Riding Dreams: Firth Freshman Ryder Wallace Chases Pro Rodeo Glory

FIRTH – It’s a frigid, icy afternoon at the Wallace residence in Firth as Ryder guides Daz, the family’s steer wrestling equine.

It’s time for a picture opportunity, and Daz’s paddock companions, a goat and another horse, wander over to see if any treats are in the offing.

No treats, merely snapshots of a boy and his horse.

As early January rolls in, the routine of a rodeo cowboy often decelerates for a while, but not for very long.

Ryder Wallace, a freshman at Firth High School, shares his recent achievements from the Junior Roughstock World Finals in Las Vegas, where he placed third in saddle bronc and eighth in bareback.

Daz shifts restlessly, but the pictures are complete.

“There’s really no way to put it into words,” Ryder expressed about the thrill of competing in saddle bronc and bareback riding, particularly under the glaring lights of Las Vegas. “There’s a significant rush of adrenaline, coupled with muscle memory; it requires extensive preparation. You can’t think about it too much, you simply have to act. Once you grasp it, it’s one of the greatest feelings I’ve ever had.”

Not too shabby for someone who began competing in rodeo merely three years ago.

However, Ryder’s achievements and enthusiasm for rodeo may have been anticipated much earlier.

He is the fifth generation of rodeo participants in his family, and like many ranchers and cowboys and cowgirls in the region, the legacy of rodeo runs deep.

His parents, Wade and Katie, participated in rodeo, as did his grandparents and others in the lineage.

“It’s a fifth-generation family ranch, so there are abundant chances to be involved in such activities, and being engaged in ranching, rodeo, and the Western lifestyle is the main motivation behind everything,” Katie remarked, emphasizing the delicate balance between encouraging the kids to compete in rodeo and not applying excessive pressure.

“The line between you wanting them to pursue it and them desiring to do it themselves … They need to want it just as intensely as anyone else since they must invest the time,” she continued. “We can transport them and continue setting up practices and access to training and schools, but if they lack the desire, they won’t dedicate the effort.”

In addition to Ryder, his sister Kinsley, who is in seventh grade, also participated in Las Vegas, achieving 17th place out of 60 girls in pole bending.

With both children deeply involved in the sport, Katie noted that the communal aspect has come full circle. Families and friends, whom she and Wade faced in competition years ago, now have their own kids contending, and their groups frequently travel within rodeo circuits.

Typically, winter is a quiet period for rodeo, so Ryder practices on a spur board in the garage or a mechanical bucking bronco that Wade refurbished. He also has several bucking horses to train on once the season resumes.

While he grew up involved in conventional sports such as soccer, basketball, and football, Ryder stated that he’s devoted to rodeo. He has been around the sport long enough to set his sights on becoming a professional and making a decent income from something that has turned into his passion.

He has also realized, as does any cowboy contending in roughstock, that it will not be simple.

Ryder found himself in the emergency department after he fell sideways off a horse and struck his head during a summer competition. He endured a concussion and was sidelined from rodeo for about six weeks.

“I was hurt pretty badly and during my recovery, I was feeling down, contemplating quitting,” Ryder admitted. “But I persevered, and I’m grateful for that. It helped me develop as an individual and overcome challenges. It required significant reflection and motivation to restore my enthusiasm and return to it.”

So what comes next?

The high school rodeo season is set to begin later this year, and Ryder will participate at a new level that he understands will be tough.

“You simply need to put in more effort for it,” he stated.

Ryder has also taken up wrestling and is currently a member of the Firth JV team. This is an additional challenge he hopes will prepare him for what lies ahead.

“It requires a similar discipline (to rodeo),” he explained. “You have to enter a wrestling match or mount a bucking horse with the right mindset. If you go in thinking this kid’s going to pin me or I’ll be thrown off this horse, it’s likely going to happen. A strong mentality to believe you can prevail is essential.”

The physical demands of both sports also align, as noted by Ryder’s father.

“He utilizes the same core muscles that he employs in wrestling,” Wade mentioned. “It requires a great deal of core and upper body strength.”

As Ryder pointed out, a robust mental strategy is also necessary for both disciplines.

But for the moment, snow and ice dominate the scenery as rodeo awaits its next opportunity.

Ryder expressed a desire to practice and eventually compete in steer wrestling, which involves Daz.

On this day in

In mid-January, Daz and Ryder are at ease and prepared for what lies ahead.