Rodeo Queen offers horsemanship tips to novice riders

These days you can find Jessica Lange repairing a fence or transporting livestock for the neighbors, and training and caring for her mares, Sugar Bear and HB. She lives on the family farm in Knox County, Neb. and says she has been caring for horses for as long as she can remember.

And at just 23 years old, Lange has made her mark on the Nebraska rodeo circuit. The Miss Rodeo Nebraska contestant was granted rodeo queen status beginning at the Days of ’56 Rodeo in Ponca and Cedar County in Hartington. She is the reigning Miss Oregon Trail Rodeo queen for the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association rodeo in Hastings.

“My main goal with this platform is to inspire the next generation of young girls to follow their dreams and never give up, and hopefully create a thriving future for female farmers and ranchers in Nebraska,” Lange said of her rodeo title.

Tips straight from the trainer’s mouth

Lange offers these tips to anyone starting out riding:

Try an older horse first. Lange advises young and novice riders not to be afraid to steer towards an older horse. “They may not be around forever, but they tend to be easier to handle, making them safer to drive for someone just learning the ropes,” she explains.

Take it easy. “Don’t be in a hurry to step outside your comfort zone and be safe alone with your horse,” says Lange. “If you step outside that comfort zone or rush into the ‘fun’ things before you are ready, it can lead to a lot of problems for you and your horse.”

Enjoy your animal. “Horses can be so much fun for any age, so don’t be intimidated by them or the thought of getting involved with them later in life, they just might change your life,” she says.

Stay informed about maintenance. “Good nutrition, vaccines, hoof and dental care are not a luxury,” she says. “They are necessary things.” Horses, for example, require more care than dogs and cats, but Lange says that shouldn’t stop horse owners from asking a trusted veterinarian to teach the young riders in the family about proper care of their animal. “Don’t be afraid to ask,” she advises.

Lange says she even enjoyed tagging along to vet appointments so she could learn about proper feeding of her horses and other horse maintenance at an early age.

Passion for horses

Lange’s passion for horses has been lifelong. “I competed in horse shows as soon as I could walk (and) and moved on to 4-H shows when I came of age,” she says. “As I got older, I started going to rodeos and ranch horse competitions, and in 2018 I even won the Nebraska State Working Ranch Horse competition.”

The first horse Lange remembers was a Shetland pony named Fluffy, which she shared with her brother. “But the first horse I rode alone was a beautiful buckskin named Babe,” she says. “She was the horse that gave me so much confidence, so one day in the future I could compete. That’s when my obsession with horses really blossomed, and I was blessed to have such an amazing first horse.”

EARLY MENTOR: Lange says her mother, Jeanine (left), helped her at a young age to saddle and rein her horse, and to properly care for its nutrition and health.

Lange also credits her mother’s involvement. “I owe my mother so much,” she says. “She taught me about horses in my early years. She pushed me from the start to do more myself,” including putting on the horse’s saddle and bridle.

“Growing up in 4-H, I always preferred fun events, like barrels and poles, because it was fast and exciting, but my mother always encouraged me to do performance events, like horsemanship and western pleasure” , says Lange.

“I thought this was a waste of time, but looking back I am so grateful that I stuck with it because it helped me improve my riding and learn proper riding techniques,” she says. “I encourage others to do the same.”