Texas teen follows in sister’s footsteps on Day 1 of State High School Rodeo Finals

ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC)- For the 36th year running, the Taylor County Expo Center has welcomed the Texas High School Rodeo Association (THSRA) finals back to Key City soil. Day one brought the first round of the girls and boys cutting events, as well as the reined cow horse event a handful of hopefuls kicking off 10 days of roping and riding that will see just under 700 high school competitors take to their saddles to show off the skills they’ve been working on all year.

“These are the cream of the crop of the state of Texas. . . there’s some folks right now competing in the PRCA that I know we’ve had here,” Taylor County Expo Center General Manager Rochelle Johnson told KTAB/KRBC.

Among that crop, is 16-year-old Quealy Probst, wo has returned to Taylor County hoping to make a name for herself and follow in her sister’s footsteps while she’s at it. Probst’s older sister, Quincy, took home the top spot in the THSRA state finals reined cow horse event last year. Probst is happy, she says, to have her state champ sister in the arena as a coach.

“She sometimes gets a little intense but I’m grateful to have her,” said Probst.

On the first day, round one of cow horse competition this year, Probst came in 4th. She tells KTAB/KRBC that competition was tough, but that’s exactly why she and her family moved to Texas a few years ago.

“We grew up ranching in Utah, and we moved here to have more opportunity to rope and do the cow horse stuff. . .this is kind of the State for roping and its a great state to have all these opportunities,” Probst said.

As opening day comes to a close, she is looking forward to round two and competing in breakaway roping just a few days out. In addition to the hundreds of thousands in prize money and equipment that are up for grabs, Probst says she’s grateful to the THSRA for the scholarship programs offered and the college fair & trade day that will be held on Sunday, June 8th.

A full schedule of events and times for the Texas High School Finals Rodeo can be found by clicking this link.