story by Lily Weinacht
Sr. Girl World Pole Bending Champion
Pole bending became Aspen Grant’s favorite event after she trained her horse, PC Frosted Freedom “Cisco,” for the event over the course of six months. It made her accomplishment all the sweeter when Aspen won 2018 NLBRA Senior Girl World Pole Bending Champion. The 15-year-old makes her home in Buna, Texas, but rodeos in Louisiana in the Cajun Little Britches Rodeo Association, and went into the NLBFR in the top 10 in pole bending. She held fast to her position when she won the first round and placed second in the second round. “I knew if I went in there at the short go and kept the poles up and was solid, I didn’t have to be fast at it. I was just trying to be consistent.”
Her consistency came from staying focused all week, along with watching videos of her runs, and even her runs from the 2017 NLBFR, where Aspen finished seventh in the world pole bending standings. This was her first season competing in the senior girls division, however, and she attributes much of Cisco’s speed to changing his bit several years ago. “We went to the junior high rodeo state finals my seventh-grade year and Cisco wasn’t turning the second end pole. We went to The Perfect Bit people there, and we couldn’t have done it without them—it made a second’s difference in our runs.”
In addition to Cisco, Aspen rode her mom’s (Toni Grant) barrel horse, Vanilla, at the NLBFR, but is switching to her sister’s (Cameron Grant) barrel horse, Ivy, this season. Aspen and Vanilla also ran at the Josey Reunion this summer, where Aspen met Rilie Rae Reynolds, a 5-year-old girl with spina bifida. At the time, Aspen was caring for her miniature pony, Demi, who needed bottle feeding and lived indoors for a time since she was born in the winter. Rilie and Demi hit it off immediately, and Aspen gave Demi to Rilie’s family at the Reunion. The duo even has a Facebook page now—Rilie Rae and Demi the Mini—and Aspen hears from them often. “Rilie has really inspired me over the last few months. She never quits, and she’s always positive.”
Aspen, a sophomore, decided to start homeschooling three years ago so she could have more time with her horses, and does all her school at home before heading to rodeos and barrel races. “I ride every morning and evening, and I just work on consistency. I’m motivated by the outcome—the work you put into it is what comes out of it.” Six saddles and numerous buckles have come out of her hard work. Aspen won three of her saddles in Cajun Little Britches and two of them for winning the all-around in the Buna Bridle Club. “I think I’ll use my World saddle at the bigger races and rodeos I go to so I don’t wear it out, but I don’t want my favorite saddle collecting dust. My goal this year is to make it to the Texas High School State Finals in barrels and poles and stay consistent. And in Little Britches, I want to be consistent and at least make it to the short go.”
