Fifteen-year-old Lanie Brooks has been doing rodeo for ten years. Since then, she’s grown a few feet taller, has practiced A LOT, and has developed many skills in horseback riding, horse training, and a variety of rodeo events.
Those skills are exceptional, and as a result of her hard work, the Sparta High School student has been to nationals three times already. Brooks is looking forward to taking to the arena at the upcoming Monroe County Fair at the end of the month, celebrating her passion for horses and rodeo with her home community.
Brooks’ family has had a major part in helping her to develop into the rising star, rodeo athlete she is today. In fact, her grandfather Arlan Brooks, father Trent Brooks, Aunt Tara Schmitz and Uncle Nick Guy are all accomplished rodeo athletes. Arlan Brooks owns and operates Brooks Arena at 11503 Janus Ave in Sparta, where his family enjoys top-notch riding and training along with other rodeo lovers, with the scenic backdrop of the fields and forests of the Driftless region.
From a tender young age, Brooks has been around horses and rodeo.
“I probably started riding a walking horse around 3 years of age, and a running horse by age 5,” she said. Like other family members, she participates in roping, barrels and poles. Her her all-time favorite event is the poles.
“I love the speed of the poles,” Brooks said with a smile.
Brooks and her horse Rudy illustrated this sentiment with an action-packed performance, kicking up dust, with her hair and Rudy’s mane and tail flying behind them as they skillfully wove between the poles at top speed.
Beyond spending quality time with family and riding horses, Brooks said she loves how she gets to meet new people and experience new things with rodeo. Within the past few years, she’s been to Georgia and Iowa to compete in national rodeo competitions. The teenager has also competed in many other rodeos, too. The handmade leather saddles she’s won and uses with pride, the artisan-made belt she won, and the dozens of buckles and backtags she’s earned, each tell a story about the making of the young champion.
Although Brooks has plenty to be proud of as a powerful, champion athlete, she is also humble and kind. And when she is on her horse, she puts everything she’s got into it, every time. As they warm up, race, and dash across the arena together, the connection they have is clear.
In the fall, Brooks will return to academics as a sophomore at Sparta High School, where English is her favorite subject. When asked about her future, Brooks said she’d like to continue working with horses and continue in the sport.
“I can see myself always with horses,” she said. “I’d like to go to college and do college rodeo.”
Brooks grandmother Roberta Johnson said her granddaughter knows how to work with horses.
“Lanie has a way with horses,” Johnson said. “She’s trained Rudy from an easily frightened horse to the horse he is today. When Lanie’s riding Rudy, they become like one.”
Johnson said people have already approached Brooks about horse training opportunities. For now, Lanie is enjoying the summer spending time with friends and family, working at her summer job, and spending time with Rudy at the arena. At the end of July, she will return to the Monroe County Fair, where her family and community can cheer her on, as Sparta’s own rising star cowgirl.
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