Ever wonder what it takes to be a rodeo champion before you're even in double digits? Eight-year-old Logan gives us a refreshing glimpse into the world of youth rodeo with a maturity and focus that belies her tender age.
Logan, who rides an eight-year-old horse aptly named Stanley, opens up about her impressive rodeo repertoire. She competes in barrels, poles, goats, flags, healing, breakaway, daubing, and goat tying—practically everything a peewee competitor can enter. With disarming honesty, she shares her preference for barrel racing simply because "I just like it. You get to go fast." Her passion for speed delivered results when she recently clocked an impressive 15-second run.
The conversation reveals the special bond between young riders and their equine partners. Logan speaks warmly about Gonzo, her recently retired horse with whom she shares a special connection. When asked what superpower she would give her horses, her answer speaks volumes: "I would give Gonzo to stay alive forever and never turn too old to ride, and I want Stanley to go really fast. Like Superman." These heartfelt words highlight the deep relationships formed between children and their competition horses.
Despite her young age, Logan has already collected impressive accolades, including two saddles won in consecutive years. Now she's set her sights on winning her first buckle and possibly even a trailer at upcoming competitions. All this while balancing third grade, daily horse care, and training sessions where she makes sure to "make them sweaty." Her secret to staying organized? "My mom tells me what to do," she admits candidly—a universal truth for successful kids everywhere.
Want to hear more about youth rodeo from those who live it every day? Subscribe to the Beasley Equine Podcast for more conversations with inspiring equestrians of all ages. Have you ever competed in youth sports at a high level? Share your experiences in the comments!
Episode Transcript
All right, welcome to the Beasley Equine Podcast.
Today in the studio we've got aspecial guest.
We've got Miss Logan Littlehere.
How are you, logan?
Speaker 2 (00:07):
Good.
Speaker 1 (00:08):
What have you been up to?
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Rodeos.
Speaker 1 (00:12):
Rodeos, of course.
So what got you started inrodeo Logan?
Speaker 2 (00:16):
My dad.
Speaker 1 (00:17):
Yeah, and what's your dad do?
Is he team rope?
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (00:21):
Does he calf rope too , or not Just team rope?
Yeah, so who is your favoritehorse to ride right now?
Who are you riding?
Speaker 2 (00:29):
I'm riding Stanley, but Gonzo's my favorite.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
Gonzo, yeah, I heard he had a special weekend last
weekend, didn't?
Speaker 2 (00:35):
he Yep, it was his last weekend.
Speaker 1 (00:37):
Yep, is he officially retired, but he's not going
anywhere, is he?
No?
No, gonzo's pretty special toeverybody, isn't he?
Yep, yep.
So what's your favorite rodeoevent you do?
What all do you do when you goto rodeos?
Speaker 2 (00:51):
I do barrels pulls, goats flags at some rodeos
healing, at some rodeosbreakaway daubing and goat tying
.
Speaker 1 (01:05):
Wow, I should have just asked you what you didn't
do.
That list would be shorter.
What's your favorite event ofall of those?
To do Barrels, how come?
Speaker 2 (01:14):
I just like it.
Speaker 1 (01:15):
You get to go fast.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (01:18):
How do you get off so fast when you're tying goats?
Speaker 2 (01:22):
I hang on the side when I go down to the pen.
Then I just take my foot out ofthe stirrup.
Speaker 1 (01:26):
Yeah, because I've watched you kids do it and it's
like lightning fast.
If that was me, I'd be facefirst in the dirt.
Speaker 2 (01:33):
You gotta land on your feet.
It takes practice.
Speaker 1 (01:37):
Yeah, you want to tell us one of your most special
rodeo memories.
Like the first time you werereally proud in the rodeo arena.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
My favorite run was in barrels.
Last weekend I ran a 15.
Speaker 1 (01:53):
Wow that's fast.
Who were you riding?
Speaker 2 (01:55):
Stanley.
Speaker 1 (01:56):
Stanley, you like Stanley?
Yeah, yeah, you had a littlebit of luck last weekend, didn't
you?
What all did you get?
Speaker 2 (02:03):
What I won.
Speaker 1 (02:03):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (02:04):
I won a saddle saddle .
I won one last year.
I won one a pad, a coolerbackpack, backpack, bell boots,
spur straps, I think that's itwow, that's impressive.
Speaker 1 (02:22):
That's way more than I ever won.
What's the funniest memory youhave rodeoing?
I know a lot of the kids yourodeo with and you guys are wild
.
I'm sure you got some funny.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
I fell off.
I was going down to the endpole for our poles and I fell
off.
Speaker 1 (02:42):
Were you turning when you fell off?
No, you just fell off.
Were you turning?
When you fell off.
No, you just fell off.
Speaker 2 (02:46):
He slowed down at the fifth pull and it pushed me
forward and I fell out of mystirrups and I fell off.
Speaker 1 (02:55):
Who were you riding in?
Gonzo Gonzo?
He didn't step on you, thoughdid he?
Speaker 2 (02:59):
No, he stopped yeah.
