story by Teri Edwards
Katie Leibold was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona, where she lived for the first 22 of her 26 years. She grew up around horses and cattle on the ranches her dad leased.
Her first horse, El Gato, or “the cat” came from a ranch in Mexico. Katie started out doing 4-H and ended up doing every event on him including, heading, heeling, and breakaway.
“My dad got him from a fellow rancher and paid about $850 for him,” says Leibold. “He was a big, slow footed horse that was perfect for a nine year old girl. He really took care of me.”
In high school she competed in Breakaway and Team Roping, but soon found Breakaway roping was her favorite. After graduating high school in 2007, Katie attended a local community college while going to team roping jackpots and rodeos.
In 2012 a good friend, Bobby Jean Colyer, invited her to Idaho for the summer, enticing her with the many summer rodeos in the area. That summer she met her now boyfriend, Jared Thompson, and they have been together ever since. The couple divides their time between Idaho in the summer and Arizona in the winter.
Katie owns and operates Lariat Productions, a full service company that includes website design, video production, photography and marketing. The digital nature of the business allows her the freedom to travel.
“It allows me to go to rodeos when I need to and not have to stay in one spot,” explains Katie. “I have clients all over the country and in today’s digital age, I can do this from anywhere.”
On any given day during the summer, Katie and Jared start the day with chores on the ranch his dad manages. Katie will then spend her morning working on various projects for Lariat Productions. Late in the afternoon they start getting the arena ready for the evening roping practice. On the weekends they are gone to rodeos from Thursday until Saturday or Sunday. During the winter, the pair helps her dad at the feedlot and then focus on the many team roping jackpots around Wickenburg.
COWBOY Q&A
How much do you practice?
Three or four times a week.
Do you make your own horses?
Yes. The best head horse I’ve ever owned was a two-year old stud my dad bought at a sale barn for $650. I was about 12 when we got him and rode him all through high school and afterwards. I’ve probably won over $75,000 on him. He’s now 15 and a once in a lifetime kind of horse.
Who do you respect most in the world?
My dad.
Who has been the biggest influence in your life?
My dad.
If you had a day off what would you like to do?
I would enjoy a spa day, and then maybe some wine tasting and then lay on the beach somewhere.
Favorite movie?
Stepbrothers or Wedding Crashers
What’s the last thing you read?
A novel, called The Villa
How would you describe yourself in three words?
Professional, determined, goofy
What makes you happy?
Spending time with the people I care about, and riding a good horse.
What makes you angry?
Failing.
If you were given 1 million dollars, how would you spend it?
I would buy a place, go back to school, invest part and save the rest.
What is your worst quality – your best?
My worst quality is avoiding confrontation. My best quality is being dependable.
Where do you see yourself in ten years?
I hope we have our own place. I’d like to see my business grow and become more successful. Maybe have started a family by then, but I’m not in a hurry. Still roping and have the best horses possible. Still enjoying roping and going to rodeos.
