story by Lily Weinacht
For Carlee Arnold of Hutchinson, Kansas, competing in the NJHFR has become an annual event. The 14-year-old is making her third trip to Nationals this month, with her first all-around state title under her belt, along with the girls breakaway roping and ribbon roping titles. Although she has won several other state titles the past two years, including Rookie of the Year, and she went into state finals sitting high in her roping events, Carlee was still surprised by the outcome. “I had a pretty good year,” she says. “My roping at the finals could have gone way better, but I was happy with the way everything turned out, and everything went together and helped me get enough points. I’m excited about Nationals. Last year, my partner, Kylie Adams and I placed sixth in the team roping.”
Of her three events – goat tying, ribbon roping, breakaway roping – breakaway is Carlee’s favorite. Rodeo started in the family with her great-great grandfather on her dad’s side, who did both roughstock and timed events. Her dad, Dusty, and older brothers, Zane and Coy, are all ropers, and Dusty and Coy often rope with her in the practice pen and help run chutes. Her mom, Stephanie, runs the camera. “They’ll tell me what I can do to get better so I do my best when I perform, and if I’m having trouble, how to fix it. I also look up to Timber Allenbrand. She’s gone to all the rodeos we go to and she’s been helping me out.
“Rodeo is one of my favorite sports I do, and I like all the people that are in it and how unusual and fun it is,” Carlee adds. “I also play basketball, and there are some basketball drills that help me in goats. Staying in shape also helps me be a better athlete when it comes to rodeo.” Her basketball team finished third in their league this year, and Carlee recently finished eighth grade at Pretty Prairie Middle School. She’s eager to start high school this fall. “Most of my friends are in high school, so I’ll get to move up and be with them. Math is probably my favorite, and I like algebra the most.”
Carlee’s summer break is dedicated to rodeo, with the exception of swimming and hanging out with friends. Even then, they practice together. “Most of my friends rodeo, so we’ll rope together. I’ll be going to Nationals, and if my brother, Coy, makes it to High School Nationals, we’ll go there and to Shawnee for the IFYR.” Carlee enters the occasional barrel race, but she primarily competes in URA events and at the end of May, Chris Neal’s Future Stars Calf Roping. She rarely competes without her lucky necklace, given to her by her dad. “I always seem to do good when I’m wearing it, and I have some lucky shirts too.”
Yet it’s hard work and talented horses that have sent Carlee to Nationals three times, and both her current horses were born and raised on the Arnold’s ranch. “My breakaway horse is Festus, and he’s eight. My brother started tie-down roping on him but I needed another horse, so I just took him over,” Carlee says with a laugh. “My team roping and goat horse is Lucky. We raise Quarter Horses and sell them, and I help around the ranch with feeding and branding.”
Carlee plans to start high school rodeoing this fall, and she’s considered college rodeo, but her greatest goal is to come home from Lebanon, Tennessee, a national champion.
