Beasley Equine Podcast

Young Grit: a conversation with Ty Eldridge

• travis beasley

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A 4 a.m. wake-up, a four-hour haul, and a seventh grader who ropes with the poise of a seasoned header—meet Ty Eldridge from Harrisburg, Arkansas. We sit down with Ty to explore how a 12-year-old turns school days, barn chores, and practice nights into solid runs, quiet confidence, and a bond with a five-year-old gelding named Skid Rock. It’s a story about discipline that doesn’t need drama, mentorship that works in the practice pen, and the kind of horse care that shows up when the gate opens.

Ty walks us through his events—team roping on the head side, breakaway, ribbon roping, and goat tying—and the training rhythm he leans on: live cattle for timing, the dummy for fixing habits, and daily saddle time that keeps his horse responsive without burning him out. We talk through jackpot nerves, competing against adults, and the mental routine that steadies your hand in the box. He opens up about losses and small wins, the lightbulb moment in Searcy when breakaway finally clicked, and why humility and patience beat shortcuts and hype.

We also get practical about equine health and performance. Ty shares how quality hay and a simple GI routine keep Skid Rock feeling good on the road, and we break down a stress-aware approach—prioritizing forage, friends, and freedom—that helps hauled horses stay settled. From starting young horses to representing sponsors like Cactus Ropes with integrity, Ty’s perspective is refreshingly grounded. He’s chasing a saddle, dreaming of a gold buckle, and keeping the work honest—proof that grit, good mentors, and better horsemanship can carry a young athlete a long way.

If this conversation leaves you inspired, follow the show, share it with a friend who loves rodeo or youth sports, and leave a quick review telling us your best pre-competition ritual.

SPEAKER_02:

Hello, welcome to the Beasley Equine Podcast. Today we got the pleasure and honor to sit down with Ty Eldridge all the way from Harrisburg, Arkansas. He's a great young man. He's a team roper, calf roper, goat tire, just an all-around cowboy. And for those of you that are listening to this and not watching the video, I swear he's only 12. He sounds like he's 47. We had a great little conversation, and uh stay tuned for that.

SPEAKER_00:

Bring a little black bag with the medicines and bring the tank and the crank and the penicillin.

SPEAKER_02:

So what's going on, Ty?

SPEAKER_01:

Oh, just Ben rodeoing and just hanging around the house and working at the practice bin and all that.

SPEAKER_02:

Where uh where's your house at?

SPEAKER_01:

Harrisburg, Arkansas.

SPEAKER_02:

How far away is that from here?

SPEAKER_01:

It was about four hours to drive over here.

SPEAKER_02:

Jeez, what time did you have to get up?

SPEAKER_01:

Four. We left at four.

SPEAKER_02:

Who scheduled this at nine for him? John. So I noticed you already got some patches on there. Cactus ropes. Are you representing them too?

SPEAKER_01:

Yes, sir. I'm representing cactus. That's one of my main sponsors. I couldn't be more thankful for Barry Berg and Kelly Miller at Cactus Ropes down there. I they give me everything I need and they just always take care of me.

SPEAKER_02:

That's awesome. How old are you?

SPEAKER_01:

I'm actually 12 right now.

SPEAKER_02:

12, going on what, 30? So what uh obviously your rodeo, what all do you compete in?

SPEAKER_01:

Yes, sir. I'm in the team roping, breakaway, ribbon roping, and goat tying.

SPEAKER_02:

What's your favorite one of all those?

SPEAKER_01:

Has to be the team roping.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, which side are you on?

SPEAKER_01:

Head inside.

SPEAKER_02:

Nice. You like that better?

SPEAKER_01:

I love it.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, I used to heal, but half the time I never got to throw my rope. I didn't have a good header like you. So, um are you going to school right now too?

SPEAKER_01:

Yes, sir. I'm going to public school right now.

SPEAKER_02:

Full-time and doing all this?

SPEAKER_01:

Yes, sir. It's hard, but I'm doing it.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, how do you manage school and homework and still getting to practice and all that?

SPEAKER_01:

Yes, sir, it's just I just it's hard because I just do everything I can at school and pretty much work my butt off at school and try to get everything done so I don't have homework at home. And as soon as I get home I just change and then go right into the barn chores and get done with that and start riding.

SPEAKER_02:

Nice. How many horses you got?

SPEAKER_01:

I got four right now.

SPEAKER_02:

What's what's your main mount? Who you riding?

SPEAKER_01:

Skid Rock is his name.

SPEAKER_02:

Skid Rock? How old is Skid Rock?

SPEAKER_01:

He's five.

SPEAKER_02:

Just five? Yes, sir. How long have you had him?

SPEAKER_01:

I've had him since er since he was three.

SPEAKER_02:

Oh wow.

