Hempstead, Texas
Words & photos by Ivan McClellan
Kanesha and Kortnee are cowgirl royalty. For generations, their family has been in rodeo, sitting in leadership positions in the Bill Pickett Invitational, and winning countless competitions—10-year-old Kortneeis a 4th generation barrel racer who has already made a name for herself in rodeo. When I met her, she was shy for about 10 minutes before she took over the conversation. As she was loping her perfectly sized white quarter horse around the arena, she said, “It’s not about how fast you go. It’s how smooth you ride.”, and smooth she went slowing down and speeding up around the turns with no stagger or hesitation. This smoothness earned her a spot at the Junior World Finals in 2019.
The bond they have with their horses is unparalleled. A seamless connection and silent communication are essential for a top-tiered competitive pairing. Kanesha and her favorite horse, Chig, have this connection. They have won so many competitions together she doesn’t have anywhere to display all the awards.
Kanesha, Kortnee, and their horses travel the country to rodeos in a giant live-in horse trailer. “I’ve been traveling from state to state rodeoing since the age of 3. Life feels like home on the road. You get bonding time with your family and rodeo family. There are a lot of miles spent together between rodeos. The time spent behind the wheel around people you genuinely care about and the unforgettable shared memories are irreplaceable.“
