JUGGLING LIFE WITH A ROPE IN HAND Domer Dominates in Fort Smith By Joe Kusek P acking used to be much more simpler. Not that long ago, it didn’t take Kelsie
Domer long to load up her trailer for extended trips on the rodeo road. She’d take enough clothes for 10 days, maybe two weeks, along with a good amount of food items. For her horse, Domer made sure there was plenty of hay, grain and other necessities. But things have changed. Domer is no longer packing for one. The cowgirl’s fan club grew with the birth of her daughter Oaklynn Rae on August 22, 2022. Oaklynn Domer is now part of the traveling party.
“Now we have diapers, formula, baby food, clothes … she might use one outfit a day or might go with three … we have toys, all kinds of stuff,” said Domer, formerly Kelsie Chace. She married Ryan Domer in November of 2021. The family calls Dublin, Texas home. “She’s the littlest thing and takes up the most room,” Domer finished with a laugh. One thing has remained constant among the new chaos of getting ready. Domer never travels without her ropes. She threw out a time of 1.7 seconds to win the breakaway roping at Fort Smith, Arkansas. The rodeo was May 29-June 3 at Harper Stadium. There were five ropers with time of 2.0 or better and nine competitors were 2.1 or faster. Domer earned $4,861. “It’s awesome,” she said of the victory. “It’s really good money. You get a check like that every two weeks, that’s really good. It’s the perfect way to start the summer.” Domer also won Fort Smith in 2021 and would go on qualify for the National Finals Breakaway Roping in Las Vegas and finish fourth in the WPRA world standings. “I feel comfortable there,” she said. Domer was up in slack and another competitor had a video of the calf she had drawn. “That was the best run I’ve ever had,” she stated. “It was just great. Everything was sharp. It’s hard to beat rounds like those.” It’s a strong declaration from a competitor who is a nine-time WPRA world champion across three categories: breakaway roping (2017-2019); tie-down roping (2012, 2018); all-around (2012, 2017, 2020-2021).
Kelsei Domer finding balance between family and rodeo and doing so at a high and profitable level. Domer took home the breakaway roping title and winning paycheck at the Old Fort Days Rodeo in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Photo by Phillip Kitts
She also set the arena record earlier this year at the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo with a time of 1.6 seconds. Domer won Fort Smith aboard Little Man, a 19-year-old chestnut gelding registered as Kits Tiana Play. “He’s the fastest horse I’ve ever ridden. That’s his main deal,” said the owner. “But he acts like a six-year-old. He is very high strung. He wears me out trying to get him to warm up. He’s ready to go. He doesn’t want to waste any time.” This year is an extra team effort. Domer’s mother Lisa Chace accompanied her through the short round at Reno. Her aunt, Lori Porter, was going to jump in the rig to help, with Domer’s husband joining them later in the summer. Last year, Domer roped until May before pulling off the road to await the newest addition to the family. She returned to the arena five weeks after Oaklynn’s birth and finished 20th in the WPRA world standings. “It absolutely changes you,” said Domer of motherhood. “Now there are a lot more important things to me. Rodeo is important, it’s the way I make my living. But I can do other things. When I was pregnant and roping, I didn’t have a care. I was going to have this person and nothing can top that. “She doesn’t know any different when she reaches out with her arms whether you won a million dollars or had a no time.” Domer said her summer schedule will be, “Week to week,” depending on Oaklynn. “I will do my best to make the NFBR again. Depends on what we get done this summer.”
22 WPRA NEWS JULY 2023
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