SPEAKER_01:

Yes, sir.

SPEAKER_02:

You don't see too many younger kids riding younger horses.

SPEAKER_01:

Well, it was my older horse, the one I started on, he passed away, and then dad had Skid Rock. He was just a bronch and nobody wanted to ride him, and Dad put a handle on him and he just worked out for me, and now we have an amazing bond and just perfect.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, it sounds like you guys probably get along pretty good.

SPEAKER_01:

Yes, sir.

SPEAKER_02:

Um what's it I mean, obviously you probably call yourself a cowboy, it sounds like what what does that mean to you being a cowboy?

SPEAKER_01:

It means everything to me from the late nights and the early mornings and the blood, sweat, and tears in the practice pen and just sticking with it and just being able to wear a cowboy hat and boots and it's just everything to me.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah. What um what grade are you in? Seventh. Seventh. So do you have any aspirations school-wise, what you want to do when you get older?

SPEAKER_01:

Um no, sir, not right now. I'm still trying to think and do all that, but I don't have just one thing I just want to do right now.

SPEAKER_02:

Right. You got plenty of time to decide. Yes, sir. And that's a great thing about rodeo and robin. You can do that the rest of your life. Mm-hmm. Do you play any sports?

SPEAKER_01:

I do. I play baseball and basketball.

SPEAKER_02:

Nice. Which one do you like better?

SPEAKER_01:

I'd say probably baseball.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah. You which position do you play?

SPEAKER_01:

I play catcher and shortstop.

SPEAKER_02:

Oh, nice. You're just an all-star at everything, aren't you?

SPEAKER_01:

I don't know about that.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah. Um with the with the heading, uh, how do you um you practice on live cows or dummy everything?

SPEAKER_01:

Yes, or it's just we always try to practice on live cattle, and if I'm messing up, we just go straight to the dummy. That's where I get all my problems worked out and everything like that. I just and I have an amazing dad. He's just amazing at roping and he helps me through everything and gets me through it.

SPEAKER_02:

That's awesome. That's important to have good parents in your corner, isn't it? Yes, sir. And they're here with you today. Um so when did you start riding?

SPEAKER_01:

I started riding or really getting at it and really going competitively two years ago.

SPEAKER_02:

Just two years ago? Sir. So you've done pretty pretty good in two years.

SPEAKER_01:

Yes, sir, I'd say so.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, I think it's easier anything like that, the younger you start, the better. Like all the do you have any favorite bands?

SPEAKER_01:

I really don't.

SPEAKER_02:

So a lot of the musicians you see that are super good, they all started when they were they were little, because your minds are like sponge when you're a kid. You just absorb absorb everything. Um, so what are you doing little britches?

SPEAKER_01:

Yes, sir. I'm doing little britches rodeo right now.

SPEAKER_02:

And then also the US TRC rope ins too.

SPEAKER_01:

Yes, sir. Every time we don't have a little britches or nothing, we try to just hit all them jackpots around the house and just burning the road up.

SPEAKER_02:

Are you making any money at the jackpots?

SPEAKER_01:

Trying to. Um, every now and then I'll pick me a little check up and it's always fun to see it.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, it's nice to see your name on a check that that you won. Yes, sir. I never got to win too many checks. So the the little britches you're competing against people around your age, correct?

SPEAKER_01:

Yes, sir.

SPEAKER_02:

What about the other team Robins, the jackpots?

SPEAKER_01:

You know, here the last weekend in Sykston I was competing against everybody, grown men, and then people around my age too.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah. Some of those guys are pretty wolfy too, aren't they?

SPEAKER_01:

Yes, sir.

SPEAKER_02:

Is it is it more intimidating when you do a jackpot type thing and seeing some of the the older, more seasoned people versus the little britches or yes, sir.

SPEAKER_01:

I'd say the jackpots are just a tad bit more, you know, intimidating. Just everybody there and having to compete against older men.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah. How do you how do you prepare mentally for this kind of thing?

SPEAKER_01:

It's just you just always gotta know that you're the best one there and tell yourself that and just knowing that you can go out there and do your job from the practice pen to the r Jack Potter rodeo, you just gotta know you can do your job.

SPEAKER_02:

Yep, and have trust in your horse. Yes, sir. Yeah. Do you do anything special with your horse to keep him going as good as he can?

SPEAKER_01:

I just I ride him every day through the week and then I have an amazing sponsor, Kyle Cannon, at Cannon Hay. He has some of the best hay and gives me that and he always does good on that and it keeps him fat and healthy and he just always works good with me.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, hay is or forage, anything like that's super important for these for these horses. I think a lot of them get in trouble when they're not eating it and they're pumping them full of the hike sugar grain and stuff.

SPEAKER_01:

Yes, sir.

