For Lufkin, Texas, cowgirl Mallory Moore, the rodeo was not something passed down—she discovered, nurtured and turned it into a way of life. From her first horseback ride at age 4 to her senior year on Team Cavender’s, Moore has grown into one of Region V’s standout high school rodeo competitors, fueled by grit, family support and a deep love for the sport.
Moore said she began working at the Cavender’s store in Lufkin in August 2023, unaware that the opportunity would lead her to become part of the Cavender’s legacy in a much larger way.
“I was interested in Cavender’s being one of my sponsors,” Moore said. “I didn’t even know about Team Cavender’s until I started looking into how to get sponsored, and my store manager told me about it. I applied in time for my senior year and was thrilled when I got the email saying I made the team.”
Though she only spent one year with Team Cavender’s, Moore said she loved every minute of it. She highlighted her favorite memory as their yearly summit meeting.
“It was a good mixture of rodeo, friendships and business,” she said. “It wasn’t just about being in the arena—it was a life perspective. I made some great friendships, and it gave me a broader view of what it means to represent something bigger than myself.”
Moore competes in barrel racing and pole bending. While she once entered nearly every event—team roping, breakaway, goat tying, even cutting—she is now focusing her energy on the two events closest to her heart.
“As I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized training barrel horses is where my main passion lies,” she said.
Photo Courtesy of Mallory Moore
That passion did not come from family tradition. “None of my family rodeoed,” Moore said. “My dad did some cutting, and my uncle runs cattle, but I was the first to get into rodeo.”
Her journey started with riding lessons from a local woman who did not run barrels but taught her the fundamentals. “I kind of took it from there and trained my horses over the years,” Moore said.
Moore added her most influential horse was a gelding named Hershey. “I got him in eighth grade, and he took me farther than I ever imagined,” she said. “He won me my first saddles and broke the arena record in Lufkin. He taught me everything I know.”
Today, Hershey carries a new rider—Moore’s nine-year-old sister Remy.
“Watching them together makes my heart so happy,” she said. “He knows when to go fast and when to take care of her. Remy has seen what I accomplished with him and wants to do the same.”
With three younger siblings—two who dance and one who rides—Moore said her parents spend most of their time supporting their children’s passions on the road.
“They’ve always pushed me to be my best and be the best sportsman I can be,” Moore said. “Their support, along with my grandparents and that first riding coach, has made all the difference.”
Now preparing for life after high school, Moore said she plans to attend a community college this fall and plans on buying her permit.
“Eventually, I want to go pro and PRCA rodeo. I’ve always dreamed of getting on the road and seeing how far I can go in barrel racing,” she said.
One of Moore’s proudest moments was receiving the Legend Williamson Award from the Piney Woods Rodeo Association. The award is named for 10-year-old Legend Williamson, who died in a horseback riding accident in 2021.
“Legend was a friend of mine who passed away. He never met a stranger and always shared God’s light,” she said. “Receiving that award meant the world to me. I want to carry that light and support others like he did.”
Whether in the arena or in life, Moore rides with heart, faith and a fierce determination to make her mark on the rodeo world.
