story by Terry Rhodes
With a lightning fast event like breakaway roping, having a horse with great speed and big stop is a must. Cassie Bahe says that she has that horse in ‘Baby’. “It’s pretty cool because we got her when she was 6 and we pretty much grew up together. She’s 19 now and she has taken me to the Junior High National Finals in breakaway, the High School National Finals in breakaway, and the CNFR in breakaway. I love that horse.” Being a Driftwood bred horse, Baby had all the makings to be great.
Cassie has been in the Rocky Mountain Pro Rodeo Association since she was a freshman in high school. Her events are breakaway, barrels, and she used to compete in the mixed team roping with her father. “I like that the RMPRA is widely known and there are always a lot of entries. So there is high level of competition and it is probably one of the most competitive amateur rodeo associations around. I go to about 10 or 15 of the Rocky Mountain Rodeos each year.” She also competes in The World Series of Team Roping, the USTRC, and the Indian National Finals Rodeo where she ropes with her dad.
Cassie’s work ethic and determination lead to early success in junior high rodeo. “I was the Utah State All Around Cowgirl. Then I competed in high school rodeo and I’m now on the rodeo team for the College of Southern Idaho. I team rope, barrel race, and breakaway rope. Last year I made the CNFR in breakaway roping.”
She’s majoring in mechanical engineering and plans on a career in design and engineering of livestock and ag equipment. “My ultimate goal is to have a company that designs chutes, panels, and ranch equipment. I like doing the computer design and engineering. We use a computer program to select materials, analyze loading, and do all the calculations.”
Maintaining a consistent practice regimen is a must for Cassie. “I work out three to four times a week. I do a lot of mental preparation and setup situations in practice where I visualize making a run in the short round and I have to make a certain time to win. I like to create scenarios like that so when I get to a rodeo and I’m in that situation I’ve already experienced the pressure that I put myself under.”
Not every run goes as planned and Cassie was given a method to deal with those few times. “Mom gave us a 10-minute-rule. When we have a bad run, we can be mad about it for 10 minutes, and then we have to move on, get over it, and go to the next one. I think this has helped me a whole lot. My mom doesn’t compete but she is the perfect ‘rodeo mom’. She comes to every rodeo and videos every run we make.”
For Cassie that ‘best run’ came in her senior year at the Idaho High School State Finals. “I had won two of the four go rounds and placed in the others. My short round go was a 2.2 and that was the fastest of the rodeo.”
Her parents are Francis and Laurie Bahe and she has two sisters, Brenna, 11, and Anna, 18. She says that her dad has been an inspiration to her. “He taught me how to rope and does so much for me. I wouldn’t be where I am today without him.” Originally from Grantsville, Utah, Cassie is working as a ranch hand for the summer in Gooding, Idaho. Goals for the future are to finish her education and begin an engineering career.
