story by Jennie Lawrence
Not too many 15-year-old girls ride bareback broncs, but Jaycee Newby, of Tickfaw, Louisiana does. In fact, it is her favorite event, because it is packed with excitement and adrenaline.
Jaycee was born in Jacksonville, Texas, but moved to Louisiana to live with her (step)mom Janie, and dad Jason when she was four-years-old. Janie introduced her to horses and rodeo, and Jaycee began competing when she was five-years-old. Jaycee said, “I think God knew what he was doing when he sent me to Louisiana because rodeo feels like home. To me there is no greater sport!”
Jaycee has been a member of the International Miniature Rodeo Association for two-years. In addition to the bareback horses, she competes in barrel racing, pole bending and goat tying. She is also a member of the Mississippi High School Rodeo Association.
She got started riding broncs when her brother quit riding calves. She asked if she could try it. According to Janie, on Jaycee’s first ride out she rode like she had been doing it for years. Jaycee heard about the IMRA, and learned they bucked out the miniature broncs. She was hooked on the event from her first ride. She was about six-years-old when she got started.
Practice is the most important part of preparing for a rodeo, according to Jaycee. She never stops practicing. Before a rodeo, she gives herself a run-down of everything she needs to do, whether it is pushing her horse a little past the third barrel, or reminding herself what she needs to do to get her bronc ridden. Before each run, she and Janie pray together. Jaycee always thanks God for giving her the opportunity to be able to do what she loves.
Janie is her biggest supporter. She is always cheering Jaycee on, whether it is from the stands or from home. Janie goes above and beyond to provide Jaycee with whatever she needs. If she has a bad run or gets bucked off, Janie is right there to pick her daughter up. She also helps Jaycee fix her mistakes.
Jaycee’s rodeo heroine is her Aunt Tannah. She admires her aunt because she has worked very hard to get where she is in the rodeo and horse industry. While she has fallen time and time again, she always picks herself up and tries again. Jaycee credits her aunt with being her role model in life.
Jaycee has been giving her own horse a break from rodeoing. She is riding her mom’s horse instead for high school rodeos. He is a 12-year-old palomino gelding. He came off a ranch in Texas. He was broke to ride as a four-year-old, but Janie finished training him. Jaycee won a championship on her aunt’s horse. She borrowed the horse last year when her own mount was out for the season. That horse is a 12-year-old Hancock bred mare. Her aunt purchased her for one-dollar. People said the horse was crazy, but her aunt never gave up. She trained the mare, who is now the most consistent and trusted horse in the herd.
Traveling to around 30 rodeos a year keeps Jaycee on the road. Her favorite rodeo road trip meal is breakfast from McDonald’s. The farthest she has traveled to rodeo is Oklahoma. She does not participate in any other sports, as all her time goes to rodeo. A song that gets her pumped up to ride is Garth Brook’s Rodeo. She says it gets her every time!
When she is not rodeoing, Jaycee enjoys spending time with her family. In addition to her parents and her aunt, she has three siblings. Raven is 21-years-old, Gavin is 18, and Braelyn is 10-years old. She also enjoys her friends, and her youth group at church. She is currently working on learning to rope, and spends time roping her dummy.
Her very best friend is a three-year-old long-haired Chihuahua named Max. Sometimes he thinks he is a member of the Herding group, and helps her gather the horses.
Jaycee’s favorite quote is from 2 Corinthians 5:7. “Walk by faith, not by sight.” It reminds her to always have faith in the Lord, even when she cannot see his plans for her life.
