Lavoye Gurnhart has grown up surrounded by great goat tyers, and she’s etching out her own name in the fast-paced event thanks to three runs that clinched the Hooey Jr. Patriot 12 & Under goat tying win on Mar. 5.
“I knew that I had to be consistent,” Gurnhart (12) said. “I was mentally prepared and wanted to be smooth.”
Smooth truly proved to be fast for the Wyoming lady. She clean swept the competition, winning all three roundsin 7.79, 9.35 and 7.44 seconds.Her aggregate time of 24.58 seconds clinched her aggregate win and a total earnings of $1,340.
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Gurnhart is from Casper, Wyoming, just down the road from the home of the College National Finals Rodeo, the most prestigious stage for goat tyers to compete at. She looks up to some names familiar to the Hooey Jr. Patriot—Haiden and Hadley Thompson, a duo of all-around sisters with multiple Patriot titles in their family. She’s also worked with a former Hooey Jr. Patriot breakaway roping champion and NFBR qualifier, Josie Conner.
The seventh grader is athletic outside of the arena, as well. She trained in gymnastics until she made the decision to focus on rodeo more, and plays volleyball in the cold Wyoming winters.
Gurnhart’s equine weapon of choice was her 10-year-old all-around gelding, Lucchese.
“He’s just awesome,” Gurnhart said. “He’s so consistent, I love him. We’ve ranched on him, breakawayed, and I tie goats on him.”
For Hooey Jr. Patriot 12 & under goat tying results, click here.