SPEAKER_02:

So have you won any jackpots?

SPEAKER_01:

I have. I've won one at our cowboy church um uh at Three Trees. It's our cowboy church that we go to. I won a jackpot there, and then I also wanted another jackpot in Paragord, Arkansas. It was a little round robin deal.

SPEAKER_02:

Oh, nice. That had to feel pretty good because you probably beat a lot of people though, didn't you?

SPEAKER_01:

Yes, sir. It felt amazing.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah. So what's uh is Little Britches just starting?

SPEAKER_01:

Or is it It's actually been as soon as the finals is over, they start right back over. So it's l year round pretty much. I gotcha.

SPEAKER_02:

Do you have any big goals this year for your rodeo career?

SPEAKER_01:

I do just getting to everyone I can and just beating them and burning the road up and just hopefully holding the gold buckle at the end of the year.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, maybe have you won a saddle or anything like that. I haven't won a saddle yet, and I'm maybe this is maybe this is the season for that.

SPEAKER_01:

Yes, sir.

SPEAKER_02:

Um, you mentioned um Skid Skid Rock, you said? Yes, sir. How did he get that name?

SPEAKER_01:

So, like I said, he was just a bronk and nobody wanted to ride him in Texas, and Kelly Miller, the one we got him from, he named him Skid Rock just because he was so Skiddish and he just came up with the name Skid Rock.

SPEAKER_02:

Is he still Skidish?

SPEAKER_01:

No, not no more. He just sometimes he can be, but most of the time he just wants you to love on him and scratch him.

SPEAKER_02:

I think every horse needs a little kid to uh give him that kind of stuff. I got three old horses at the house and two little girls, and yes, sir. They get more scratching and grooming than they do, they do riding. We got a mini and they just treat them like a puppy dog. She'll walk them around the yard and sit down with them and talk to them, have full, full conversations. If you could give, I've asked almost every kid this, if you could give Skid Rock a superpower, what what would you give him?

SPEAKER_01:

It would probably be to last forever, not live forever, but last forever.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, that's a big distinction there. Yes, sir. Um yeah, but the horses are lasting quite a while. We've come a long way with our with our care we're able to provide. So now's a good time in the equine world to be an old horse because there's there's lots of options for them. Um if you could you probably got some heroes in the rodeo world beside your dad. Yes, sir. If you could swap places with any of them, who would you who would you go for?

SPEAKER_01:

I'd say probably Derek McGay.

SPEAKER_02:

How come?

SPEAKER_01:

Just because he's just such a cowboy, how he just goes out and catches them maverick bulls out in the deserts of Arizona and just he's a cowboy day in and day night. He's just I love everything about him.

SPEAKER_02:

That's cool. Have you got to do anything on ranches like besides out of the the rope and pin and stuff?

SPEAKER_01:

Well, me and Dad, we have we'll just go catch cows out in the pasture sometimes and just go rope them for people.

SPEAKER_02:

Oh, that's fun. Yes, sir. Yeah, that gets a little hairy at times, though. Oh yeah. Do you ride skid rock when you do that?

SPEAKER_01:

I do, yes, sir.

SPEAKER_02:

Are you a little cautious with them?

SPEAKER_01:

Oh yeah.

SPEAKER_02:

I bet. If um d do you remember the first time you either was in the practice pen or somewhere and like everything kind of clicked and it came together?

SPEAKER_01:

I actually do. It was at Cersei, Arkansas the week before or I guess the week leading up to it. I was just doing really good. It was when I was roping breakaway cavs first start, and I just was really roping good and at Cersei it just started clicking for me, and I was just it was just that light bulb went on in my head and I just started roping really good after that.

SPEAKER_02:

That's awesome. Were you on your old horse or skid rock?

SPEAKER_01:

I was on skid rock.

SPEAKER_02:

Oh, nice. Yeah, I don't see too many kids riding younger horses like that, so he must be be pretty special.

SPEAKER_01:

Yes, her dad put an amazing handle on him.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, sounds like you got an awesome dad.

SPEAKER_01:

I do.

SPEAKER_02:

That's great. You gotta take care of him. Remember him on Father's Day, okay?

SPEAKER_01:

Yes, sir.

SPEAKER_02:

Um, let's see. What else do we want to talk about? What um what do you enjoy at school? Anything besides PE?

SPEAKER_01:

Oh no, probably just all my friends at school and just getting to talk to them and just stuff like that.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, do any of your friends at school rodeo with you?

SPEAKER_01:

No, sir. No, that's not that's the only kind of I wouldn't say bad thing, but none of the people around my school rodeo or nothing like that.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, but the rodeo community's pretty, pretty close, right? Yes, sir. So even though, like, especially at the little britches, you're probably competing against a bunch of your friends.

