story by Lindsay Humphrey
Spending time in the rodeo arena is just one of many places you’ll likely find Fayth Lynch on any given day. The Roswell, New Mexico, cowgirl keeps a packed schedule. “Day work is kind of slow right now, so I’ve been getting caught up on my leather work,” said the 18-year-old. “I also shoe horses with my boyfriend and I have probably almost 30 clients that I keep on a 6-week rotation.” By day, Fayth is working hard to get money for entry fees to enter at both NMHSRA and Ranch Horse Association events. But by night, she’s a high school senior attending New Mexico Connections Academy from home.
Years ago, when Fayth was first getting into horses, she fell in love with hunter jumpers. “My mom (Tony) started hanging out with the hunter jump crowd and I showed up one day and they put me on a lesson horse. It was fun, but it’s a lot different when you live on a ranch and do that stuff.” Fayth kept her figurative wings for six years until a colt accident on the ranch permanently relegated her to the sidelines of jumping. “I would still jump if I could, but I tore a muscle in my hip and it retears if I jump a horse.” Though disappointed with the turn of events, Fayth found her place back home on the ranch horses.
“My dad (Clint) team ropes and he taught me when I was probably 13 and couldn’t jump anymore. We roped locally until my sophomore year of high school.” Fayth started competing in the NMHSRA that year and found her eyes wandering to the cow horse pen. “I tried cow horse once and I was instantly obsessed with it. I didn’t have the money to enter both, so I stuck with cow horse. My horses are better suited for the event, and I have the cattle at home to practice on.” Fayth’s favorite part of the event is the reining portion where she gets to showcase how her horse is in tune with her every cue. This, paired with the cow work, is the perfect place to display how her working ranch horses are the real deal both inside of the arena and out.
Last year, Fayth qualified for nationals riding one of her older ranch horses. The three-day event proved difficult for her mount, but Fayth was happy with their performances and the entire experience. She’s started showing a younger colt this year, which she hopes to compete on at nationals this summer. She purchased the now 5-year-old gelding, who traces back to High Brow Cat and Peptoboonsmal, just two years ago. “I broke and started him; I’ve been the only one to ride him so far. I’ve day worked on him a lot and only shown him twice now.” The petite but catty gelding is registered as Cats Waylon On Me but Fayth calls him Picacho. “I saw the word on a road sign when I was picking him up. It means tall hill, but he’s really short, like pony size, so I thought it would be funny to call him tall.” She’s thankful for the love, support and motivation from her family, friends and boyfriend.
Even though Fayth likes competing in the Ranch Horse Association, she appreciates how the NMHSRA combines cow horse work and rodeo. “I like being able to show in cow horse and then getting to watch everyone else in all the other events. All of the people in the NMHSRA are really nice and it’s just a fun place to show.” After graduating this spring Fayth plans to move to Clarendon, Texas, to establish residency in the state. Once she’s a full-fledged Texan, Fayth will attend Clarendon Community College where she aspires to show for the ranch horse team. She’s still uncertain what she’ll major in, but she’s leaning towards animal science.
