story by by Naomi Loomis,
WSRRA Association Representative
In 2013, the Western States Ranch Rodeo Association added a women’s division to the association that brought 8 women’s teams to the finals. The WSRRA continues to experience rapid growth in the women’s division. At the 2016 WSRRA National Finals 22 women’s teams had qualified for the finals. The WSRRA currently has sanctioned events in thirteen states plus Canada.
One of these cowgirls that qualified for the 2016 WSRRA Nationals rodeo is Tayler Teichert. You can’t miss this 25 year old cowgirl from Mackay, Idaho. She is a very talent cowgirl and photographer. Her smile and positive attitude is contagious. Taylor grew up as a cowgirl and that is all that she needed to have the cowgirl fever. She is the youngest of 7 kids. She has lived and worked from Nebraska to California and all over in between. Along with being a handy cowgirl, Tayler is also a freelance photographer, a freelance writer and an E4 Ropes sales rep. One of the things that I appreciate about Tayler is her attitude about life. “I love dancing, cooking, eating, family, thunderstorms, God, new baby calves, branding, fall, a horse with some heart, a Canadian man , right after the sun goes down, and roping,” she explains.
One of Tayler’s qualities is roping and right fully so, she loves to rope. “Well I love roping and I have had a goal to become a better roper for years. Ranch rodeo is just another opportunity to rope and I will jump on any chance I get to rope something,” she states. The love of roping has brought Tayler to the ranch rodeo arena.
“I love the high speed intensity of ranch rodeos; they are so fun to watch but way more fun to compete in.”
Family values are important to this cowgirl. “I never participated in High School Rodeo, my dad said he needed my help on the ranch, branding and turning cows out on the range,” she states. For years Tayler would watch ranch rodeos from the stands until one day she was asked to be on a Women’s WSRRA Ranch Rodeo team in Bridgeport, Nebraska. “I was 22, had moved to Lakeside, Nebraska where I was working on the Rex Ranch when I was asked to participate on a team. Bridgeport was the first rodeo I had ever entered, it was actually my whole team’s first times ranch rodeoing so we were very nervous! First event was the trailer loading and I went into sort and blew all the cattle across the line. We got a no time so fast! I wish they would have given an award for how fast you can get a no time! My rodeo career was looking bright,”Tayler says.
That first ranch rodeo was all that it took for Tayler to start on the ranch rodeo trail. She explains that you don’t need much to participate in a ranch rodeo, you need a horse, a rope, and about $125 for entrance fees, that’s it! What makes you successful at ranch rodeo? Tayler tells me that you need more than a horse, a rope and money to be successful at ranch rodeo. “You need confidence, hours of practice, a horse that will put you in the right position, a rope that you can feel the tip with, and the ability to read a cow. All of these skills are things you can’t buy, you need to put in the time practicing with your rope, training your horse, spending time ranching and learning the way a cow thinks.” Tayler noticed that the top 5 teams usually were ranchers that also team roped. So she decided to start team roping. “I’ve only done it in the practice pen so far but I know it has helped my roping an incredible amount. Once I realized all of thi,s it made me realize why ranch rodeo is so fun, because it is hard! The things that bring me the most joy in life are the ones that I work the hardest at”, she states.
On the ranch rodeo trail, Tayler has a list of things that she takes on the rodeo trail:
1. A wicked sorrel mare named Rosie (“I ride a lot of different horses but she’s my new go to.”).
2. E4 Ranch Ropes.
3. Her favorite hat and jeans.
4. Lots of snacks and my favorite mix tape.
5. Confidence.
Tayler qualified for the 2016 WSRRA National Finals. She has been participating in sanctioned events since she started on the ranch rodeo trail. “I’d have to say my favorite part of the association is the finals every fall in Winnemucca. It’s a great place to see all my friends across the country. It’s fun to watch the different styles people bring to the event. You can learn a lot by watching others compete,” she says. Tayler’s proud win was the 2017 Sean Miller Memorial Rodeo in Lovelock, Nevada. “I won my first buckle this past June and I am still giddy about it. I’ve been to the finals in Winnemucca every year since 2014 but this is the first year I have actually qualified with my team. I’ve always just been an alternate in previous years,” she states.
At the 2016, WSRRA Finals Tayler had plans to ride a big, blue gelding of hers but her gelding ended up getting sick. Tayler ended up borrowing a horse from her boss. “He gets pretty hot in town, so the day before I decided to wean a bunch of calves on him to take the edge off. When we were headed out to gather that morning he tied up on me, so I took him to the vet and got told he was out for the weekend. My boss, Tim, offered me any of his horses I was comfortable on. I ended up riding his big beautiful sorrel head horse named Sizzler. He took great care of me and put me in position every event”.
Tayler’s 2017 ranch rodeo goals include winning the WSRRA National Finals in Winnemucca. “Someday I plan on being on the winning team at the finals and I’m going to keep working on it till that day comes,” she says. Tayler’s team named Mori Range Cows consists of team members Sandy Kiel, Katie Cavasin and Andrea Sestanovish. These cowgirls all have the same goal. To win the gold buckle at the WSRRA National Finals in Winnemucca, Nevada this fall. “Well we have never sat down and had a team goals pow wow but I think it goes unsaid that we all want to do our best and help set each other up for success. Before each event we make a plan but we each know that if it doesn’t work exactly as planned don’t doubt yourself, if you’re in good position, rope it! When our team got together we all said that if we were yelling during an event it wasn’t out of anger so no one is allowed to get their feelings hurt”, she states.
I am going to leave you all with this awesome quote from Tayler. This quote sums up why this cowgirl is such an inspiration to me. “I’ve had a goal since my first ranch rodeo in 2014 to win a buckle. Thanks to the handy women on my team, the grace of God, my boyfriend’s horse and coaching, and years and years of wanting it and practice I finally achieved my goal! Ranch Rodeo has made me push harder and learn what confidence is!”
On behalf of the WSRRA, good luck at the national finals and we will be watching Mori Range Cows at the WSRRA National Finals in Winnemucca, Nevada, November 1 – 4, 2017.
