A rough stock rider and receptionist

When Tierra LaFranier, was born 28 years ago, the oldest of eight siblings, she was supposed to be a boy who would follow in her father Tommy’s footsteps of being a top Northern Cheyenne bull rider. Despite her feminine gender, Tommy decided to make her into a cowboy anyway.

“She’s turned out to be a pretty good hand,” he says, giving an ultimate cowboy compliment.

“There was no girly-phase for me growing up,” she observed flashing a wide smile.

Tommy has been successful in that Tierra is now a saddle bronc rider (the only female from Northern Cheyenne to do so) competing in Ranch Bronc riding, an event offered at many “open” rodeos, not yet sanctioned as an Indian Rodeo event. She has won some money, but not a buckle yet. “There aren’t too many events like that for just women, so you have to travel,” she explained. “In North Dakota they have a whole summer series, but I can’t afford to go up there every week.”

A few other girls from other Tribes are doing the same thing and those other riders have formed a rodeo friendship, the type which often endures for years. Often, the event is co-ed, in that the women compete against men. “It’s not about your gender,” she explained. “It’s about your try (grit and determination), balance and ability to ride.”

Tierra spent many hours in the saddle while growing up, mostly ranch work, but dabbling in barrel racing, an event she really didn’t like anyway “since it is so “girly.” She also starts colts, takes horses from other people to “put miles” on them and works with problem equines. “My happiest hours have always been on the back of a horse,” she confided.

In her early twenties, Tierra was a frequent sight on Indian racetracks, jockeying in both match races and Indian Relay.  She primarily rode for the David Roundstone team, Northern Cheyenne, but also once was selected to jockey for the “Bru Crew” Team, a top Lakota team from the Dakotas.

As Tierra explained, the after-race environment in Indian relay often involves alcohol and drinking. “I fell into that for a while,” she candidly admitted. Some owners (not David Roundstone, who is a tribal judge) she said like to pay in alcohol. Thus, young Tierra went on a brief walk down the fast lane.

During that time, one of her close cousins committed suicide by which she was greatly troubled. “I withdrew, starting drinking more and all but quit riding horses,” she said.

With surprising candor, she shared a very personal experience which changed her life. “One night, I was at home, secretly (or so I thought) drunk in my bedroom. Overwhelmed by the situation I tried to shoot myself.”

Fortunately, Tommy was home.  “He beat the crap out of me,” Tierra recalled, “the only way he could express his feelings then – love and fear. But what really shamed me was having my Grandfather Arnold Lafranier witness that. It sort of broke his heart. And mine too.”

Still, Tierra is thankful for her father’s intervention. “It is good to have a parent push you in the right direction.”

With that dramatic wake-up call, Tierra sobered up, now celebrating four years of being clean. “I’m back to horses now, working with Dad. We try to help people whenever we can,” she said. “That is important.”

Along the road to sobriety Tierra met a new friend, Chanelle Martin, also a Northern Cheyenne working cowgirl. In the 1960’s Chanelle’s grandmother Caroline Martin was once the Sheridan, Wyoming rodeo queen and participated in the flag carrying during the world-famous Sheridan, Wyoming parade where hundreds of different flags are presented by cowgirls who are on horseback and clad in glitzy matching costumes, a highlight viewed by thousands from across the world. Chanelle followed in her Grandmothers steps and became a flag carrier in turn recruiting Tierra “just when she needed it most.” Chanelle and Tierra are the only Northern Cheyenne in the group of 42 flag carriers at that event which requires a shiny, well-trained horse and hours of drills.

Chanelle’s grandfather, Larry Martin, Sioux was also a top saddle bronc rider of that era, making the whole Martin clan great saddle bronc fans and supporters, including for Tierra.  Tierra said of Chanelle who has a squeaky- clean reputation, a small business owner “When I was drinking, I wouldn’t even talk to a person like her, but now she is like a big sister.”

A few years ago, at the beginning of her bronc riding career during the Northern Cheyenne 4th of July Rodeo, Tierra found herself in a terrible wreck after getting tromped by a big stout horse that had dumped her (as shown in the photo for this article), resulting in four broken ribs and a punctured lung.

After that incident, Tierra declined an ambulance ride and instead recruited a friend to drive her to the Crow/Northern Cheyenne I.H.S. hospital, where she spent time due to her injured lung. As she put it, “Ain’t a darn thing to do about busted ribs. Every cowboy/girl learns that. You have to be tough if you’re going to do dumb things.”

A few days later, Tierra was called upon to pack flags at the Sheridan-WYO parade, which she did. “Can’t let your friends down.”

When asked how painful it was, she smiled. “I threw the saddle up myself and mounted okay, but packing those flags was irritating. I had to use the arm on the side where the ribs were broken.”

Tierra has been working since high school graduation – her whole life as she says. Presently, she is an I.H.S. Intake clerk at the Lame Deer Clinic, her smiling face in person or her pleasant voice on the phone presenting a good first impression for that facility. Except for the short half-hour lunches, she finds it a good job with decent pay. 

On the other hand, her real work starts back at the LaFranier ranch. You may not be surprised to hear

that usually involves horses. 

(Contact Clara Caufield at acheyennereivew@gmail.com)

 

 

 

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