Let HER buck!

DAVENPORT - They may be on a bucking horse in Montana, or riding bulls in Colorado or parking their gear bag behind the chutes at practice pens near Reardan.

They are often smaller than their fellow riders and can be spotted by their long hair and narrow shoulders.

They are spunky, brave and stubborn.

These are the women of roughstock.

In rodeo roughstock - event that include buckin' horses and bulls - are considered men's events. But a new generation of cowgirls is showing that praying for eight when they pull that gate isn't just for the guys.

Two separate associations have sprung up in recent years that allow women to compete against other women in roughstock events that include bullriding and ranch bronc.

The Women's Bull Riding Organization was formed in Texas, but sanctions rodeos throughout the West including states like Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona and Colorado.

Organization founder Mandy Shipsky, 40, is a longtime bullrider who competed in the now-defunct Professional Women's Rodeo Association.

A five-time world champion, Skipsky was asked to bring back women's bullriding to the Fort Worth Stock Show in 2015. Despite not having been on a bull in 10 years, Shipsky agreed.

"I found 15 girls and after that show, when they realized they could compete against other girls, we talked about forming an association," Shipsky said. "My phone started blowing up. Social media has really opened this up for us."

The organization is hoping to continue to draw female competitors and expand to new locales.

"We would love to have some shows further north and up into the Pacific Northwest," she said. "The girls competing now are really digging it. They look forward to the shows and we hand pick the bulls ... to make sure they are good," Shipsky said. "We have so much fun. The girls don't view each other as competitors; it's a sisterhood."

Shipsky and other long-time competitors like Dee Dee Crawford of Texas, now in their 40s, are mentoring younger competitors.

"I didn't plan on getting back into riding bulls, but the younger gals said they wanted someone to show them, not just tell them how to ride. So, I started getting back on and I was in the money, so I keep doing it," Shipsky said.

Although roughstock may seem like a sport too daunting for most women, Shipsky said she knows otherwise.

"I don't care where you are, I guarantee there is a girl in your state at a practice pen that is getting on bulls," she said. "We want to connect with those gals."

At the Oct. 24 rodeo in Cortez, Colo., more than 35 women entered steer riding and 10 women entered bullriding.

Ranch broncs

In addition to a resurgence in women's bullriding, ranch bronc riding is also garnering female competitors.

Ranch bronc competitions allow the contestant to ride a regular stock saddle and attempt to stay on their bucking horse by holding onto a reign in one hand and a night latch (a handle run through the cantle of the saddle) or a coil of rope in the other.

The rider must stay on for 8 seconds.

The event has gained new notoriety as part of a reality TV series on the channel "Ride TV" in the show "Cowgirls." The show follows women as they compete against each other.

One association that has started in response to the interest is the Texas Bronc Rider's Association, which sanctions rodeos in Texas, Oklahoma, Montana and Canada.

At an Aug. 15 TBRA rodeo in Jordan, Mont., five women rode ranch broncs from a pen that, due to COVID-19, had not been bucked in nine months.

The stock from Buck Naked Rodeo Co. featured there is often used in the Montana High School Rodeo Finals.

Three women, Wylee Brown, Kendall Edmo and Lake Iolani Stevens, made the 8 second whistle on their broncs.

Of the five women competing, all had their own reason for getting into the chute with a 1,400 pound bucking horse.

"I grew up riding horses but I've been riding ranch broncs for about 3 years," Brown said. "I ride because I love the sport and I love the horses. It was something my dad and I could do together and seeing the smile on my dad's face only fed my love of the sport.

"Something about following the 'dance' of a 1,400-pound buckin' horse puts pure joy in my heart."

Amaris House of Colorado had previous experience riding broncs.

"I started riding ranch bronc riding in October of 2018 when I decided to jump the gun and travel from Northern Colorado to Elgin, Texas. I signed up for two nights," she said. "My first night was my first out of the chute bronc ever. I came out over the front of the horse and messed up my elbow pretty bad.

"The next night, I wrapped it up and prayed for the best. Luckily, I drew one of the nicest horses anyone could ask for - just a straight across the arena jump kicker.

"I ended up winning the Fall Bash in Giddings, Texas, that night and just stuck to it."

House said she's been around horses since age 10.

"It's not a whole lot different than unruly horses and colts I've been on before, but the power of a bronc was something to get used to," she said.

"I truly enjoy everything about rodeo and roughstock, also I can appreciate what a challenge it is, not only as a sport on it's own but as a woman behind the chutes."

Lake Iolani Stevens, who made the whistle despite one of her stirrups breaking, traveled to the Montana rodeo from Colorado, but is a native of Hawaii.

"I rode my first ranch bronc in July," she said. "I've been riding horses since I was about 2 or 3 and I've been competing since I was 6. When I lived in Hawaii, my mom would rehabilitate and 'rescue' animals and my dad was a 'mugger.' I was always around horses and rodeos.

"I want to ride ranch broncs because it is such a great time and learning a new event is always exciting. My goal in this sport is to be the best I can be and learn as much as I can from as many people as possible."

While the age and backgrounds of women roughstock riders may vary, one thing seems to be true for all of them.

"Once you find something you love to do, and as a hard headed woman, no one is going to tell you not to do it," Shipsky said.

- Jamie Henneman is the Davenport Times editor and a member of both the TBRA and WBRO. This year, she has competed in Montana and Colorado and hopes to help bring both associations to the Pacific Northwest.