The Summer run can be hard on everyone, but it’s a different kind of hard when you’re a rookie getting your feet wet on the ProRodeo trail.
We reached out to some former Resistol Rookies to get their best advice for your rookie year.
The mental side of the summer run is what catches most rookies off guard, according to Madison Outhier. Without access to a practice pen, you’re running on what you came with and learning how to keep up as you go.
“It’s really hard to battle back from not doing good out there because you’re not at home and able to be in your own practice pen working things out,” said Outhier. “You just kind of have to rely on muscle memory and getting through things mentally rather than physically. Keeping confidence in yourself no matter if it’s going good or bad and knowing that if it’s going bad, it’s going to turn around eventually. A lot of it is mental at this point.”
Summer Williams has a more unique story. Not having come up through the amateur rodeos, she only had high school rodeo and jackpot experience when she took off two summers ago. That meant a huge transition that came with a confidence battle she had to fight from inside out.
“Staying confident and knowing that I was good enough to be there and compete with the other girls was the biggest challenge for me personally,” said Williams. “I overcame that by getting more reps in and my relationship with God—finding my worth in that, not in my roping.”
Her advice for the cowgirls heading out this week is simple: slow it down.
“Take it one calf at a time,” she said. “That’s all you can do. Don’t focus on the actual finish line or the bigger picture. Get help from anyone who knows more than you; there are always people willing to help you. You can learn something from anybody you encounter.”
Haiden Thompson’s advice is to the point, ask questions, that’s it. She was fortunate enough to travel with a veteran her rookie year, and she took full advantage.
“Ask as many questions as possible. I was lucky enough to go with Martha Angelone my rookie year and she taught me everything there was to know, even if I asked the craziest questions.”
Having good people in your corner is Thompon’s last bit of advice.
“When I lost my good mare at the end of July, I had so many people reach out trying to help. That’s when I realized how lucky I was to have the people I had in my corner.”
