Washington County Enterprise-Leader
Fox Carries Traditional Values
LINCOLN — Rodeo has not always been a part of Shayla Fox’s life, but now dominates her every waking moment especially leading up to the 2015 Miss Lincoln Riding Club queen competition.
In addition to working on queening, every weekend she has practice for her drill team, the Regulators, which she says is always a blast. Being a member of the LRC Regulators precision drill team has improved her horsemanship and cowgirl skills.
“I have learned so much more about horses and life in general from the women on the drill team,” Shayla said. “Participating in rodeos has taught me so much more about good horsemanship than I ever thought possible.”
She is one of 18 riders who showcase drill performances at local rodeos and horse festivals doing high speed patterns on horseback. They have a lot of fun and strive to put on a great performance for the audience representing Lincoln Riding Club at events and tend to receive a lot of positive feedback.
“Our drill also represents many different local business around the northwest Arkansas area who are proud to have us flying their logos in the team’s performances,” Shayla said.
Shayla is the 16 year old daughter of Forrest Fox and Fannie Davenport. She is an honor student with superb grades and this has won her many academic awards as a sophomore at Lincoln High School. Shayla hopes to one day become a veterinarian and is currently a proud member of the Lincoln FFA. She participates in many different FFA events, and she is on the poultry judging team. Besides going to competitions at district and local schools, she has shown many different types of livestock at the Washington County Fair. All of this adds up to a lot of fun memories and as a bonus, Shayla has won her fair share of ribbons and trophies including several purple and blue ribbons showing her shorthorn heifers.
Shayla has been in the saddle for 13 years, having started riding by herself when she was 3-years-old. One of her horses is a registered racking horse, a gaited breed. His name is Captain and Shayla says “he’s her world.” Captain is a red sabino Shayla has owned for three years.
“Captain is a very tall boy, standing 16.2 hands high,” Shayla explained. “I also have a registered quarter horse named Cadillac. He is a gorgeous palomino, standing at 15.3 hands high. Cadillac is a calm trustworthy horse.”
Shayla has owned Cadillac about four months. He is an ex-barrel horse.
“Becoming Miss Lincoln Riding Club Rodeo would give me the opportunity to represent our proud little hometown,” Shayla said. “I may not have had the opportunity to grow up in a rodeo family, but I am a hometown girl with traditional values who grew up in a home that was not afraid of hard work.”
If she is selected as Miss Lincoln Riding Club Rodeo, Shayla will be grateful for a privilege to carry the Lincoln Riding Club flag.
“Promoting the
name is something I would be honored to do,” Shayla said. “I also hope to learn more about horses and further my horsemanship.”