Speaker 1 (03:01):
So you rodeo quite a bit, right yeah, how do you
prepare for these, for theserodeos?
Speaker 2 (03:14):
How do you get ready for the weekend?
I make sure all my stuff is inthe trailer.
I ride my horses every week andI practice what I'm supposed to
do at the rodeo.
Speaker 1 (03:20):
Yeah, and I'm sure mom and dad help, don't they?
Yeah, and grandma and grandpa,huh yeah.
Do you ever get nervous beforerodeos or stuff like that?
Speaker 2 (03:30):
No, not really.
Speaker 1 (03:31):
How do you keep from getting nervous?
Speaker 2 (03:33):
I just practice and know what I'm going to do.
Speaker 1 (03:35):
Yeah, Just keep calm and carry on right.
Speaker 2 (03:38):
Yep.
Speaker 1 (03:39):
What about?
Would you consider your dad orgrandpa your coach for rodeo?
Speaker 2 (03:45):
Yeah, I don't know.
Speaker 1 (03:49):
Is there any advice they've given you that really
has stuck over this past year?
Speaker 2 (03:55):
No, not really, but my dad helps me.
Speaker 1 (03:58):
Yeah, yeah, that's awesome.
You've got pretty supportiveparents and that's really cool,
yeah.
So what about your horses?
What all do you do with them tokeep them healthy and happy and
looking good?
Speaker 2 (04:10):
I make sure they have hay water and food every day.
Speaker 1 (04:14):
That's your responsibility.
Speaker 2 (04:15):
Yeah, I check it.
Speaker 1 (04:17):
Nice.
Speaker 2 (04:18):
I get help to fill it up and give them hay.
Speaker 1 (04:21):
Right, right, right, do you groom them quite a bit.
Speaker 2 (04:24):
I brush them and sometimes I give them a bath.
Speaker 1 (04:27):
Yeah, can you braid pretty good?
Yeah, yeah, I'm not very goodat braiding horses' tails or
manes.
Speaker 2 (04:34):
I can fishtail braid, I can French braid mane, I can
French braid tails and normalbraid.
Speaker 1 (04:39):
Wow, what's a fishtail braid?
Speaker 2 (04:42):
Fishtail braid is where you hold it in two pieces
and grab a piece from the backpiece and take it over the other
piece.
Speaker 1 (04:52):
Does it look like a fishtail?
Does it make you go faster?
Speaker 2 (04:55):
No, not really no but it looks cool.
Speaker 1 (04:57):
huh yeah, You're in school right now, right?
What grade are you in?
Speaker 2 (05:02):
I'm in third and I'm starting next week.
Speaker 1 (05:05):
Oh, that's exciting.
Are you excited?
Speaker 2 (05:08):
No, no, you don't want to go back.
I don't want to do homework.
Speaker 1 (05:12):
Is there a lot of homework in third grade?
Speaker 2 (05:14):
I have to read every night.
That's what I had to do lastyear and in first grade.
Speaker 1 (05:19):
Oh, but you're a good reader, aren't?
Speaker 2 (05:21):
you.
Speaker 1 (05:22):
Yeah, what's the hardest part about going to
school and trying to keep yourhorses in shape and practice and
everything like that?
Speaker 2 (05:31):
I have to go to school at 8 o'clock in the
morning.
Then I get done I don'tremember what time but then I
have to ride my horse after that.
Speaker 1 (05:39):
And then you have to do your homework.
You're busy.
Speaker 2 (05:42):
Mm-hmm.
Speaker 1 (05:43):
Very busy for a third grader.
What about a rodeo hero?
Is there anybody that you goton your radar that you look up
to?
Speaker 2 (05:52):
My dad and my brother .
Speaker 1 (05:54):
Oh yeah, we're going to talk to your brother here
later too.
Yeah, Is there anything Ishould ask your brother?
That would embarrass him.
Speaker 2 (06:00):
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (06:01):
If you think of something, tell me before we're
done.
Okay, and I'll be sure to askhim.
So you said you just got donewith Gonzo.
You guys had a pretty specialbond, didn't you?
Speaker 2 (06:13):
Yeah, I don't want to stop.
I want him to be tenured.
Speaker 1 (06:17):
Oh, I know, I wish I could do that for you.
Yeah, what about Stanley?
You think you're going to buildthat kind of bond with him?
Speaker 2 (06:23):
Yeah, he's pretty cool.
He's eight and I'm eight rightnow.
Speaker 1 (06:26):
Oh, you're the same age.
Speaker 2 (06:35):
He just has to pay attention to me, okay.
Speaker 1 (06:38):
Just to eat.
Yeah, what's a goal you'regoing to work towards this year
or next year?
You got anything in your sights.
Speaker 2 (06:48):
Try to win a saddle again.
Speaker 1 (06:49):
Another saddle.
What are you going to do withall these saddles?
Speaker 2 (06:51):
I really want to win a buckle, though I've never won
a buckle.
Speaker 1 (06:55):
Oh, I think you can do it.
