Kelsey Gascon and Shelby Epperson are the women you know as the Trixie Chicks Trick Riders. They can navigate the air space around a horse’s back as though there is an invisible jungle gym that they are simply climbing upon. They bring speed and shock to audiences everywhere.
Although both do several tasks to support their trick riding business, Kelsey is the owner and Shelby is the founder. Fast friends and complementary athletes, their paths have been inexplicably intertwined from the start. They attended Missouri State a year apart, and are now raising their daughters who will grow up three months apart in age.
Kelsey grew up in a non-horse family but became involved with horses around age 7. As her love for the creatures grew, she took riding lessons and volunteered with a therapeutic riding program. A lifelong athlete, she was immediately intrigued when she saw the way trick riding combined athletics, horses, and speed. Since that first glimpse at BreyerFest, she knew she wanted to become a trick rider. Her father purchased a broodmare and baby for her when she was 11, and later a 2-year-old horse to take her further. She was told the 2-year-old had been trained by a 13-year-old girl, and in an interesting twist of fate, she later discovered the other girl was none other than Shelby Epperson.
A native of Willard, MO, Shelby also fell in love with horses at an early age and would sneak over to her neighbors to ride. Her talent grew quickly and she began performing with an equestrian drill team. During the 2010 World Equestrian Games, a trick rider joined their team, and she found a new passion to pursue. A friendly sport for those with serious intentions, she found a new focus, and before long, Shelby started the Trixie Chicks.
In 2017, the girls traveled full time, covering over 65,000 miles and entertaining via 67 performances. Their taste for adventure was as fresh as ever, they did a good bit of sightseeing in each location and did everything from going whale watching to taking a hot air balloon ride to parasail on the Gulf.
Yet the adventures don’t simply exist outside the arena, and one of their more memorable performances was during the Angola Prison Rodeo in Louisiana. The Trixie Chicks were the first female act to ever perform at the rodeo. The prison sent a live feed to those in the cells while trustees and officials were allowed to watch in person. Shelby and Kelsey did their usual security check for the safety of themselves and the horses to discover the shape of the arena and the obstacles such as panels and gates that could be in the way.
While the public is outside the arena, several volunteers hold the trick riding tape and everyone is warned that their horses were so dedicated to their job that they would not stop regardless of the obstacle. In other words, if you broke the barrier and stood in the way, you would likely be slowed down by the horse serving its rider. Sure enough, when the warden of security was present as a bystander, he was plowed down by the horse. Thankfully, no one was hurt.
However, this is a prime example of the behind-the-scenes effort that goes into trick riding. The tricks must be designed for the horse and rider with height and weight ratio are taken into consideration. The horse is acting off a pattern with trained places to stop and verbal cues, as well as the knowledge they have to run fast and hard in between these designated stops to maintain momentum.
While the costumes and daring twists and turns seem to be the spectacular part, the equally amazing part is the physics and planning that goes on to allow the tricks to occur safely and smoothly. Shelby and Kelsey are utterly devoted to their horses’ well-being and won’t do certain tricks if the footing is unsafe or something is off.
Shelby and Kelsey also love sharing their sport and offer clinics to teach up-and-coming trick riders how to perform strategically.
Look for the Trixie Chick Riders performing or putting on a clinic near you. Their knowledge and flair for entertainment will surely delight you.
