story by Riata Cummings
Small town Grantsville, Utah is home to 13-year-old Emmi Jensen, the daughter of Rossi and Quinton Jensen. Emmi has three siblings, Raylee, Garth and Zander. As a family they spend a lot of time going on rides and practicing for rodeo. Emmi is an 8th grader at Grantsville Junior High School, where her favorite classes are math and language arts. Her hobbies include showing horses in 4-H and playing basketball or volleyball. When she gets older she would like to be a veterinarian and professional rodeo athlete.
Emmi has been rodeoing since she was only 6 or 7, following in her mother’s footsteps. She comes from a long line of rodeo cowboys, her grandfather rode bulls, saddle bronc horses and bareback horses. Emmi’s father and uncle also rode bulls. Her sister Raylee is a sophomore this year and the two compete and practice together. At Emmi’s first rodeo, her 17-hand thoroughbred and ex-race horse, Gus, decided not to run the barrel pattern but to take a couple laps around the arena. She has loved the sport ever since and now competes in the barrel racing, pole bending and goat tying. She uses three horses; Rose is her go-to and can do any of the events, Movin’ is a high-energy, palomino barrel horse, and Apple who is a gray, is still finding its strengths. Emmi tries to practice every night, doing maneuver drills and slow work on each horse.
Rodeo has taught Emmi to work hard and stay positive. She knows that practice is essential, and even if you can’t win every time you can always improve. So far, her favorite rodeo was the Jr. High rodeo in Heber City, Utah. Another highlight was winning the all- around saddle for pole bending and barrel racing in Tooele, Utah. She used a little bay horse, Mickey, who was trained by her mother. The 23-year-old mare was retired after that big win. This year she is shooting for another saddle, consistent runs, and the Utah Junior High School State Finals Rodeo. Her favorite part of the sport is the people in it, those willing to help and cheer her on. Emmi is happiest when she is on her horse and surrounded by those who love her.
Emmi’s heroes include Amberly Snyder and Martha Josey, both of which inspire her to work hard and overcome difficulties. Emmi lives by the Martha Josey quote, “Practice doesn’t make perfect, perfect practice makes perfect”. She knows that no amount of practice can make you win every time, but it can help you become better today than you were yesterday. Emmi has experienced hard times, getting thrown off and breaking her elbow. Following the examples of her heroes, she worked hard to get over her fear and back in the arena.
She is grateful to her parents for their support and help, hauling her to the rodeos and giving her pep talks. Emmi would advise rodeo contestants to have a positive attitude, be good to their horses, and believe in themselves.
