Breakaway roping sisters Kelsie and Kylie Reininger are as close in the arena as they are outside of it, but their roping styles and mental approaches still have subtle distinctions.
Both young cowgirls competed at Rodeo Corpus Christi in the DY and Open WCRA rodeo, sharing a passion for breakaway roping, each bringing a strong mindset to the practice pen and the performance stage.
The Breakaway Roping Journal asked them the same five questions in different interviews—here’s what each had to say.
What’s the main difference in your roping styles?
Kylie Reininger:
“I would say that we have pretty much have the same roping style. There’s not really a huge difference, but I think she’s a more aggressive rider than I am.”
Kelsie Reininger:
“I think our tips angles and how we ride are different—we ride totally different. Kylie’s really tense and aggressive, and I’m more relaxed and laid back. I have to kick a lot more because of that.”
What’s your mental outlook on roping—how do you process wins and losses?
Kylie:
“When I lose, I still have the attitude of a winner. In this game, you have to stay confident. You can’t let the losses get to you—you have to go on to the next one.”
Kelsie:
“I always stay positive. If you miss one calf but have four rodeos to go to that weekend, you still have a chance. Don’t get down on yourself—it takes the fun out of it. This is your job, but you want to enjoy it, too.”
What’s one thing you’re currently working on in your roping?
Kylie:
“I’m working on staying up and not sitting down when I throw—going all the way to the neck. That’s been my problem lately.”
Kelsie:
“My left hand. At the American, that’s what cost me a catch. When I throw, my left hand goes back, and it makes me lose rope and affects my catch. That’s a big focus right now.”
What’s your main goal when you practice?
Kylie:
“Throwing to the neck, aiming at the shoulder, and seeing my start. Just keeping my roping sharp.”
Kelsie:
“Scoring my calves and seeing the perfect start. That’s my biggest issue—either I’m really late or really early. I’m also working on getting my horse to free up because he likes to short me.”
On WCRA Rodeo Corpus Christi
Both girls lit up when talking about the experience of competing under the red light/green light setup in Corpus.
Kylie:
“I liked it because it’s a different setup. The red light and green light was cool—we got to do it like the pros do at Kid Rock, even though we’re under 18 and can’t [compete] there yet.”
Kelsie Reininger:
“I enjoyed the red light/green light. It was a new challenge for me. You’re already working on scoring, and then you add in that light, and it gets really difficult.”
