Ride Like a Girl (And Raise One Too): Grit, Grace, and Growing Up Western
- afenner
- Jul 10
- 2 min read
You’ve heard it before — sometimes with pride, sometimes with doubt: “Ride like a girl.” Well around here, we say it loud and proud.
Because to ride like a girl means to ride with grit. With feel. With tenacity, timing, and heart. And when you’re raising daughters in the rodeo world, you know — they’re not just learning to ride. They’re learning to lead.
Grit Comes Standard
Our girls grow up doing the hard stuff:
Hauling hay.
Catching their own horses.
Loading gear in the rain.
It’s not about proving anything to the boys — it’s about proving to themselves they can do hard things. That matters more than any title.
And when they step into the arena? That grit shows up in every run.
Grace Isn’t Weakness — It’s Power
There’s a special strength in kindness. In helping a friend fix their boots. In high-fiving a competitor after a tough run. In giving their horse a pat even after a knocked barrel.
We raise girls who know that:
You can be fierce and friendly.
You can be competitive and compassionate.
You can win big without losing your grace.
Be Who You Needed
As moms, we think a lot about the kind of woman we wish we had growing up in this world — and we try to be that for our girls.
That means:
Encouraging bold choices in outfits, horses, and goals.
Creating space to cry when things fall apart.
Showing them how to take up space without apology.
We want them to know: your voice matters. Your dreams matter. And so do the sparkles and fringe.
The Arena Is the Classroom
Every run is a lesson. Every practice is a teaching moment. We use rodeo to teach them:
How to win with humility.
How to lose with grit.
How to keep showing up with courage.
And when they ride out — on fire and fully themselves — that’s when we know we’re doing it right.
Final Thoughts
At Rad Rodeo, we ride like girls — and we raise ‘em that way too. Strong. Smart. Sparkly. Unshakable.
Because in this family, "like a girl" is the highest compliment you can get.
--
Ann-Marie Fenner
Ranch Manager, Breeder, Rodeo Mom
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