Speaker 2 (06:56):
Yeah, I almost won one in goats, but my friend won
first place last weekend and Ididn't have time.
Speaker 1 (07:10):
Maybe next year?
Right yeah, Was that atWildfire?
Yeah, yeah.
When do you have theopportunity to win another
buckle?
Do you know?
When do you have theopportunity?
Speaker 2 (07:19):
to win another buckle .
Do you know?
I have Flickr would, and then Ican't remember what the rodeo
is called.
But you can win a trailer ifyou get the all-around.
Speaker 1 (07:27):
Holy cow, that would be awesome.
Yeah, what would you ratherhave?
The trailer or the buckle?
Speaker 2 (07:33):
Trailer.
Speaker 1 (07:35):
Of course.
So when you get home fromschool, you ride yeah, how long
do you home from school?
You ride yeah, how long do youride usually?
Do you know?
Speaker 2 (07:42):
I just have to make them sweaty.
Usually it doesn't take thatmuch.
Speaker 1 (07:46):
Yeah, and then you do your homework, uh-huh.
So what's your secret tostaying organized with that
stuff, do you have?
Speaker 2 (07:54):
one.
Speaker 1 (07:55):
No, does your mom tell you what to do?
Yeah, okay, that was my secrettoo.
If you could give Stanley orGonzo a superpower, what would
you give them?
Speaker 2 (08:09):
I would give Gonzo to stay alive forever and never
turn too old to ride, and I wantStanley to go really fast.
Speaker 1 (08:18):
Like Superman.
Speaker 2 (08:19):
Yeah, and learn how to do pulls, because he's not
very good at pulls right now.
Speaker 1 (08:24):
But you're going to teach him, aren't you?
Yeah, are you good at traininghorses?
Speaker 2 (08:28):
Yeah, I'm the one that taught Gonzo how to do
barrels and my dad's friend, Ithink, taught Stanley how to do
barrels.
Speaker 1 (08:36):
Awesome, is Stanley fast?
Yeah, is he faster than Gonzo?
Yeah, is he.
Speaker 2 (08:42):
Gonzo's fastest time is a 17, and Stanley's fastest
time is a 15.
Speaker 1 (08:46):
That's pretty quick.
Speaker 2 (08:47):
Yep.
Speaker 1 (08:48):
But that's pretty good for a Gonzo.
Yeah, yep.
So there's some kids thatlisten to this podcast, that
don't rodeo, that might bethinking about getting involved
in it.
Would you have any advice forthem, any words of encouragement
?
Speaker 2 (09:05):
listen to their dad and mom probably or listen to
your dad and mom.
Speaker 1 (09:10):
Yeah, right, so you guys have a lot of fun when you
go, don't you?
Speaker 2 (09:16):
have a lot of fun.
Speaker 1 (09:17):
I like going fast when you're at these rodeos and
you're not competing, what doyou guys do in between events?
Speaker 2 (09:26):
At Wildfire I stay on my horse because events aren't
that far apart, because I doeverything a peewee can do.
And at Flickrwood I get off myhorse because the events are
pretty far apart.
There's a lot of people.
Speaker 1 (09:39):
Yeah, and I've seen you on that little Segway.
Do you take that to the rodeos?
Speaker 2 (09:43):
Yeah, I do Wildfire, but I can't ride it during the
rodeo and Flickrwood.
I've never took it.
Speaker 1 (09:48):
Awesome.
I don't know how you stay onthat thing.
I would probably fall off.
Speaker 2 (09:52):
I put it above my knees so I have more balance.
Speaker 1 (09:56):
Awesome, awesome.
Do you remember the first timeyou competed at a rodeo?
Speaker 2 (10:05):
It was at Flickwood, I think.
Speaker 1 (10:08):
Was it a barrel race?
Speaker 2 (10:10):
No, it was on Muffin I remember that my mom lead line
.
My mom was leading me throughthe barrels, awesome, awesome.
Well, logan, thanks forspending leading me through the
barrels, awesome, awesome.
Speaker 1 (10:19):
Well, logan, thanks for spending time with us, and I
think you've already picked upall this stuff.
Speaker 2 (10:24):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (10:24):
But our wonderful companies we work with decided
to give you guys a bunch ofspecial stuff.
So shout out to all of them.
And are you going anywhere thisweekend?
Speaker 2 (10:35):
No, but my brother is .
Speaker 1 (10:37):
Awesome, I'll ask him where he's going Are.
You can no, but my brother isawesome.
Speaker 2 (10:42):
I'll ask him where he's going.
You going with him?
No, I'm staying here, okay.
My grandma's coming to get meand I'm gonna go stay at her.
Speaker 1 (10:46):
Awesome, she's got a few horses you can ride there,
doesn't she?
Speaker 2 (10:49):
no, it's my dad's mom .
Oh, I got you I got you awesome.
Speaker 1 (10:53):
Well, thanks for coming in today, logan.
We appreciate the the time, andthanks to your mom and dad for
for letting us do this andthanks for tuning into the
podcast.
And until next time, take careof your horses and yourself.
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