Frey earning top awards on high school rodeo circuit

While some country girls are hard-wired to want a pony from the moment they are born, few of them actually ride a horse mere weeks after they are born.
“I was on a horse for the first time when I was 3 weeks old,” said 16-year-old Chloe Frey of Eunice. “When I was 2, I started riding my miniature ponies.”
Frey’s early introduction to horse riding eventually led her to rodeo competitions, and she recently won the state titles of Reserve Champion for pole bending, Reserve Champion for breakaway roper and All Around Cowgirl at the Louisiana High School Rodeo Association Louisiana High School Rodeo Finals in Lake Charles.
“I was nervous – I had quite a few nerves,” she said, laughing. “I knew I needed to get in with the breakaway win. I didn’t catch all three (cows), but I won the round on the last one. With the poles, I knew I had to leave poles up and ride as hard as I could.”
Even though the National High School Finals Rodeo will be in Rock Springs, Wyoming on July 12 to 18, Frey, the daughter of Winston and Cindy Frey, will next compete at the International Finals Youth Rodeo in Shawnee, Oklahoma, July 5 to 10. Unlike the national event, the international event is open to anyone and qualifying is not required to attend.
“At nationals, a national championship in anything would please me,” Frey said. “I would love to be an international champ, too.”
Frey began competing on the rodeo circuit at 5 years old when she joined the Acadiana Youth Rodeo Association. She competed in barrel racing, pole bending, flags and ribbons, and she won several awards in the events.
“I started out barrel racing and pole bending because those were the simplest programs for my age group,” she said. “Later on, I started roping the dummy a lot with my older cousins. I looked up to them, and it was fun to rope. Rodeo was passed down to me through my family.”
Frey competed with the association until she was in the sixth grade, when she was eligible to compete in Louisiana Junior High Rodeo Association rodeos, and she also competed in amateur and open rodeos, too. Along the way, Frey has won saddles, belt buckles and money, which she is saving for the future.
As soon as she graduated the eighth grade, Frey joined the Louisiana High School Rodeo Association. This fall, Frey will be a junior at the Academy of Sacred Heart in Grand Coteau, and a she is also a member of the school’s equestrian team.
The young rodeo champion spends about 12 hours a week working with her two rodeo horses, pole horse Two-Eyed Gray Bar, or Mr. T for short, and breakaway horse Pure Outlaw, or P.O. for short.
“Mr. T is 20 years old, and this will be his 13th year at nationals,” Frey said. “He won at nationals with his previous owner. P.O. is 9, and I got him from my cousin who competes in rodeo professionally. I’ve had him since the seventh grade, and he’s grown with me.”
Frey’s training team includes her father, jockey Tami Purcell, who works with her on barrel racing, and roping pros Shane Hanchey and world championship calf roper and cousin Ryan Thibodeaux.
After high school, Frey hopes to be recruited for a college rodeo team, earn scholarships for her rodeo skills and attended physical therapy school.
“I want to thank my parents for all they have done to support me,” Frey said.