TikTok users watched the power of social media in full effect when Brianna Cox posted a video on December 10, 2024, to her account that later went viral, encouraging support for Halyn Lide after a rocky start to NFR 2024.
Budding professional barrel racer Brianna Cox (@BriannaGCox) has cultivated a platform using TikTok and other social media channels with dedicated followers over the past several years. However, the 21-year-old has a unique vibe to her accounts, focusing on transparency and positivity to gain impressions.
She joined the helping lineup for 2024 NFR first-timer Halyn Lide in Las Vegas, responsible for caring for Lide’s horsepower and assisting in the many responsibilities of the road. She watched during the first four rounds as Lide struggled to find her groove in the Thomas & Mack, not having her usual snappy, smooth and fast runs on Jettin Ta Heaven, “Keeper.”
“She just wasn’t getting dealt the best cards,” Cox said. “I’ve been there—just not on as big of a stage. Halyn’s tough, but I could tell she was feeling down. I wanted to think of something to help give her an extra push.”
She’d already been sharing some of Halyn’s journey behind the scenes online, so she decided to turn to her followers and ask them to submit positive thoughts, prayers and messages for Halyn. Her original plan was to hand-write all of the comments and direct messages from her social media following, posting a video encouraging fans to write in and tell Lide to keep her head up.
The response was overwhelming.
“I posted it around 9 a.m. on the morning of Round 4,” Cox said. “And we usually leave for the performance around 2 p.m. I was scared nobody would respond….but it’s over 600 comments in a day. So, there was no way I could handwrite them. And the best part is that I didn’t find a single comment I needed to delete. Everybody was positive and supportive.”
For Cox, she was just excited to share some of the humanity behind the NFR barrel racers, a breakout theme with this year’s top 15 and their dedication to both sportsmanship and transparency. But to her, watching Lide as both an athlete and mother.
“Watching her be a mom through (her first NFR experience) has been incredible,” Cox said. “She’s been even and kind to everybody in her circle, despite how things go in the arena every night. She’s made things fun for her family and been so sweet.”
It’s been an exciting experience for fans to watch the support pour in during NFR, prompting some to share encouragement for other athletes, as well.
Here are some of our favorite messages to Lide.
“Halyn, you are the biggest inspiration to the girls that didn’t grow up in a rodeo family! I turn on the TV every night just to cheer you on. Go out there and have fun for the girls at home!” – @Emily Taylor
“Halyn has shown me kindness at multiple rodeos and barrel races. All year I would tell my husband, ‘I hope she makes it!’ Halyn, you are so prepared and have the perfect horse. Look to your spots and remember, if you can’t get that run out of your head, you’re not that person anymore. It’s a new run and you guys know what to do moving forward. Go to your spots, and trust your training!” @lindseyamccuistion
“I have followed (Halyn) and Keeper for a long time. She has no idea who I am, but their story and her being a mom gives me encouragement every day. She’s great!” – @Katie_Griffith
“Halyn, you are the sweetest person I’ve ever met. You can move mountains. Keep your head up and keep moving forward. You’re doing such an amazing job here in Vegas. I’m so proud of you. You and Keeper are doing an amazing job together and only getting better.” @Karissa
Keep up with full NFR barrel racing results here.
“Some of these people didn’t follow Halyn’s story at all before the NFR,” Cox said. “And those ones have become her fans just by watching how she’s handled herself all NFR long, how resilient she’s been and how hard they can see her working. But a lot of them were already her fans.”
In Round 6, Lide will swap to her backup SR Easin Ta Heaven and run in front of a packed-out Thomas & Mack crowd. Cox noted that Lide read through each of the comments on her own, her emotions flowing while she read the encouraging words.
