story by Lindsay King
Mounted on a little bay of her late grandfather’s stock, Kendyl Hutton is following in the footsteps of the man who got her family hooked on rodeo. “When I think of anything I have learned growing up, I think of him [grandpa] first,” said the Sperry, Oklahoma, breakaway roper. “Grandpa did a lot of match racing when he was growing up in Pawhuska and he started roping calves.” Many a barrel horse started out proving themselves in those match races for Kendyl’s mom and aunts. “I grew up learning about horses from my grandpa. I wanted to make him proud and knew I could do that by taking his horses down the road and making sure they were successful. It is a blessing to be able to do that for him.”
Own Hartness, Kendyl’s grandpa, passed away on August 13, 2017. It was just the day before when Kendyl purchased Taz from him. “He is a little ball of fire,” she said of the five-year-old gelding. “He has not messed up one bit out on the road, he gives me every opportunity to win.” Kendyl and Taz made history together this past July when they roped calves at Cheyenne Frontier Days in the breakaway. Taz attended his first rodeo in May and has only proved he’s worth his weight in gold at every stop. “Grandpa wouldn’t want it any other way. It’s neat that I am able to take one of his horses down the road to be successful. I know he is smiling down on us and that I have made him proud.”
If her accomplishments had anything to do with that pride, then Kendyl has always put a sparkle in her grandpa’s eye. “I’ve made the Indian finals the past two years, on two different horses. And last year I won the year end and average at our regional finals.” With countless ACRA final rodeos under her belt, Kendyl is working towards another appearance this year. “I jumped into the WCRA this year and made it to Salt Lake. I didn’t have much luck there, but I was blessed to be there.” The daughter of a life-long barrel racer, Kendyl just has a strong affinity for a solid calf horse. “I like to team rope on both ends too, but I just really like to rope calves.”
Kendyl’s older brother was starting to rope calves during the formative years of her rodeo career. “I like the challenge of breakaway roping and it was kind of new back when I was getting started.” Kendyl has continued to stick with the event and she’s had plenty of success as a result of her hard work. Taking after her grandpa, Kendyl trains a handful of outside horses every year. Some for barrel racing and others for breakaway roping. “I rode outside horses through high school and college for a bit. I worked for a team roping trainer for a few years and I just started training on my own eventually.” Kendyl said training colts is simply how she funds her rodeo habit. “I like the process and watching them grow. It is really humbling.”
With a degree in education, Kendyl is naturally drawn to teaching of any kind. She attended Fort Scott Community College on a rodeo scholarship in the fall of 2006. She also rodeoed for a semester at Pitt State College so she could finish her teaching degree. “I won ACRA rookie of the year in 2010 and I have been a member ever since.” The location of the rodeos are convenient, but it’s the fact that the ACRA has had breakaway roping for more years than most amateur associations in the area. “They have given us a good opportunity as breakaway ropers to compete. We are thankful the ACRA gives us the option because otherwise we would only be able to run barrels. The association gets better every year and it keeps growing. I will continue to support them for as long as they support the breakaway ropers.”
