Team Cavender’s Kash Loyd

Imagine battling it out every weekend at high school rodeos in Texas to qualify for the National High School Rodeo Finals to arrive and have it all taken away the first ride out. This occurrence is a reality for now Sophmore bareback rider, Kash Loyd.
When he got on his first horse of the finals, he covered with a score of 65 points to start the event out. As he grabbed his riggin’ the pick-up men began to move in. They thundered around the corner to pass the bucking chutes. Suddenly, Kash’s leg collided with someone along the chutes who didn’t quite make it out of the way, sending Kash flying over his riggin. In that moment, Kash’s arm snapped. He knew what had happened, and the worst part, he was hung up. The pick-up men moved in and safely got him to the ground, but the outcome led Kash straight to the hospital. He completely broke his radius and the growth plate in his wrist. He was out for the rest of the rodeo.
“I was frustrated,” Kash said. He pushed to tell his family he could still ride, but they weren’t convinced. He stayed an extra day to support his friends riding before taking a family road trip back to Texas empty-handed. This incident, however isn’t the end for Kash. That ride is motivating him to come back stronger than before. Kash has been working and training with allstar, Tilden Hooper, who often comes to support these young up-and-comers.
Kash began riding bucking stock when he was just seven years old. “I remember it like it was yesterday,” Kash said. The ponies were rank, but that didn’t scare Kash off. He continued to ride in the Junior Roughstock Association, which only features bucking horse events. When he finally came into high school rodeo, he was in a whole new world. “It was a culture shock,” Kash said. Seeing all of the different events at the high school rodeo was nothing he’d seen before. “It’s not something you get to see every day.” With bareback riding being the first event out, he often didn’t watch the other events, but at many of the finals rodeos he always makes time to watch the other events.
Kash has grown up near Fort Worth, Texas. He is no stranger to the competition the state brings. Although the competitors are friends, they want each other to get better to better themselves. “We are the elite [in Texas],” Kash said. “If you want to succeed at rodeo, you’re coming to Texas.” This competition helped Kash get comfortable quickly at some of the larger rodeos he’s attended. He didn’t feel the pressure that many others may have in these situations.
As a successful bareback rider Kash does have some rituals that must be done before each ride. “I am a lion,” Kash says as he gets ready to get down in the chute. He recites his scripture verses to himself to get him in the zone. “As long as I have God on my side, I’m good.” He, unlike most athletes, prefers to have some quiet time or chatting with the other riders rather than listening to music to get ready. He has one superstition that stands out above the rest, and that is why he wears Snoopy socks for each ride.
Kash joined Team Cavender’s recently and is starting his first year on the team. “They [Cavender’s] give me an extra boost of confidence every time I step into a room or arena.” Kash said. He mentions how nice it is to have people who have his back and help prepare him for the next steps in rodeo and in life.
When Kash isn’t riding bucking horses, you can find him on the football field, the track field or the golf course. He made the varsity team in all three sports his freshman year. Although he cannot play now with his broken arm he is hopeful to make the team again this spring when he is healed.
Kash is ready to hit the rodeo road again as soon as he finishes up physical therapy. He is hoping to be back to riding by the beginning of November and aims to be the Rookie of the Year in the Cowboy Professional Rodeo Association and win the Junior World Finals in Las Vegas this December.