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Casey and Shane Larson claim to be. And they have more than a few ten-gallon hats to back it up, too.
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At 5-foot-4, 125 pounds, Shane, 15, rides angry bulls and broncos for what has to be the most daring eight seconds in sports. And he claims his size works to his advantage.
“It’s kind of an advantage because I don’t have as much body to control when I’m riding,” he said.
A few inches taller but just as slight, Casey, 17, chases down goats on horseback before finishing the job with a full-speed dismount, rope and tie. She also zigzags through seven poles, up and back twice, on her bay-colored gelding, in less than 30 seconds.
Big sister and kid brother, Casey and Shane Larson are a rodeo cowgirl and cowboy from Independence.
“We started riding horses before we could walk,” Casey said. “You can start rodeos when you’re 6 years old, so we started rodeos when we were six.”
They come from a rodeo family. Casey and Shane’s father, aunt, uncle and younger brother have also competed in rodeos.
“We practice together,” Casey said of the brother-sister bond. “It’s nice to have someone with you at rodeos, too.”
Most of the gang will mosey down to Spring-field, Ill., on Sunday to watch the two spend the week competing at the 59th Annual National High School Finals Rodeo. That’s as big as it gets for someone from Indepen-dence — the NHSFR is the world’s largest rodeo.
About 1,500 contestants from 40 states, five Canadian provinces and Australia will ride, rope and wrangle for $200,000 in prizes, $325,000 in college scholarships and the chance at becoming a national champion. Casey and Shane passed through regional and state rodeos for spots on the Wisconsin high school rodeo team.
“There’s about 150 kids you’re competing against in each event,” Shane said. “So I really don’t have many goals, just go down there and do the best I can.”
When the rodeo’s over, Casey and Shane hang up their boots and play traditional sports at Independence High School. Both play basketball. Casey also plays volleyball.
“You have to practice everyday just like a regular sport,” Casey said. “And you have to have good behavior in order to ride. And good grades.”
One slight difference: sports become a lot less dangerous when 2,000 pound animals are taken out of the equation.
Shane has broken an assortment of bones at rodeos. Ticked off bulls and broncos have claimed broken bones in his wrist, shoulder and back. Casey has taken too many sprains and bruises to count.
“Basketball is more working out,” Shane said. “But not half as much stuff happens to your body as when you’re riding.”
All in a day’s work for a cowgirl and cowboy from Independence.
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