Meet the Members Tyra & Tydon Tsosie
story by Julie Carter Hailing from the Steer Wrestling capitol of the Navajo Nation, Crownpoint, NM, the 17-year-old Tsosie twins, Tyra and Tydon, have made […]
story by Lindsay King
At 16 years old, Natalie Larabee is the youngest of four – Emily, 25, Morgan, 20, and Lindsey, 21. She’s also the only one of her siblings who got serious about rodeo. “When I was little I can remember always going to small rodeos with my family. My dad has always owned horses and roped a little, but nobody in my family has ever competed at the level that I do. It’s something that I have explored on my own,” said the 16-year-old. And the level Natalie is talking about just so happens to be nationals. In the 8th grade, she took 8th in the nation in the goat tying. As a sophomore, Natalie is looking to get back to one of the biggest stages of high school rodeo.
“A week before state last year, at a local rodeo, I was getting some runs in when my breakaway horse kicked me in the knee.” Sitting third in the state, all Natalie had to do was tie clean and she would punch her ticket. “I drew a really good goat, but my knee was really bad and I fell during my run.” Natalie missed nationals by only two points. After state finals, Natalie didn’t rodeo or play sports while letting her knee heal properly. “I just had to realize it wasn’t about winning, it was about the process of getting there. Sometimes I lose focus of the bigger picture of rodeo.” As a five-event athlete, Natalie has a lot to capture her attention.
Sitting third in the state for goat tying, Natalie is hoping to recreate her first trip to nationals. “That was one of my favorite trips ever. My whole family got to go, even my grandparents from Nebraska came up.” Eight days in a horse trailer with her entire family and parked right next to her teammates was heaven for Natalie. Meeting people from all over the globe was just a fringe benefit. “I really love the environment of rodeo and how it is based a lot on faith. Everyone is so friendly too.”
It was a couple of friends that got Natalie into rodeo in the first place and they have only continued to bolster her decision to make it her main priority as a sport. This New Mexico transplant now lives in Midland, Texas, but continues to rodeo in her home state with the NMHSRA. It’s her friends that Natalie misses the most about her hometown. “New Mexico is a lot smaller than Texas, so we are really tight. I’ve roped with most of my friends my whole life.” Natalie only recently started team roping at more than just jackpots. Learning the ropes of her other four events – barrels, poles, goat tying and breakaway roping – from scratch set her up for success. “I’ve always known how to team rope and done it with my friends, but once you get in the arena to be serious about it the game changes some.”
Dan and Cheryl, Natalie’s parents, have learned a lot about rodeo right alongside their youngest daughter. “My dad has always been a coach for one sport or another. He knows how to break things down for me so I can understand them better. And he’s really good at focusing on the little things that make a big difference.” One of those details is follow through in roping. Natalie compares it to the follow required for a nothin’ but net free throw. “Rodeo has really made my mom and I get close. We both have a special love for it, so we have learned it all together and that’s been cool.” Still undecided between becoming a veterinarian or breaking into the world of business, one thing is for sure: Natalie doesn’t plan on leaving rodeo in the wake.
