In what feels like a field of young guns in the Resistol Rookie of the Year breakaway race, 30-year-old Cheree Caudle stands firmly with the idea that you can break into the ProRodeo arena at any age.
Working full-time on the graduate admissions team at alma mater UWA and mom of two kids, Caudle has more than just breakaway roping on her mind.
The makings of Cheree Caudle
Caudle grew up traveling the Southeast ProRodeo circuit with steer wrestling grandad Wendall Cooper and dad Wade. The idea of rodeo was fun, but barrel racing wasn’t her speed and breakaway was slow on the come-up. Still, Caudle began competing in breakaway in eighth grade, eventually earning a scholarship to rodeo at UWA. In 2015, she won the Ozark region.
From there she married husband Alex and the two moved to Livingston, Alabama. Alex tie-down ropes and they amateur rodeoed together, hitting multiple events each weekend on the PCA, IPRA and NCPRA circles. As Alex moved into the professional ranks, Caudle eyed her opportunities with son Case on her hip.
“In 2022 I knew I wanted to [ProRodeo] this year,” Caudle said. “Case would be 3, and it became my goal. I’ve been doing to amateur rodeos and decided to go for it. This has been something I wanted for a decade, so I didn’t want to wait on it any longer. Amateur rodeos have let me get in that experience. They help you learn to let things roll off your back.”
With breakaway wisdom that only comes with age and thousands of runs, Caudle is enthusiastic about the year ahead of her.
“My advice to a younger rookie would be—don’t get caught up in it. Roping is what you do, not who you are. You’re going to fail at times, but that failure doesn’t define who you are.” – Cheree Caudle
2024 Rookie of the Year race
Currently sitting No. 7 with $3,640 in earnings, Caudle is trying to weave more ProRodeos in between her job and mom duties.
“What’s my game plan?” Caudle said. “To be honest I don’t have a game plan. I am just tickled to do this. I’d like to do a quick little summer run. Maybe a week. It’s a little sad but that’s where I’m at in my life.”
Caudle gathered up her rookie earnings at the 96th Annual Arcadia All-Florida Championship Rodeo, where she tied for No. 6, earning $1,160. She also Finished No. 3 with a 2.6-second run at the Okeechobee Cowtown Rodeo in Florida for another $1,550.
She did it on 11-year-old gelding “Peewee,” who she bought from Tabitha Owens and finished herself. His name is spot on, with Caudle saying he’s just a tick over “pony size.” She and Peewee plan to be ready when ProRodeo opportunities arise as they continue their Resistol Rookie of the Year bid.
