It’s a lifetime of work and following in the footsteps of the Navajo greats that have gone before her. Before she ever qualified to compete inside it, she watched the first year of breakaway roping inside Dickies Arena from the “nosebleed” seats. Now, she claimed the Fort Worth title. “I remember thinking that it would be cool to rope there one day, then boom, here we are,” Lowman said. “I was able to just soak in those vibes and go and compete at this level. The industry is growing so fast. Just staying in it and watching my fellow competitors that I’ve always grown up around like Derek (Begay), Erich (Rogers) and A.T. (Aaron Tsinigine), the Native Americans that were doing good in the arena, that was our purpose, doing the best we could.” There is a grand history of Native Americans that have succeeded in rodeo, and
The quick times Danielle Lowman posted on the second day of the Wrangler National Finals Breakaway Roping in Las Vegas was just a precursor to what we would witness during the start of her 2024 season. In Fort Worth she came out on fire with times of 1.8 and 1.6 to lead the way in Bracket 7 and advance to the semifinals. In the semifinals she would snag a fourth-place finish to land in the final round where she stopped the clock in 1.8 seconds to win the grand prize. Photo by Rodeobum.com, James Phifer
better. I’ve really focused on my roping ability and my horses a whole lot more.” Her style is working. When she acquired her horse, Shibiz, from Shelby Boisjoli-Meged two years ago, the two had to learn how to work together. There was some training Lowman had to do with the horse and with herself. “It would set myself up on that platform to show Native American kids that it’s possible to see your dreams come true if you believe in yourself and go after it.” “She had to learn the style of our roping, and now it’s like we’re in sync with what style we like,” she said of the 9-year-old sorrel mare. “My family and I purchased her three years ago, and since then, it’s been a work in progress.” That seems to be a common theme, but the production is paying off. At San Antonio, Lowman had a 1.6-second run to win the second round of Bracket 4, which helped her to the semifinals. She didn’t have much luck there, so she was forced to the Wildcard round, where she tagged another 1.6-secod run to advance to the championship round. A third 1.6 secured the title, and she had $22,500 in her account when she left the Alamo City. “Those brackets are tough,” she said. “All I did was play it by ear and let the pieces fall where they needed to, and luckily it worked out. Being 1.6 was a lucky number there for me.” Fortuitous as it may seem, Lowman took advantage of her situation.
she is adding her name to that list. Being on the breakaway roping mountaintop in the spring is great, but being there at the end of the season is what matters most. “It would mean the world to me just to accomplish that goal alone,” Lowman said. “It would set myself up on that platform to show Native American kids that it’s possible to see your dreams come true if you believe in yourself and go after it.” Danielle Lowman was all smiles when talking to Katy Lucas of the Cowboy Channel after her first big Texas win at the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo. She left Dickies Arean with a grand total of $24,750 in earnings. Photo by Rodeobum.com, James Phifer
MARCH 2024 WPRA NEWS 13
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