Identical twins Kelsie and Kylie Reininger are using the WCRA to grow as competitors, and plan to return to Rodeo Carolina in October for another shot at WCRA glory.
Kylie won the 2023 Rodeo Carolina DY Youth Showcase, and the 15-year-old sisters are planning on leveling up this year—competing alongside the big fish in Carolina in the open division, which includes ProRodeo ropers.
“The first WCRA [major] I went to, I was super nervous,” Kylie said. “But then, I went to more of them, more [amateur] rodeos, and now I’m not as nervous. They’ve made me more confident and ready to do my job.”
Life as a Reininger
The young ladies from Seguin, Texas, work in tandem when it comes to homeschool, cleaning the barn and practicing roping.
“Since we were little, we’ve been around horses,” Kelsie said. “When we got big enough, we started doing playdays with barrels and poles. We always team roped, but when breakaway started getting big we thought, ‘Let’s give that a try.’ And we fell in love with it.”
Today, both Kelsie and Kylie team rope on the head side and breakaway at high school rodeos.
“I want to start heeling, too,” Kelsie said. “Switching [from heading to roping calves] is pretty easy for me, but I always rope the dummy just in case.”
Kelsie describes herself as an “aggressive” roper—a skill obtained while roping in the wolfy one headers held by the CPRA and UPRA associations. She predominantly rides “Roanie,” a 20-something-year-old gelding on loan from Kelsie Domer.
“He’s as solid as they come in any situation,” Kelsie [Reininger] said.
Kylie’s horsepower is primarily 9-year-old bay gelding “Tyson.” She says Tyson takes her to the calf and has more forward momentum than some of the families’ other horses, meaning she just has to think about roping.
“Tyson is quick across the line, quick-footed, and little,” Kylie said.
Rodeo Carolina opportunities
WCRA Rodeo Carolina is taking place Oct. 2-5, in Mill Spring, North Carolina at the primarily hunter-jumper facility Tryon International. While there’s the classic $15,000 championship check dangling in front of the Reininger sisters, there is something else, too.
“I have a lot of goals, including winning Rodeo Carolina,” Kelsie said. “I really like the WCRA lets us go rope for big money, and I can rope against the pros. It’s given me so much confidence.”
The WCRA is offering 25% all Rodeo Carolina nomination with the code “RNC24END” through Sept. 4. Code may be used up to four times. Nominate to WCRA Rodeo Carolina here.
