In the “interesting similarities department”, I spent a fair amount of time at the horse racing tracks in Southern California as a youth. Come to find out that Waylynn has been around horses for most of her life, starting with a family business training racehorse in Southern California.

Waylynn shared with me the backstory to that picture. You could almost hear the Harley and the thundering hoofs of the horse. The juxtaposition of the iron horse and the real horse racing through the dust really spoke to me. It featured a bald-headed guy on a 1930 something Harley Davidson panhead along with a woman wearing a hat, long hair blowing back in the dust as she races on horseback. Waylynn and I talked about a very cool photograph from Chris Dickinson. (Yes – they tasted as good as they looked). It didn’t hurt my feelings when she came bearing gifts of homemade salted chocolate chip cookies and Strawberry Buttermilk loaf. It will take you places you never though were possible.” What is his message? He told me “I truly believe that hard work will never cheat you.

The road to recovery has given Braxten the motivation to share his story and help others. It kinda took the heartbreak off bareback riding.” this one in particular, I won after my accident. He told me about this specific buckle, with a big grin. These buckles are basically the trophies of the rodeo sport. Less than 2 years since his accident, he is now competing in calf roping. I’ll take every little inch and I’m okay with it.”īraxten Nielsen’s inspiring journey redefines the expression ‘Getting Back on the Horse’. He told me “It’s definitely different, but I’m walking. The doctors gave him a 5% chance to ever walk again. The amazing thing is that the interview was in a riding barn in Spanish Fork…and Braxten was standing in front of me. Braxten has 5 fused vertebra, 2 rods, 8 screws, numbness in his right leg and can’t feel his left foot…but as he puts it, miracles happen. My T12 and my L1, paralyzing me from the waist down. Unfortunately, Braxten described this first-hand “The circumstance was a little different this time. Let’s face it, it’s a dangerous sport as well. Braxten described it this way “I think rodeo has been one of the most mentally tough sports I’ve honestly done.” This is what I want to become is a bareback rider” he said. Right then and there I said, that’s what I want to do. I asked him what it was like the first time he got on a bucking bronco. I’m grateful for that opportunity in a small town like that.”īraxten has compete as bareback rider in over 150 rodeos. It’s taught me to be resilient and responsible. Braxten Nielsen is grateful he grew up on a farm in Roosevelt, Utah. We also visit the Nye Family dairy farm along with the music of Chris Petersen. In this episode of Jessop’s Journal we horse around with a number of powerful, positive and inspirational folks including Bareback Rodeo Rider Braxten Nielsen and Food Network Star Waylynn Lucas. ( DOUG JESSOP – JESSOP’S JOURNAL) Pioneer Day – The phrase conjures images of wagon trains, rodeos and, of course, parades.

Journal now