story by Lindsay Humphrey
With her sights set on the sky, Hattie Haynes has big plans for herself after graduating from Hydro-Eakly Public Schools last month. “I’m going to rodeo for Vernon College in Vernon, Texas, for two years while I get my associates degree in business,” said the 18-year-old senior. “Then I’ll go to a four-year university where I can finish out my goat tying career and continue breakaway roping. Then I hope I can rodeo professionally.” This summer Hattie will be working on her private pilot’s license at the Will Barger Airport in Vernon. “Once I have earned my private license, my goal is to continue pursuing my professional license to become a commercial pilot.”
As a top contender in the goat tying, Hattie is used to flying at fast speeds. She’s loved the event for as long as she can remember. “My mom (Ddee) always tells the story that I would put the goat dummy at the end of a hallway, and I’d run down there and tie it as fast as I could when I was 3.” Hattie can’t remember a time when goat tying wasn’t her favorite. The event has given Hattie unique opportunities to grow her heart of service in the last few years. “My dad (Mitchell) sells a line of horse savers and we took one to Little Britches Nationals in 2019 when the owner of Next Level Goat Tying Clinics wanted to use one for a demo. I helped her by pulling the horse saver during the clinic.” Hattie’s visited multiple states while helping with other Next Level clinics.
“I really enjoy getting to help other competitors, especially the younger, up and comers because I know how much I appreciated the people who did that for me and how much they influenced me.” One of those influences was Hattie’s sister, 31-year-old Melissa. “Even before I could rodeo, I was at one every weekend with my sister. I’ve been around horses since I came home from the hospital. I fell in love with the sport of rodeo since day one and it’s what I’ve always wanted to do.” Hattie has led the goat tying for a majority of her senior season and it all began at the first rodeo of the year. Tying in a 6.5 not only won that first rodeo, but it also set the arena record at Inola. It was Hattie’s favorite run of her rodeo career so far.
Rodeo is a sport passed down through the generations for Hattie’s family. Her mom ran barrels and team roped while her dad was a professional bareback rider, but Hattie took a slight detour when finding her passion for the toughest sport on dirt. “I rode hunter jumpers for a few years. I started when I was 7 and then quit when I was 10, because it got too hard to do both. I had to choose between rodeo and jumping, and I’ve always known that I made the right choice with rodeo.” Luckily, Hattie has built-in coaches at home with her parents, but she’s also had some other influences on her career. “Amy Maynard has helped me a ton. She’s the one that got me started in goat tying and set my foundation. Dusta Kimzey has also been a big help for me. The horse I ride now I bought from her.”
No matter if Hattie’s at home or in front of a crowd, she never forgets that she’s a representative of the sport, her family name and, as a Christian, for God. “I always try to remember that even if things don’t go my way, I still need present myself well. One thing that’s really big for my family is that we always pray together before every rodeo. No matter how things go for me, I always give the glory to God.”
