You may remember hearing about the versatile talents of saddle maker and steer wrestler Pat Hooper. In addition to his successes, he and his wife are passing their legacy on to their two young children and encouraging them to follow their dreams.
Pat and April Hooper’s daughter, Avery, is ten years old this year and has more self-motivation and drive than plenty of adults. Whether she is in the classroom, on the softball field, on the dance stage, or on her barrel racing horse, Avery is going to put on a show.
Avery excels in school and has a special interest in science. She’s polite and smart, and as her dad says “She’s just a good lady.”
Avery may only be ten, but she already has a few years of experience under her belt. She started playing softball as a six-year-old and started riding horses when she was five years old. She was then recruited by two travel softball teams, tried out and made them both, and continues to be a utility player with a special focus on pitching and first base. She has dreams of one-day playing softball for the University of Oklahoma (OU).
Avery started barrel racing on a horse named Pistol who came from one of her mom’s friends. Pistol was originally a problem horse, but when around Avery, he is just as good as gold. Recently, Avery got a step-up horse from steer wrestler Jacob Edler named Spirit.
Avery has made her debut at the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo as well as many local open rodeos and at the Four States Association.
In addition, she is a competitive dancer in the hip-hop and jazz scene and loves to swim. She also enjoys helping her dad with saddles by doing some of the painting work. He has made several fancy saddles for his little cowgirl with her favorite colors that she rides in proudly.
Avery has no fear and has never had much use for toys or watching cartoons. Even when she was really little she wanted to be dancing or doing something constructive. Today, she is her dad’s workout buddy and is not phased by anything–diving right into every workout never complaining, and wanting to do everything she can to improve and chase her dreams.
With her level of motivation and natural ability, I think she will see her dream of playing softball for the University of Oklahoma (OU) realized.
All photo credit to respective photographers.
