Legit Outdoors
History stays alive in the True Western Roundup If you want to feel inspired about the future of humanity—to believe in its capacity for passion and compassion alike— all you need to do is listen to Jaida and Rylee Woody talk about their rodeo horses. “It’s a lot of bonding,” Jaida says. “It’s a lot of connecting with your horse. It’s all about how much time we spend with them and work with them.” “Mainly,” Rylee adds, “it’s about not failing my horses, because I love them so much.” These two young women, 12-year-old twin sisters, travel around the Southwest from Las Vegas to New Mexico and everywhere in between to participate and compete in rodeo events. But their favorite event of all is right in their backyard: the True Western Roundup, which consists of 17 events in the 2021 Summer Rodeo Series in Durango and Cortez. “We do many other events, but we love the True Western,” Jaida says. “It’s one of my favorite rodeos just because of how fun it is, and I love how they do juniors.” Jaida is referencing one of two new special events in True Western
Roundup’s rodeo lineup, both of which debuted in 2020. The Junior Rodeo was created to promote the sport to future generations of athletes, and the Cowgirls Kickin’ Cancer Women’s Rodeo was created to raise breast-cancer awareness. Both events have since been added to True Western’s annual series. The Junior Rodeo took place on May 15, 2021, and the Women’s Rodeo is scheduled for October 9, 2021—both at the Montezuma County Fairgrounds in Cortez. Contestants for all the True Western Roundup events come from working ranches all around the Four Corners, says producer Pam Petrie. “It’s a way of life for them,” she says. “It’s what they love.” It certainly is a way of life for the Woody twins, who are sponsored by Durango Magazine. They have been riding horses since they were two, and they first competed in lead line at three. Now,
by Zach Hively
they both compete in barrel racing and pole bending, and Rylee also competes in goat tying. “We grew up in the rodeo,” Rylee says. “My grandma got us into it all.” Their grandma has gotten much of the family into rodeoing over the years—the twins’ uncles and mom have also partic-
Legit Outdoors 22 Durango Magazine Summer/Fall
