story by Riata Cummings
Peyton Anderson is the 13-year-old daughter of Mandy and Jace Anderson of Eagle Mountain, Utah. She has an older brother, Braxton, and a younger sister, Taytum. As a family they enjoy going camping, hunting, fishing, going for trail rides and watching movies. This year Peyton is an eighth-grader at Frontier Middle School and her favorite class is math.
Peyton’s mother and father competed in rodeo while they were in high school, and she has been riding since she was only three days old. When Peyton was in 3rd grade she began competing in the Horse 4-H Program and has competed at the state competition every year since starting. She is now in her second year of junior high rodeo and competes in barrel racing, pole bending, goat tying, and the queen contest. She competes on two horses: her go-to trusty steed Scout who is an all-around athlete and Dot who is Peyton’s mother’s horse and the mount she uses for pole bending.
In 2017 Peyton decided to take on the challenge of training a 2-year-old mare named Rumor. In the two months before the state 4-H show, Peyton worked with Rumor and the pair went on to win the two-handed division. Last year Peyton was the reserve champion in the speed events for the Horse 4-H and finished 8th in the pole bending at the first rodeo year of junior high rodeo career. This year she would like to qualify for the National Junior High School Finals in one or all her events. Peyton works hard to practice every chance she gets and tries to ride her horses every day.
Rodeo has helped Peyton find her happy place. “It’s so easy to just be calm when you are riding. You can just let things go because it’s a wonderful stress reliever.” Working with horses has helped her develop patience for herself and her animals, and rodeo helps Peyton connect with friends from across the state. Peyton’s greatest strengths include her willingness to try and her determination to see things through to the end. She says, “Rodeo can be frustrating and hard but if you work, you will overcome those hard things. You’ve just got to keep trying.”
Peyton lives by the saying, “If you’re not scared, you’re not going fast enough.” This mantra reminds Peyton to push herself and her horses to be better and work harder, and it helps her to set big goals for herself. One of Peyton’s heroes is her mother, whom Peyton looks up to for her talents, experience, and willingness to help. Peyton is grateful for the opportunity to rodeo and for all of those who make it possible.
