While Kiley Hargrave-Batten only joined Team Cavender’s a year ago, she had nothing but good things to say about her experience.
“It was really a wonderful experience the year I was on the team,” said the 17-year-old cowgirl from Trinity, Texas. “The whole organization is full of amazing and kind people. They have been some of my biggest supporters.”
Kiley said she was honored to be a part of the youth team during her final year of high school in 2023-24, but she said her rodeo career started much earlier in life.
“I have rodeoed pretty much my whole life,” she said. “I think I was six when I asked my Papa for a pony for Christmas. I knew from then on rodeo is all I ever wanted to do, and I have done that ever since.”
Kiley now has quite the list of accolades that include qualifying for the Texas High School Rodeo finals, Jr. National Finals Rodeo, and the Hooey Patriot three times each. She also has been the THSRA Region 9 pole bending champion three times. All these awards and qualifications are thanks in part to her pony, Socks.
“My Papa bought me my pony at my first rodeo in Waller, Texas. We then trained him together, and that has been such a special memory,” she said. “My Papa is easily the biggest influence I have had in my life. He taught me everything I know, and I am forever grateful for him and his experience.
“I went on to win the Texas State High School Finals Pole Bending title and National High School Finals Rodeo Pole Bending title on him in 2021,” she said. “That is easily my proudest moment, to be able to win those titles on a horse that my Papa and I trained together.”
Although Kiley now has several horses in her string, Socks holds a special place. “I have three horses. Socks, my pole horse, and then I have two barrel horses: Easy and Luna,” she said.
“I have had Socks for 12 years now, and he has always been my favorite,” she said. “After winning me the state and national finals my freshman year, he really has made all my dreams come true.”
She said Easy and Luna are newer to her herd, having both of them less than a year.
“Easy came to me from a really great family about three months ago, and Luna, I have been riding for a family friend for about five months,” she said.
Kiley said she attended public school in the Groveton ISD. She went to Groveton Elementary and then to Groveton Jr.-Sr. High school until she graduated in the spring of 2024. During her time there, she was a varsity cheerleader and cross-country runner. She was involved in the FCCLA, BETA, FCA, and UIL student youth organizations. Outside of school and rodeo, Kiley said she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, especially if it involves the swimming pool.
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