LIFE IN THE FAST LANE Tessa Arnold Making Headlines in Rookie Season By Brittany Gunn W omen’s Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA) Rookie Tessa Arnold started off the 2024 season with a bang.
Riding an eight-year-old bay gelding named “Ditto” Latte, the pair turned in the fastest time of 14.50 seconds on the 2024 pattern at the National Western Stock Show and Rodeo (NWSS). The 2024 pattern resulted in some fast times including Chelsea Moore with a 14.68 second run. It got even faster with four-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR) World Champion Hailey Kinsel with 14.63 seconds before Arnold shocked everyone with her 14.50 second run. “Being young and competing with influential barrel racers can be hard, but it’s what pushed me to ride and go the extra mile that day,” she said. “Being able to clock up there with Chelsea and Hailey was an amazing feeling.” For the 20-year-old Coleman, Texas native and Weatherford College student, it was only a matter of time for the stars to align to bring the friendship of Mary and Byron Walker. In 2012, at the age of 53, Mary qualified for her first Wrangler NFR and brought home the world championship title to While the Walkers grew their equine family after losing their only son in 2011, a young upcoming barrel racer would soon enter their lives. “My dad was a steer wrestler for quite a while, but if it wasn’t for my mom, I probably wouldn’t be riding,” said Arnold. “I’m super grateful my parents exposed me to the atmosphere of horses and rodeo because I truly enjoy it and it brought me some amazing friendships.” After conversations with her dad and 10- time Wrangler NFR steer wrestler Todd Fox at Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo, Arnold soon found herself moving in with the Walkers to ride their horses. In 2023, Arnold started filling her WPRA permit aboard Watch My Swagger, nicknamed Bobby Lee; a horse also owned by the Walkers.
WPRA Rookie Tessa Arnold made headlines at the National Western Stock Show and Rodeo in Denver when she stopped the clock in 14.50 seconds during the semifinal round. She laid down the fastest run of 2024 and did so aboard a clone of the great bay gelding Perculatin “Latte” that carried Mary Walker to her first world title in 2012. Ditto is now looking to carry Arnold to not only a Rookie of the World title but a trip to the Thomas and Mack. Photo by Greg Westfall (Ric Andersen Photography)
Ennis, Texas atop her bay gelding Perculatin, otherwise known as “Latte.” As a son of Curiocity Corners and Silver Lucky Buck, the Walkers decided to clone their horse with the help from Via-Gen in Cedar Park, Texas. This union came not one but several clones over the years, with Ditto being the first.
In late July/early August of 2023, Mary passed the reins of her prized horse Ditto on to Arnold where the duo went on to win the Permit Finals in Waco in October, just in time to start her rookie season. In years to come, the barrel racing industry may see several clones
of the Latte bloodline, but for Arnold, her friendship with the Walkers and their horses will always be a large part of her story. “It’s exciting to be able to get on some amazing horses and be where I’m at,” she said. “For me to follow in Mary’s footsteps is a lot to think about most days, but I’m so thankful to have my faith and an amazing support system. Mary and Byron have helped me so much and have played a big part in my success.” For other young girls looking to follow in her footsteps she said, “Don’t look back. What’s in the past is in the past for a reason. You can’t control what has been done, always look ahead.” As a Mountain States Circuit member, Arnold hopes to run for gold at both the Mountain States Circuit Finals and Wrangler NFR and become a rookie world champion.
2012 World Champion Mary Walker proudly shows off her world champion horse Perculatin “Latte” (right) and the clone that is now carrying Tessa Arnold to new heights known as “Ditto” Latte (left). Photo courtesy Mary Walker
22 WPRA NEWS MARCH 2024
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