story by Lori O’Harver
This spring, in the far western corner of Kentucky, a tough young cowgirl is blooming amid the Magnolia trees. Rainey Gibbs is 16 years old and all set to make those big, gorgeous Southern flowers pale by comparison.
Gibbs put her tiny hometown of Salem on the map at the Texas Bronc Rider’s Association’s (TBRA) first stop for the 2017 Ladies Ranch Bronc Riding Tour on March 24 and 25 by splitting the win with all around roughstock hand, Duke Wimberly of Texas.
“Around home, I can’t enter any bronc ridings because of my gender,” said Gibbs. “I don’t believe that’s fair and have always wanted to see that gender gap closed. The TBRA gave me the first opportunity I’ve had to start to get that done. I’m grateful and excited for that!”
Gibbs trains horses full time for 12 Oaks Quarter Horses in Grand Rivers, Kentucky. It’s the second ranch on her professional resume and starting the young stock under saddle is her niche.
“I’ve been around horses since birth, thanks to my mom’s passion for them. She believes that they’re the best builders of character and she wanted to encourage my growth as a responsible, caring adult,” Gibbs said. “My first full time job offer came at 14. It was entry level and meant cleaning a lot of stalls but came with the opportunity to work my way into the saddle to start colts. When I told my mom, she said ‘we’re doing this’ and proceeded to set the wheels in motion to continue my education through home schooling.”
Gibbs has learned a lot so far on her journey with horses, but one of the most surprising things was her skill at sticking with the colts that buck. Even more surprising to her was the appreciation for them that grew each time it happened. It grew into the raw craving that every rider in bronc riding nation shares; a craving she found a way to take to the next level (and the bank) with the TBRA’s Ladies Ranch Bronc Riding Series.
“I saw an ad on Facebook talking about the new program in Texas and showed my mom,” Gibbs recalls. “She said, ‘we’re doing this’ and I entered up. I’ve always dreamed about Texas. Just driving to the rodeo was an adventure; passing the ranches of the TV trainers I’ve been studying, going through the Cowboy Capital of Stephenville.”
“It was humbling, exhilarating and absolutely amazing to arrive in Graham and be treated with respect by the other contestants, both men and women,” said Gibbs. “Back in Kentucky, I was consistently treated with disdain by the men who are offended by my desire to step out of traditionally women’s events like barrel racing and goat tying. They told me not to ‘put myself in a man’s place’.”
“I want to ride broncs, ride well and look like a lady while I’m doing it,” said Gibbs. “Daryl McElroy, the driving force behind and president of the TBRA, is incredibly supportive and positive. Until I met him and the TBRA program, I’d found it tough to find anybody who would show me the ropes and lend a helping hand. He did both!”
RIDE TV is developing a series around the women riding for the TBRA
championship.
“It’s a great opportunity to help increase awareness for the bucking horse community as well as the women who haven’t had these opportunities,” said Gibbs. ‘I’m looking forward to growing as a ranch bronc rider and doing my part to erase that gender gap.”
