story by Lindsay King
Katelyn Detweiler was holding a lollipop as horses stampeded towards her, until she was pulled out of the way just in the nick of time in the movie The Lone Ranger. The Edgewood, New Mexico, cowgirl was also a model for American Girl Doll, today she is leading the girls as the NMHSRA rookie for the all-around title as a freshman. “It is an amazing feeling to be so young and leading the rookie standings. I have worked through a lot to get to where I am today, just like everyone else,” said the 14-year-old. A top competitor in barrels, poles and goat tying, Katelyn plans to rodeo her entire life with a goal to make the NFR one day. “I want to rodeo in college where ever I end up going. I love it, so I will never stop.”
Weaving: it is how Katelyn describes her favorite event. “I have an awesome pole and barrel horse who I actually bought for barrels, but she is small and has some reining background so she is athletic enough for poles as well.” On a horse since she could walk, Katelyn started out in lead line with her dad Robert by her side. “He is the reason I love to rodeo, and he has probably helped me the most. He walks me into the arena at rodeos and never misses a practice.” Armed as the camera woman, cheerleader and best rodeo mom around, Bonnie is the backbone of getting everyone down the rodeo road. Including Katelyn’s 13-year-old brother Cody. “Caroline Romo has been a huge influence in my life. She brought Smarty, my pole and barrel horse now, into my life. I hope I can pay it forward one day just like she did for me.”
A tough year in sixth grade, led into a building year and then finally her last season in junior high where everything seemed to just click for Katelyn. “One of my proudest moments in rodeo was at a rodeo in Grants, New Mexico, two years ago where Smarty and I won the all-around.” The comradery and competitive nature of the NMHSRA drives Katelyn to keep working towards her goals of taking a trip to nationals this year. “I am just trying to get a little bit better each run I make. I have made a couple of bad runs this year, so I practice everyday and keep doing drills to improve the athletic ability of my horses.”
Katelyn loves the challenge math presents and the teaching style in her English class at Morarity High School. “I played volleyball in middle school, but the rodeo season overlapped it too much. Of course I decided to focus on rodeo.” In her spare time, Katelyn likes to take pictures and go skiing with her family. “Right now I want to become an equine veterinarian. But I will probably have to specialize in something because I am not a big fan of blood.” Always drawn to horses, most of the Detweiler’s are Denver Bronco fans. “When I was little I liked their mascot because it was a horse, but now we are true fans. My dad is a Cowboys fan though, so it can get pretty heated at the house sometimes.”
Though Katelyn likes the covered arena in Socorro, the family also enjoys the rodeo in Santa Rosa. “I love the Blue Hole. It is a great place to go swimming in the summer. We have a lot of good memories from there.” From practicing to road trips and even packing the trailer, the Detweiler’s love that rodeo allows them to spend more time together as a family. “My family helps push me, but I have always used Philippians 4:13, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me, as a motivator in my rodeo career. I just love that verse and everything it represents.”