4CONTINUED FROM 20
“I definitely miss not having them at my back door, but it’s nice to go home on the weekends and go to rodeos so I can still meet up with my friends,” Lourens said. “It’s working out.” Scoot is due in late March to early April and is the first pregnant horse Lourens has had. “It’s cool to see the whole process,” she said. “I’ve taken pictures of her every time I come home and see her get even bigger than before. I’m prepared to miss school when she actually goes into labor so I can be there, because I’ve never seen that way before.” Scoot is very close to Lourens’ heart, as the two began training with each other more than 10 years ago and have been an award-winning combination. However, since Scoot is pregnant, Lourens’ had to divert to her other horse, Gator, in July and might continue riding him through this summer. She didn’t know then how well Gator would perform as Lourens’ new main horse, but the transition proved to be very smooth.
‘‘
She’s a very level-headed, goal-oriented type of person, so she does what she has to do. Chris Lourens, Chelsey’s mother
’’
“He didn’t know a whole lot when I got him four years ago, but he has definitely developed into just as good of a horse as Scoot is, if not better,” she said. Lourens, who is studying agricultural business, still rides many weekends with the Red Rock Riders and recently performed at the National FFA Convention in Kentucky. “She is a very level-headed, goal-oriented type of person, so she does what she has to do,” said Chris Lourens, Chelsey’s mother. “She has even come back in the middle of the week when she has a break from classes to care for the horses. And when she can’t, momma rides them for her and takes good care of them when she’s gone.”
Chelsey Lourens, of Colfax, signs autographs in January during the World’s Toughest Rodeo at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines. Lourens is the Red Rock Riders’ drill team captain.
AG Mag
21