story by Julie Carter
Hailing from the Steer Wrestling capitol of the Navajo Nation, Crownpoint, NM, the 17-year-old Tsosie twins, Tyra and Tydon, have made their own marks on the rodeo world at local, state and national levels.
Both Tyra and Tydon landed on the national scene in July at the National High School Rodeo Finals in Gillette. Cowboy Channel fans watched at home while Tyra made a smooth, beautiful run in the Goat Tying the first round (7.2) but her goat kicked loose, disqualifying her. “It was such a heartbreaker,” she said. “I never want that to happen again.” Before her 2nd round, she was challenged by good friend and goat tyer dad Tanner Trujillo to “go make a 6-second run.” She answered that by winning the round in 6.8 seconds.
Tydon spent all season chasing his spot in the Steer Wrestling standings to qualify for Nationals. Proving he belonged on the big stage, Tydon’s first round was a 7.3 second run, but he came back to place 2nd in the 2nd round with 4.2. He went into the short round in 10th place where he threw his steer in 5.3, placing him 7th in the nation. “I know I could have finished much better,” he said in retrospect. “I plan to be in the top three this next time.”
The youngest in the family, the twins have two older brothers (Tyron and Tylon) and two older sisters (Tori and Tyrina) who make for a ready-made support system. Filling out the roster is Dad (Tyrone), who loves rodeo and was a steer wrestler until injuries sidelined him and mom (Genevie) who’s been a rodeo mom for 20+ years. Her favorite thing has been watching her children compete and win in their respective events.
As seniors, Tyra and Tydon have definite plans to make it back to Nationals one more time. Tyra is also breakaway roping and pole bending this year. She picked up her first points of the season in Goat Tying and Breakaway in Socorro at the first rodeo. Tydon won both goes and the average in the Steer Wrestling.
Tyra rides 10-year-old Bit O Honey, named after her grandpa’s favorite candy. Tsosies raised her, a true all-around horse. “She kind of does everything for me,” Tyra said. “At junior rodeos I use her in barrels, poles, breakaway and goat tying. And she used to be my brother’s steer wrestling horse and sometimes I get to haze off of her too.” Tyra said after her 4th place average win in the goat tying at the Best of the Best in Gallup, she has a couple college rodeo coaches interested in her for their teams.
Tydon’s steer wrestling horse is the one his dad used when he competed. At 20, he’s a veteran, bought as a 5-year-old, and trained by Tyrone. He has the same bloodlines as Tyra’s Bit O Honey. Tyrone said that Tyra is the one that makes the miles with the horses, keeping them ready, helping him with the young ones in training. “I’ve taught them that we’ve always got to have back up horses ready, and Tyra makes sure that keeps happening.”
Cross country running competition comes naturally to Tyra and she’s been a “runner” since the 6th grade. “Mom made us run, but we ran as a family,” she said. “I became really good at it and have qualified for state every year since the 8th grade.” Tyra and Genevie have competed together in city and community runs. Tyra also plays basketball during the high school winter and track in the spring, with all those being extra challenging due to her chronic asthma.
Tydon plays 11-man football for Crownpoint High School (AAA) in several positions due to his athletic ability. He also plays basketball but finds the football field to be his favorite spot other than the rodeo arena. He has plans for college, hopefully in Texas he says, “where it’s warmer.” PRCA steer wrestler Todd Fox (10 consecutive NFRs-1986-1995) watched Tydon at the HS nationals and has invited him to compete at the 2023 U.S. Junior Steer Wrestling Championship, Oct. 8, in Granite Shoals, Texas. Tydon also qualified for the 2023 Indian National Finals held in Las Vegas, NV, October 24-28. He entered several qualifying rodeos, but winning one in Oklahoma punched his ticket to Vegas.
Through the parents’ eyes, the twins are very individual in their traits. Tyra is seen as the one with a lot of heart and drive. The go getter. Her mom says, “She’s our third parent. She takes care of everybody, bosses Tydon. Little one in charge.” Tydon is strong minded, with a lot of confidence and no fear. “He’s a hugger,” said Genevie. “He likes to smile a lot and has a lot of heart for his sister.”
In describing her learning processes through the years, Tyra stated something her dad “always said” to them that seems to have hit paydirt in the Tsosie twins. Simple but effective. “If you are going to do it, you have to be good.”