story by Kelsey D’Ann Smith
“It’ll be one second, he just finished bull doggin’ a steer.” A few moments later, Hazen Martin, got the phone a little winded but insisted that now was just as good of a time as any. This ninth grade starting linebacker can be found practicing almost seven days of the week. Whether it is football, bull doggin’, team roping, or tie down roping he is constantly working to improve his skills.
Hazen began rodeoing in the third grade and comes from a legacy of professional cowboys. “My family is what keeps me going. My dad [Josh Martin] rodeos and team ropes. My uncle and cousins rodeo too.” This laid back cowboy from Sulphur, La., comes from a family with 3 brothers and 6 sisters. Robin Martin, has a full time job as mom and spends much of her time in the practice pen encouraging and supporting the passions of her ten children.
Hazen rides three different horses but his favorite is Chick. He uses this twelve year old bay mare in tie down roping and hopes to go far with her. “She’s just easy to ride.” Last year at the LJHSRA finals he won second in ribbon roping, third in tie down roping and second in team roping. This esteemed cowboy also ranked top ten nationally last year in both team roping and ribbon roping. Last year, his roping partner was his brother, Gatlin Martin. Now that he’s moved up to LHSRA he will be healing for his heading partner, Jaque Trahan. When he is not rodeoing or playing football this fifteen year old likes to duck hunt. However, his primary passion is rodeo. “I really like the competition. Everything about it, the people in it and the difficulty level.” Hazen most admires his role model and uncle, four time WNFR qualifier, Casey Martin. “He is good at what he does and always keeps a good attitude.” Hazen aspires to follow in the footsteps of his uncle. “I want to professional rodeo. My dream rodeo is definitely NFR.”
