story by Lily Weinacht
Morgan Gorman and her older brother are the first generation of their family to rodeo. Morgan, 14, followed in her brother’s bootprints and rode sheep at the start of her career before learning to ride horses. Today, the cowgirl from Calumet, Oklahoma, competes in goat tying, breakaway roping, and team roping. “This year, I started heading and practicing more than I used to. I practice with my older brother, Garrett. He’s roping and riding saddle broncs at NCTC (North Central Texas College) in Gainsville, Texas,” says Morgan. “My favorite is definitely goat tying. I like the rush of getting off your horse and flying nine-oh down the arena and putting a fast run together. It’s exciting! I’ve learned being aggressive and keeping up even if I have a bobble because every second counts. Smooth is always fast.”
Morgan’s speed sent her to the NJHFR for the first time in goat tying this year. “I have improvements I’m working on for high school rodeos, and I liked hanging out with friends and taking everything in,” she says. “My mom, Eileen, is always out there when I’m practicing, and my brother, and we go down to Texas a lot to a rope horse trainer, Rick Rosaschi. He’s been a huge part of where I’ve gotten in my roping, and my brother has been a huge help too.” Morgan has also gone to the Camp of Champions rodeo school in Sayre, Oklahoma, several times, and she’s also worked with Laramie Zant on goat tying.
“I’m motivated by the people I get to meet along the way, and the friendships I make, and my parents are supportive, so that helps a lot,” says Morgan. She also has an older sister, Mary. “I’ve grown up rodeoing, so that’s what I like to do, and we started homeschooling so we could practice more and spend more time on the road. I get to go to more rodeos, and I go to USTRC’s all week.” Morgan, a freshman, does much of her school on the road if needed, and she especially enjoys math. “It’s not the easiest, but it’s always been my favorite. I like problem solving, and the satisfaction of knowing those hard answers and being able to do them. It helps with knowing how much money you’ve spent on rodeo entry fees or gas mileage.”
Morgan’s goat tying horse, Coco, is a former racehorse she started competing on last year, and even when Morgan’s older goat horse needed to retire unexpectedly, Coco, rose to the challenge. “I ride my brother’s heel horse, Sister, and she’s really good for being three years old,” says Morgan. “I like that he’ll let me ride her. He takes her to school, so we have a new horse, Magic, I’ve been barrel racing on a bit, and a new horse for high school rodeos this fall for me to rope on named Hot Rod. I think he’ll be a good one.” Morgan’s family also has dogs, as well as goats for her to practice on, and she goes to her neighbor’s arena to work on her roping and goat tying.
“I like hanging out with my friends or just riding my horses, and I like shopping,” Morgan adds. “I play basketball sometimes so I stay in shape for when I’m rodeoing. I’m excited for high school rodeos – I just need to stay focused. I for sure want to get through high school and go to college and pursue rodeo. I’d like to make Nationals and even be a National Champion throughout high school. I want to get with my new horses and continue heading and get better, and just stay with it!”
Morgan also extends her thanks to her sponsors: Resistol, Rock and Roll Denim, Panhandle Slim, and 4-Star Trailers.
