story by Terry Rhodes
Hayden Madsen just completed her rookie year in the Rocky Mountain Pro Rodeo Association and says she had a great time. “Mom and I just started last year and I think it’s really fun going to all the different places to rodeo; it’s almost like pro rodeo traveling with your family. We started going to Rocky Mountain Pro Rodeos because Briggs was going and riding in the rough stock events.”
Hayden also competes in high school rodeo and the 15-year-old freshman has several years left to compete. “I compete in goat tying, barrels, breakaway, and poles. I don’t really have a favorite event but I would say that I’m strongest in the barrel racing. My mom always trains my barrel horses so I have a nice horse to ride, so that’s the event I do the best in, usually. She’s pretty much my rodeo coach, too.” Hayden started working on her rodeo skills about the time she started to walk.
Hayden is diligent about her practice and preparation for competition. “I believe in, ‘The one that tries the hardest wins the most.’ After school I’ll go practice breakaway, barrels, tie goats, and ride horses. We pretty much eat, sleep, and drink rodeo.” It’s that practice that prepares Hayden for rodeo runs. “I don’t really get nervous at rodeos. My mom and I stay together and get ourselves ready. We’re there to have fun and just do the best we can. I really like it when I make a good run and my horse works good. But I am really competitive and I like to win.” She has four different horses for the events and her barrel horse is ‘Jordon’, an 18-year-old gelding by First Down Express. “He’s pretty fast and he likes his job.” In pro rodeo, Hayden says that Lisa Lockhart is someone that she admires. “She always rides really well and she’s humble about what she does.”
Hayden lives with her parents, Doug and Sonya Madsen in Honeyville, Utah. Besides her older brother, Briggs, Hayden has a younger brother, Kade that has started riding miniature bulls, and a younger sister, Josey that runs barrels, poles, and goat ties. One of the milestone events that Hayden is looking forward to is getting her learner’s permit to start driving. “I just had my birthday and haven’t had time to get it yet.”
High school graduation is still a few years off, but Hayden is thinking ahead and plans on taking up a nursing curriculum. “I’ve always wanted to be a nurse. I want to go to a school with a rodeo team and get a scholarship.” Long term goals are to make the NFR, train barrel horses, and have good career.
