story by Kyle Eustice
Mulvane, Kansas resident Cindy Wall was born in Germany in 1966. Her father was in the Army, so the family moved around most of her life. She graduated from high school in Frankfurt, but wound up getting her degree from Kansas State. Now, as the married mother of five to children Tyson, 32, Isaac, 30, Chris, 26, Kate, 24, and Carson, 13, she has her hands full. The fact she’s able to participate in rodeo at all is a feat in itself.
“I learned to ride horses in Germany and rode English, competing in jumping and dressage events,” explained Cindy. “I didn’t even ride in a Western saddle until after college when I met my husband, Mike. He introduced me to western riding and rodeo. He competed in bull riding at the time and then team roping later. I entered my first rodeo when I was 28 and I’ve been addicted ever since.”
The first association Cindy joined was the NBHA. From there, she joined the Center 4D Barrel Racers and then the CePRA. She and her daughter Kate eventually enlisted with the WPRA in 2013 and filled thier permits together the same year. She also competes in Barrel Bash events and jokes she’s “a one trick pony,” considering her only event is barrel racing.
Aside from her husband, her daughter Kate still rodeos. The mother-daughter duo travelled extensively together to compete in WPRA and CePRA rodeos until she got married in 2015.
“She is married to Zane Tibbs and lives in South Dakota,” said Cindy. “She continues to rodeo there. My husband competed in bull riding and team roping. He now joins me in running barrels at NBHA and Barrel Bash events.”
Although she juggles a lot, she still managed to hit some special milestones in her rodeo career. “I’m very proud that I have qualified for the CePRA finals every year I have been a member,” said Cindy. “I was the Kansas State Champion for the NBHA in 2015 and won both long go’s and the short go.”
However, she doesn’t want to stop there. She is intent on qualifying and making it to The American, which she says would be “amazing.” She’d also like to win a CePRA season buckle and is perfectly aware of what it will take to get there.
“It takes patience and knowing that not all runs will be perfect,” said Cindy. “I have an amazing husband and family that support me and all my crazy traveling. A big bank account would be a plus, too [laughs].”
During the busy rodeo seasons, Cindy sometimes hits up to three rodeos a week. She spends hours a day practicing to keep her main horse, VF ForceADash (or Force for short), in shape. She also has two other horses that she’s training who will hopefully be in good enough shape to compete in rodeos someday. The adrenaline rush she gets the moment her name is called keeps her motivated and she has Force to thank.
“Force is my rodeo horse,” said Cindy. “He has such a big heart and gives me 100 percent every time. He is 16 now, so I am treasuring every time I get to run him, good or bad. He has taken me to places I never dreamed of going. I’m so blessed to have him.”
