Wearing a cowboy hat, a big belt buckle and boots with spurs, Audrey Fish climbed onto her horse “Studless” as they prepared for breakaway roping practice.
After spending her entire childhood involved in the rodeo, the 16-year-old from Wellston began specifically competing in breakaway roping back in 2015.
Fish is experienced in every rodeo event, but her love for breakaway roping is her competitive drive.
“The adrenaline, how fast it is, you can’t think about it,” Fish said. “I can’t, I don’t have to think about it. I just have to go do it.”
Clearly, her method is working as she lays claim to 40 belt buckles and 13 saddles, from the countless competition victories in her career that have spanned from local events to places like Las Vegas, Georgia and Dallas-Fort Worth.
Though she is mainly a youth competitor, Fish often competes in open rodeo against adults making her victories all the more impressive.
Despite thriving as an athlete, Fish defers all the praise. “Thank God for everything he does because I wouldn’t be here without him,” Fish said. “I wouldn’t think that me and this horse would have made it this far from where we have come. I thank Jerry Fish Quarter Horses, my Pa, for giving me those two horses.”
While she credits her faith and supporters, Fish puts in consistent hard work to earn her achievements.
Her father, William Fish, acknowledged that he and his daughter spend an hour daily practicing breakaway roping their calves, along with the extra time they spend coaching children.
Fish will look to cash in that hard work at the International Finals Youth Rodeo, taking place on July 7-12 in Shawnee, with a morning and night session daily.
“I’m not holding back like I did last year,” Fish said. “I did not do good, I didn’t rope any of my calves. When I have my shot, I’m going to rope it.”
Fish approaches this year’s competition with confidence in her abilities. If she can execute her gameplan at the IFYR, it would be another step towards her dreams.
“My dream has always been as soon as I hit 18 to get my PRCA card, go pro and hit the road,” Fish said.
The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association is the biggest and oldest rodeo show in the world, spanning across 37 U.S. states and three Canadian provinces.
It will be no easy task for Fish to attain her goal of the PRCA, but winning the IFYR later this month would be a step in the right direction.