When Rylie Eden walks into an arena, she brings the same confidence she shows on the volleyball court or the basketball court back home in Hillsboro, Texas. The high school senior balances nearly every sport her small public school offers while competing at an elite level in the breakaway roping and pole bending.
Eden, who joined Team Cavender’s three years ago, was nominated by longtime friend and fellow competitor Tana Trosper.
“Every year when the seniors on the team graduate, they nominate somebody else to be on it,” Eden said. “Tana nominated me in my sophomore year.”
Since then, Eden has embraced both the responsibility and the opportunity that come with representing one of the Western industry’s most recognized names.
“Team Cavender’s has helped me in so many ways,” she said. “They have this summit every year where different rodeo athletes and sponsors come talk to us, not just about rodeo but about being a better person.”
That annual Team Cavender’s Summit has made a lasting impression on nearly every team member, and Eden is no exception. She calls the experience one of her favorite parts of being on the team.
“You’re there for three days with your teammates just getting to know each other,” she said. “My first year, I didn’t know what to expect. I thought it’d be like a class, but my favorite memory is always the volleyball games we play at the Sonic across the street every year.”
Off the road, Eden’s life is equally busy. She attends the public school where her mother serves as principal and participates in volleyball, basketball, track, cross-country and softball.
“Most schools probably wouldn’t let me get away with all my absences,” she said with a laugh. “But my mom and our school have been really supportive. They even created a rodeo team, so my absences count as school events and don’t go against me.”
Rodeo runs deep in her family. Her mother qualified for the United Professional Rodeo Association Finals in both the breakaway roping and barrel racing, and her father competed in the tie-down roping.
“My mom ran barrels when she was pregnant with me,” Eden said. “I’ve been around rodeo since before I was born.”
By junior high, Eden said she was hooked. She qualified for state and national competitions in the breakaway roping, and began to realize her talent could take her far.
“That’s when I kind of singled out breakaway as what I wanted to focus on most,” she said.
“In barrels, you’ve got to have a really nice horse to win, but in breakaway, even if you’re not riding the nicest horse, you can make it up with your rope.”
Her proudest moment so far came at the Days of ’47 Rodeo in Salt Lake City when she was just 12 years old. “I made the gold medal round, and I was the only kid under 16 or 17 to rope there,” she said. “Even though I didn’t finish how I wanted, it was an amazing experience. The stands were packed, and I’ll never forget it.”
Now in her senior year, Eden said she is looking ahead to life beyond high school.
“I definitely want to pro rodeo and try to make the finals and hopefully win the finals someday,” she said. She plans to attend college online so she can continue competing full-time while representing her future school.
Eden credits several professional cowgirls as role models, especially Martha Angelone and Hali Williams. “Martha sets the bar high,” she said. “She came from nothing and won the world doing it all on her own. That makes me want to work hard so it’s just me and my horses against the world.”
When asked what advice she would give to younger rodeo kids hoping to join Team Cavender’s, Eden didn’t hesitate.
“Think of them more like a family,” she said. “If you ever need anything, you can call anyone on the team and they’ll be there. They really make you feel like family in and out of the arena.”
Photo Courtesy of Rylie Eden
She added a final reminder that reflects her grounded perspective. “Always thank the people who help you,” she said. “One day they might not be there and you’ll realize how much they did for you.” •
