”
Rodeo is in her blood. Both of her grandfathers competed at the NFR. “It was our family’s lifestyle to rodeo,” said Ashlee, a former Miss Rodeo North Dakota. “My grandpa rode and put on rodeos, so Braylin is fourth generation rodeo cowgirl.” Braylin’s great grandpa used to buy bucking stock from the reservations and sold some of his good horses to Gene Autry’s bucking horse string. Jeff is a former PRCA cowboy, who had grown up competing in all events except bull dogging. He doesn’t compete anymore, but helps at the JR rodeos setting up poles, and rides at the ranch and team ropes.
Braylin had to write a story about her favorite sport and she picked rodeo. Here is what she wrote: I like horses because they are cute, soft, cuddly and nice. We work really hard. I like riding horses a lot. Rodeos are really fun. I like seeing my friends there too on their horses. I compete in barrels and poles on Jessie.
Jessie is a dark brown mare with a blaze and one eye. “She has a big heart and tries really hard.” Taco is the horse she uses for straight barrels and goat tying. He is a paint, and has two blue eyes. “He goes super fast. He thinks I’m a jockey and he’s the horse.” She is going to add roping and is planning to follow in her mother’s footsteps and be a queen. Braylin wants to be a veterinarian so she can help horses.
She is home schooled at Cow Creek Ranch Home School. She is an only child and is home schooled because it fits the family lifestyle. “I’m a teacher and used to teach elementary, but since we have other businesses besides ranching, we home school so she can go on all our adventures.” The businesses include Slick Rock Designs (custom furniture and home decor) which began in 2000 and Boot Baby Ranch, which came along in 2009 as a result of Braylin. “It was difficult to find quality western clothing for her so I decided to open an online store and combine all the brands I like.”
The family takes products from both stores to five shows a year, starting with the Roping Fiesta and ending in Houston. Braylin goes to several of the shows helping her parents with pricing, writing tickets, and working the credit card machine. She has become a friendly face at the shows. “I like to do the shows because I get to help people and I get to work and feel like a lot of help.”
The down side to being gone is being away from her horses. Along with Taco and Jessie, Braylin has four other horses. “Two of them are retired, but when my friends come over, we get to ride them and groom them and give them baths.” It’s a pony salon day.
“I really really really love the stock shows and rodeos. And I want to enjoy the adventure of everyday. I’m a history addict and love the adventure.”
