Sixteen-year-old Jacki Gayle—a peerless talent and rising star bull rider from Fort Worth, Texas—is blowing minds right now. She’s thrilled to be repping Team USA at the prestigious rodeo down under in Queensland. As always, the event provides a wonderful showcase for her extraordinary talent. It shows her special place as the only girl and female junior bull rider at the rodeo. Jacki hails from a family with deep roots in equestrian sports. Now, she’s hellbent on following their footsteps and carving her own space in the bull riding arena.
As a child, Jacki was immersed in a family dedicated to the sport of riding. Though now supportive of her decision to pursue bull riding, her mother—herself a world champion in horsemanship—had some safety worries at first. At first, she said I was insane. She was scared I was going to injure myself and she thought I wasn’t going to enjoy it. But I had given it a shot and here we are four years later,” Jacki remembered. Her dad’s story of rising through the ranks as a show jumper only stoked her interest in all things equestrian. Jacki was recently crowned Southern New Mexico Rodeo Princess. She has become an unstoppable force in the sport.
Jacki started bull riding at 11 years old and advanced up the ranks rapidly. For her age, she is remarkable not just for her talent on the court, but in her dedication of mentoring those around her. “But when little kids help each other, that’s the best.” – Axton Hale, an inspiring eight-year-old competitor. When they need help, I’m the first one there, making sure that they learn how to get on a bull, how to get off a bull, and most importantly how to stay safe!
This unique environment continues to create a spirit of community and friendly competition among the participants. Kyle Ferguson, director of the youth rodeo organization, emphasized the importance of friendship when deepening relationships. Opal spoke about how team-building experiences can be key to crossing cultural divides. “When we take teams to other countries, we really focus on that team building experience and making friends,” Ferguson stated.
Far from spooking her, Jacki’s fierce determination spurs on her classmates. Included among them is fellow bull rider Ty Blake, who stole the show by performing the Haka at the rodeo. Though Ty is only 16, he’s been immersed in the rodeo culture for much longer. In fact, he went to his first rodeo when he was just six weeks old! You know, rodeo culture is really, it’s nothing but family. It’s one big family. Everybody’s in the same boat, everybody’s looking out for each other,” said Ty.
As Jacki rides with the best at this elite event, she hopes to inspire others and knows the importance of representation in bull riding. There’s not a lot of dark-skinned or African American cowboys in the media. I feel fortunate to be one of the very few proactively bringing awareness to the sport. I want to help bring many more of you to the action! As someone whose barrier-breaking, trailblazing career and spirit continues to inspire so many young riders aspiring to follow in her hoofprints, her voice will be immensely missed.
The excitement at the rodeo is palpable. These young competitors are ready to display their hard work, dedication, and love for the game. As Axton Hale remembers from his own upbringing and concludes, “It’s an awesome sport, man! You get to ride on rad bulls and have that full sensation. His excitement for the sport of bull riding shines through. He continues, “I’m not gonna lie, I’m gonna get kinda emotional if I fall off, but the Lord is my light and my salvation and I got God on my side.”
As the event unfolds in Queensland, Jacki Gayle continues to demonstrate her commitment not only to her sport but to fostering a supportive environment for younger riders. Her journey serves as a beautiful reminder of the pursuit, merit, and experiences that shape young athletes exploring rodeo culture.
“So we never stop fighting. We never give up. And when we win, it won’t be by luck. Amen.” – Team USA
