story by Lily Weinacht
In Cheyenne Larson’s four years competing in the KHSRA, she’s qualified twice for the NHSFR in pole bending and even finished third in the 2015 Joe Beaver Easter Weekend Roping. But her fourth and final trip to state finals was, fittingly, a success for her barrel horse, Ranger, who won KHSRA Horse of the Year. The American Quarter Horse stallion carried Cheyenne from 11th to sixth place in the barrels during the finals, just five points away from qualifying for Nationals. “Ranger is phenomenal,” says 17-year-old Cheyenne. “This spring I mainly ran barrels on him, but he also does breakaway, pole bending, tie-down roping, reined cowhorse, and team roping on both ends.” The Larsons bought him as a two year old and raised him, sending the stallion to Jamie Stover of 3J Ranch Performance Horses in Abilene, Kansas. “Jamie took him to the AQHA World Show, and taught him tie-down, team roping, and reined cowhorse,” Cheyenne explains.
Her other horses – two of them out of Ranger – are proving talented as well. “I breakaway on Ranger’s son, Tonto. He’s awesome! His mom goes back to Doc Bar and Will To Win by Dividend. My pole horse, Rafter, is also a Doc Bar, and I have a five-year-old mare out of Ranger that I’ve been hauling to jackpots. She’s the granddaughter of Oklahoma Fuel and has Johnny Dial on her papers. She’s showing real potential.”
Cheyenne and her horses will be taking rodeo to the college level this fall, competing on Kansas State University’s (KSU) rodeo team with a rodeo scholarship. “I’m ready to go to college and try new things, but I’m also sad to leave high school rodeo,” says Cheyenne, who is the second generation of her family to compete. Her dad, Tad Larson, rodeoed and her mom, Gayle Larson, showed horses, while her brother, Ty Larson, college rodeoed with KSU for three years. “It makes me happy when I go to rodeos and see my friends. We’re very good friends outside the arena, and we get in the arena and it’s competitive, but we still cheer each other on.”
Throughout high school, she competed in breakaway, team roping as a heeler, barrel racing, and pole bending, also entering the IFYR the past three years. “Breakaway is my favorite. I like its focus, and catching and being fast. When you have a nice horse, it helps a lot!” Two-time WNFR qualifier Jeanne Anderson lives five miles from Cheyenne’s home in Council Grove, Kansas, and has coached her for several years. “My dad and her husband have been friends a while, and she rides in our indoor arena in the winter. Any time I need help or guidance, she’s there for me.”
Between practice and riding colts, Cheyenne fits in trips to the lake with friends during the summer. She also participated in basketball, volleyball, and cheerleading while attending White City High School, but chose rodeo as her main sport. “Lately, I’ve been competing in the URA and going to open rodeos around my house. I love that my community is one big family – everyone knows each other and takes care of each other, like rodeo!” She’s putting down new roots a few miles from home this month, moving into her house off KSU’s campus. “The horses will stay at school, but I’ll have to pick Ranger up from home for college rodeos since my dad ropes on him. I hope to get my younger horses going and learn to ride them better, qualify for the URA finals, and make it to the NFR down the road!”
