story by Kyle Eustice
Forty-one-year-old Hutchinson, Kansas native Stephanie Gray grew up around horses and her passion for the stately creature has been intense as long as she can remember. As a little girl, she was taken to the Pretty Prairie Rodeo by her grandmother Anne, where she loved watching the barrel racing and trick riders who jumped through rings of fire.
“I talked about that all the time,” said Stephanie. “I said, ‘I will be competing here one day,’ and that did happen in 2015 and 2016.”
It all began with her mother, who trained all of the family’s horses for her clients. She credits her mother with teaching her everything she knows about horses.
“My mother had me showing horses since I was 4 years old,” said Stephanie. “I got into just about every discipline as time went on. My favorite of the events was the speed classes right away. However, it was a lot of miles and money for only points and buckles, even though I do have several national titles. My father, mother and myself started team penning when I stopped showing when I was no longer a youth. We were blessed and did well.”
After her mother took her to a few local rodeos, Stephanie eventually joined the CePRA in 1998 and has been a member ever since. She’s made the finals for the past 10 years and has focused on running barrels in every CePRA rodeo she attends, which she says are some of her favorites.
“Small town rodeos have the best spectators,” said Stephanie. “[The CePRA] is a good association and has good pay outs with affordable entry fees. I love meeting new people and members help each other when needed.”
As a member of the WPRA, KPRA, NBHA, and Central 4D barrel racers, she stays immersed in the rodeo world, and consistently builds a bond with her horses. In her spare time, she helps others learn how to ride.
“I rarely sell them,” said Stephanie. “They work hard for me for years, retire and enjoy a pampered pasture life. I have trained many horses for clients and I also give lessons. I still do when time allows.”
While she’s not on a horse, Stephanie works in a dentist office. In 2007, she got her associates in dental hygiene at Hutchinson Community college in before transferring to Wichita State University, where she completed her Bachelor’s Degree in 2008 before beginning her career.
“I have a passion for helping others,” said Stephanie. “I currently work at a dental office in Hutchinson full-time, but I also volunteer my time serving the less fortunate at KMOM, which is a mobile clinic. It goes to different cities and is based on a first come, first serve basis for free dental services.”
Stephanie conditions her horses five days a week, works drills to keep them flexed only after they’ve warmed up for 30 minutes. Although Stephanie says her horses have had a tumultuous year in terms of injury and illness, she’s looking forward to the upcoming rodeo season.
“I own a 16.5-acre place with five horses, two of which are young,” said Stephanie. “I’m breaking one and training the other, and I hope to run them at the BFA in Oklahoma City in December 2017. I am now getting my horses ready to start competing after a well deserved winter break. I am thankful for the vets who have taken care of my fur babies. I plan to run at rodeos and barrel races this year, so I’m praying for sound healthy horses.”
