Child trick rider added to rodeo lineup

The rodeo life isn’t for everybody, but for five-year-old Piper Yule and her family it’s a way of life.

“She has been riding for two years now,” Kelsey Yule, her mother said. “Our family and community have a rich heritage with the rodeo.”

For the past year former World Champion and family friend, Rae-Lynn Armstrong, has mentored Yule.

“I started mentoring Piper when she was four,” Armstrong said. “She’s naturally talented. Her mom and I are really good friends and we’ve known each for a really long time.”

Armstrong started riding horses at a young age just like Yule.

“I started riding when I was seven-years old,” she said.

Armstrong took Yule under her wing after she started doing tricks on her own.

“Piper essentially started doing tricks by herself,” Armstrong said. “She wanted to hang off the side of her horse and Kelsey wanted her daughter to seek professional help. We knew each other and it was a natural fit.”

The trick-riding duo will be part of the special event taking place at J. Neils Park, Thursday, July 23. Armstrong and Yule will be putting on a trick-riding show at 7 p.m. Stuntman, Sammy Maloof will follow them with a car chase. Following the car chase the Dancing in the Dirt concert will start. Country Legends will start the concert and be followed by Hollywood Yates.

The event is about introducing the younger generation to the rodeo and for Armstrong that’s been the best part about mentoring Yule.

“That’s what this whole event is about,” Armstrong said. “It’s about promoting rodeo and what you can do in the rodeo. I’ve introduced her to the sport of rodeo and opened the door for her.”

The Yule family is thankful that Armstrong has been such a great mentor to their daughter.

“Piper is blessed to have the best mentor in the industry,” Kelsey said. “It’s been great for the family to be able to watch her do something she loves.”