story by Julie Carter Hailing from the Steer Wrestling capitol of the Navajo Nation, Crownpoint, NM, the 17-year-old Tsosie twins, Tyra and Tydon, have made […]
story by Julie Carter July 2023 and the National High School Rodeo Finals in Gillette, WY escorted Ashlynn Jones out of one phase of her […]
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Rodeo Life Magazine™ (ISSN 1934-5224) is located at P.O. Box 93598 Southlake, TX 76092. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Rodeo Life Media, P.O. Box 93598 Southlake, TX 76092
October 11, 2020
Bareback
Lumpkin Tekota 40
Saddle Bronc
Charleston Oistin 20
Reined Cow Horse
Mitchell Sterlin 75
Priest Colton 68.5
Brandon Paige 55.5
Shiver McKinzee 51
Lynch Fayth 47.5
Harwell Clate 46.5
Morris Abby 18
Boys Cutting
Mitchell Sterlin 58
Priest Colton 45
Harwell Clate 42
Mirabal Joren 15
Team Roping
Hernandez Chilly 63
Montoya Juan 63
Candelaria Faron 63
Taylor Calvin 63
Mendiaz Luis 32
Reno Weslynn 32
Johnson Dakota 29.5
Ybarra Meason 29.5
Oldfield Roan 29
Runyan Colten 29
Martinez Laramie 24
Martinez Myles 24
Wood Trent 23
Martinez Cade 22
Oder Hadlee 19
Sullivan Quincy 19
Reno Bladen 15
Abel Rylee Grace 15
Mathis Dillon 15
Harwell Clate 14
Breakaway
Segura Evann 38
Sullivan Quincy 35
McCormick Tiffanie 34.5
Marr Shaeden 32
Jodie Kadin 30
Ledesma Avery 24.5
Abel Rylee Grace 23
Shiver McKinzee 23
Massey Bailey 22
Reno Weslynn 21
Bull Riding
Juarez Marco 36.5
Griego Cade 36
Griego Caleb 28
Garley Clay 10
Wood Damien 10
Chavez Joseph 9
Huber Trenton 9
Marquez Justin 9
Taylor Peysen 7.5
Girls Cutting
Morris Abby 74
Ledesma Avery 70
Shiver McKinzee 68
Wamel Jordyn 39
Calf Roping
Pacheco Dontae 59
Wood Trent 52.5
Harwell Clate 51
Mathis Dillon 35
Mullins Hayden 31
Oder Hadlee 25
Mirabal Joren 22
Reno Bladen 20
Burton TK 19
Cline Ike 15.5
Steer Wrestling
Harwell Clate 46
Mathis Dillon 28
Griffin Samuel 27
Tsosie Tydon 18
Cline Zane 18
Henio Dorien 9
Barrels
Tidwell Hadley 63
Ledesma Avery 63
Marr Shaeden 51
Reno Weslynn 44
McNiel Payton 42.5
Abel Rylee Grace 38
Detweiler Katelyn 31
West Kylie 29
Castagnetto Mia 17
Gutierrez Maddie 12
Goat Tying
Ledesma Avery 52
Massey Bailey 52
Abel Rylee Grace 48
Larabee Natalie 47
Reed Codi 39
Tsosie Tyra 37
Shiver McKinzee 35
Marr Shaeden 34
Tidwell Hadley 33
Reno Weslynn 23
Build a Cowboy Bareback Riding
Sanchez David 10
BOYS ALL AROUND
Harwell Clate 199.5
Mitchell Sterlin 138
Priest Colton 113.5
Mathis Dillon 78
Wood Trent 75.5
Candelaria Faron 66
Hernandez Chilly 63
Montoya Juan 63
Taylor Calvin 63
Pacheco Dontae 59
GIRLS ALL AROUND
Ledesma Avery 243.5
Shiver McKinzee 200
Marr Shaeden 180
Abel Rylee Grace 168
Reno Weslynn 153
Morris Abby 101
Tidwell Hadley 96
Wamel Jordyn 88
Massey Bailey 74
Detweiler Katelyn 72
BOYS ROOKIE ALL AROUND
Lumpkin Tekota 40
Mullins Hayden 31
Cline Ike 26.5
Martinez Laramie 24
Martinez Cade 22
Tsosie Tydon 18
Dennis Walker 18
Boutwell Brock 11
Wood Damien 10
Sanchez David 10
GIRLS ROOKIE ALL AROUND
Wamel Jordyn 88
Miller Teagan 50
Jodie Kadin 40
Tsosie Tyra 37
Ybarra Riley 34
Littleton Morgan 34
Etsitty Erin 26
Castagnetto Mia 23
Offutt Addy 23
Washburn Teagan 21