stories by Siri Stevens
Cheyenne Seaux started riding on a pony named Amy Lou when she was 1 year old. She graduated to a horse (Junior) that was raised on the family’s place near Lafayette, Louisiana, and trained for barrel racing. Her mom, Angela, would compete on him, and then Cheyenne would run him all in the same day he is a true unicorn. Junior is now 20 and she’s ridden him since she was four. “I love him so much – I want him around forever. If I didn’t have him, I wouldn’t be the barrel racer I am today. He’s taught me a lot of lessons – not just barrel racing, but life. Don’t give up on anything and cherish each and every run.”
Cheyenne learned to run barrels from her mom and other coaches they have found along the way. “I’m living the mom life,” said Cheyenne Seaux’s mom, Angela. “I miss riding, but I don’t know when I’ll get back into it.” She started barrel racing at 24 on a horse that didn’t know barrels it was a fun adventure that she doesn’t regret pursuing.
Cheyenne has a new seasoned horse that she’s running for barrels. Chrome became part of the family in October 2021 and she still has work to do in figuring out his different riding style. “With Junior, I had to rate him going into the barrels, with Chrome, I have to hustle him straight in there and he wraps the barrel.” Her years in gymnastics has helped her with riding. “It helped me with balance on the horses, but it also helped me deal with pressure.” The junior at Summer Christian Academy High school admits that she would rather be riding than sitting in a classroom, but she has changed schools so has more time to travel with rodeo, practice and tend to all of her horses daily needs. She has been a member of Louisiana High School rodeo for three years. “I love going to the rodeos; they are so much fun and it’s one big family – I love it.” She made it to the state finals each year and is excited to see what this year will bring with her new horse. She is super excited to attend Junior World Finals this December she qualified in January of this year.
Since her younger sister, Paisley, is not interested in riding or rodeo, Cheyenne practices by herself. Her newest event is breakaway roping, where she has a coach. Paisley (10), plays softball and when Cheyenne isn’t practicing, she goes to Paisley’s games to cheer her on and loves riding ATV’s in the mud. Both girls keep Nick and Angela busy. Even though Nick doesn’t ride, he supports his daughters and wife in their endeavors. “He hauls and runs with all of our crazy ideas,” said Angela, who owns her own RealEstate Company with her mom. Nick has an AC and Heating company with his dad.
Cheyenne’s goals for the future include college rodeo. She hopes to go for a business degree and do something with equine rehab. “I want to be part of helping horses coming back from injuries.”
Phil 4:13 – I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Proverbs 16:3 Commit to the Lord wherever you go and your plans will succeed