SPEAKER_01:

Yes, sir. Cooper McDonald, he's one of my good friends, and Braxton Hall and Ridge Deere always compete against them, and they're just we're always supporting each other no matter what. If we go lay a good run, we hope the next person lays a better one, and it's just we're always supporting each other through everything we do, and we're just an amazing relationship with all of us.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, that's what I like about that, because we I talked to a lady that just got into it, and she was blown away how helpful all the other parents were, even though they were competing against it and everything. Yes, sir. And I don't think you see that too much in in the sports like at school. Even my six-year-old playing soccer. There's Yeah. I mean there's six years old playing soccer, but the parents kind of get get a little uh dicey at times and a little too intense for my liking.

SPEAKER_01:

They get pretty rank.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, exactly. Um, do you have any um there's probably some kids that listen to this that may have a horse, or even my kids that aren't into the competing and stuff. Do you have any advice for them if they, you know, if they see something like maybe they want to do that?

SPEAKER_01:

Yes, they're probably just staying hooked with it and having an open mind and a learning mindset and just staying humble, and there's gonna be blood, sweat, and tears in every practice session, and just staying hard at it and working hard and just doing everything you can do to be in that winter circle.

SPEAKER_02:

And try not to get frustrated.

SPEAKER_01:

You're gonna get frustrated. I still do it all the time, and it's just you always gotta have an open mind and wanting to learn mindset and just that so that don't happen.

SPEAKER_02:

Right. Right. And um when you're traveling, what do you what do you do to pass away at the time on the road? Homework?

SPEAKER_01:

I wouldn't say homework. I I'm not gonna lie. I sleep in the backseat sometimes.

SPEAKER_02:

That must be nice.

SPEAKER_01:

Yes, sir.

SPEAKER_02:

Um, John set all this up back here. We reached out to a bunch of the the companies we work with, and they were we told them we were gonna do this with you kids, and they were ecstatic. Yes. So you get to take all this with you today. Um hats, backpack, all this stuff. These people are stuff we use every day. Yes, sir. So and the Protect GI stomach health is something we preach about these horses, which you're doing really good with with the forage. That's yes, sir. There's there's three F's we preach for stomach health. Can you guess what they are besides forage?

SPEAKER_01:

I really don't know.

SPEAKER_02:

Friends and freedom. It's good for is your horse turned out at all?

SPEAKER_01:

Does he get to we have them in runs, which their runs ain't very big right now, but um it's just shed rows, really.

SPEAKER_02:

Better than locked in a little yes, a little stall. So I think the the stress of these guys, I mean it's stressful for you, and I'm sure your parents getting everything ready, but I mean horses get stressed too, so everything we can do to help help with that is is good. Has Skid Boot had any injuries since you've been riding him?

SPEAKER_01:

He hasn't.

SPEAKER_02:

That's good. Has he needed anything besides routine?

SPEAKER_01:

Um, we just give him gastroplex every now and then to drink on the road and stuff like that, but not that I know of. He really ain't needed anything.

SPEAKER_02:

That's good. That's good. I think when did your dad start him when he was three?

SPEAKER_01:

Yes, sir, around that age.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, I think a lot of them that get started earlier, they're just not ready. Yes, sir. And their bones and joints and everything take a take a beating before they're developed. So hopefully skid boot lasts lasts quite a while. Um so what's it mean to you? You've also got the cactus ropes and other sponsors. What's it what's it mean to you to be a sponsored writer and represent a company or a brand?

SPEAKER_01:

Yes, sir. It means everything just to be able to wear somebody else's brand on my shirt and representing them and having a good attitude and staying humble and making sure their brand gets represented really good.

SPEAKER_02:

That's awesome. It means not throwing a hissy fit when you miss, right? Yes, sir. Take it back to the practice in the dovey. Is there anything else you'd like to ask me about? Any health questions for the rodeo horses or anything?

SPEAKER_01:

No, sir, not that I know of. Just thank y'all for having me on and thank y'all for doing everything and like this for me. It's amazing what y'all are doing.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah. Well, we're happy to have you. It's a pleasure to talk to you, and thanks for taking the time to come up here and and visit. And thanks to your mom and dad for for bringing you up and waking you up at 4 a.m. Did he get up easy at four or did you drag him out of the house? Good. Good, good. I like to get up early too. It's the only time my house is quiet.

SPEAKER_01:

Yes, sir.

SPEAKER_02:

Besides at 1 a.m. But all right, well, Ty, thank you so much, and uh good luck out there this year. And if you need anything from us, don't hesitate to reach out. I think you guys got John's contact info. And for everybody watching, take care of your horses and yourself.

SPEAKER_01:

Thank you.

SPEAKER_02:

Thanks.

SPEAKER_00:

Bring a little black bag with the medicine and bring the crank in the crank in the medicine.