story by Lindsay Humphrey
As a first-generation rodeo athlete, Abree Ensey and her 16-year-old sister, Paige, are figuring things out as they go along. They spend a lot of time on YouTube soaking up as much information as they can to go apply it in the arena. “Our grandparents always had horses on their farm, so we’ve been riding since we were really little,” said the 14-year-old from Marion, Kansas. It’s only been in the last year that Paige and Abree have started taking rodeo more seriously. Abree quit summer league softball and soccer to dedicate more time to riding and traveling leading up to her first season with the KJHSRA.
“I had to come into this knowing I wouldn’t be one of the better ones. My horse is older and I’m still learning a ton about everything in rodeo.” No matter where Abree lands in the standings, she learns something new about herself, riding, running barrels or her family. “I felt like I knew a lot more after even just a few rodeos. Adessa Prosser has been a big part in that. She’s shown me around and offered help if I need different equipment or forget something at home.” While making new friends is Abree’s favorite part of joining the KJHSRA this season, the other is traveling the state. “I really like it when we get to stay overnight somewhere. Getting off our place with the horses to somewhere new is a lot of fun.”
While some of the bigger purchases like a trailer were taken care of by Abree’s parents – Jeremy and Tammy – the eighth grader bears a lot of responsibility in her new sport. “My parents pay our entry fees, but I take care of vet bills, lessons, equipment, all that kind of stuff.” Growing up around horses, Jeremy can do some of the physical chores right alongside Abree. And he’s the designated truck and trailer driver. “Mom is mostly along for the ride, but she helps out the best she can and she’s our number one supporter.” This fall, Abree was running barrels on 20-year-old Babe who’s now retired. Five-year-old Nash takes her place in the spring season, first in barrels and hopefully in the poles.
“Grandma Melanie got us started on horses and she’s helped us learn so many new things. I would not be where I am today without her.” It’s not uncommon to find Abree and Paige riding with their grandma and her friend who’s a barrel racer. Sometimes it’ll be for a lesson or just get some pointers to work through something. Regardless, Abree is always looking for a way to continue moving forward as a rider. That’s been her main goal coming into junior high rodeo. “I feel like I’ve become a much better rider because of rodeo, especially in controlling my horse because she can be a hot mess when she’s away from other horses.”
No matter what Abree’s dealing with in the alleyway, the adrenaline that threatens to boil over before she hits the gas is worth the work. “I like the speed of the event, but the turns are my favorite. It’s kind of hard to explain what I like about the turns, but I think it’s just the motion of it. The turn for home is probably the best one.” In the fall, Abree played volleyball and in the second half of the rodeo season she’ll be in basketball and track at Berean Academy. Abree plans to quit track when she’s a freshman so she has more time to ride. With each rodeo Abree enters, she only discovers a deeper love for the sport than she had before. Because of that, she’s looking forward to high school rodeo and hopes she’ll continue competing in college and beyond.
