story by Lindsay King
Behind every perfect loop is the competitor who worked so hard for it, but most importantly the person who pushed them towards it. For Haley Kiehne from Magdalena, New Mexico, that person was and is her dad Travis. “He taught me how to read a barrier, how to get out clean, all my roping skills have come from him, now doubt about it,” said the 19-year-old, graduate of Magdalena High School. Heading always came easy for Haley, but breakaway was a skill she had to build from the ground up. “Having to put so much into it made me appreciate wins a lot more than team roping. I have always been mounted really well in breakaway, which has made it a lot more enjoyable as well.”
Her dad has always been coach, but her mom Tammy has been everything else they have ever needed. “She has been my number one, always there to open chutes and push calves for me. When I would come home from school late she would have my horses ready to practice. She has put in so much work for me.” Haley’s sisters, Maxi, 23, and Kadie, 23, chose sports in high school over the rodeo road but always remained extremely supportive of Haley’s rodeo career. “It was always my dad and I in rodeo. He chose to only rodeo a couple more years after he was 16th in the world in steer tripping.” An accomplished steer and team roper, coming up short of the NFR by only $100, her dad started hauling Haley to the big events when she got into high school and he had retired.
“My most memorable moment in rodeo was last year at the best of the best in Gallup, ribbon roping with my dad. He was beside me instead of pushing my calf. It was the best times I have ever had in a rodeo arena.” Haley considers Gallup her hometown, growing up in that arena right along with the size and purse of the Best of the Best Timed Event Rodeo. “I have gotten really close to the people who put it on over the years since I have competed there so much. Red Rock Park is such a unique location.” Rodeo and the people in it are essentially what built Haley into the woman she is today.
“High school rodeo brought a lot of responsibility with it, I learned how to appreciate everything so much more. I have become a completely different person just because of the expectations of the NMHSRA, to be a good athlete and sportsman inside and out of the arena.” Haley credits rodeo and the association for directing her path towards Texas. “I have a full-ride scholarship for rodeo waiting for me down there in the fall. I have always worked outside with my dad on our ranch and outfit, which has made me love and appreciate what my family does for a living so much more. I want a job where I can take part in my family’s business. I will be studying business management.”
Beginning state finals in second place for breakaway, Haley’s goal was to capture the state title. “Although I drew terribly and was completely devastated, I still split third and fourth and went to nationals for the second time in my career.” The humbling experience pushed Haley to work hard the week after and it paid off when she won a jackpot the very next weekend. Now that breakaway is part of the American, she has her sights set on qualifying. Her experience on the bigger arena floors happened in Vegas this past December. “I won the Resistol Shootout in Vegas this December. It was the biggest roping I have ever been to. It was big for my dad to be there, it was an accomplishment for both of us. We worked hard, qualified and finished strong.”