Who Does She Think She Is!?

By The Average Jane Cowgirl | January 13, 2026

The gasps of disgust and annoyance. “Ugh! Who does she think she is!?” When coming up with an idea, trying something new, or simply voicing our opinion, we’ve all probably been there. People tend to lack the awareness that we are all our own individuals. Unique in our own ways. Entitled to live the lives that we envision for ourselves. The right to chase our dreams and freedoms regardless of the opinions of others. Why? Because it’s our life. Nobody else’s. Sound like a self-help book? Bear with me, I am not here to join that bandwagon. I have a point to prove or better yet, to reveal.

First impression, you all probably think I am trying to go big here. Become the next Fallon Taylor. Build an empire of self-sustained businesses, have a viral vlog, survive on social media income. A plan to change the world! Far from it. I am simply doing my part to keep rodeo alive and answer the questions so many of us are afraid to ask. For all of those striving to be special in the world, who are shooting their shot, or living to prove their point, I envy you. However, I am just a small-town girl, with a small idea. Hopefully that idea will impact people in a small enough way and make a small enough difference in the horse industry. If not, then I will mark my place in the content creator graveyard by blogging about my opinions and crazy ideas, that nobody cares about. Capeesh? Are you still with me? Here we go.

It’s hard to ponder what would even make any of us special. It seems like an impossible goal to achieve. Especially in a world where most has already been accomplished. Man landed on the moon, airplanes fly, and we have internet… thank God! But who would’ve thought? Great granny would have thought all of those things were impossible. Nowadays if you think about it, what possibly can be invented that already hasn’t been? What could someone possibly do, that someone else already hasn’t accomplished? Humans have achieved the impossible time and time again. It’s as though it all has already been done. At least that’s what we believe. Sound morbid? Slightly, if you are a dreamer. Could be detrimental for one to think about really. Especially if you aspire to be someone who makes their mark in history.

When one comes up with a “new” idea, guaranteed it’s already been done in some form or another. Essentially, we are just copying one person to the next applying miner tweaks to call the idea our own. Vlog your daily life, done. Build a social media presence, who hasn’t? Start a website, make YouTube videos, blog…oops, now I am just talking about myself and the five million other social media “influencers” in the world. You get my point, it’s already all been done. Everyone wants to be a famous content creator. Everyone wants to be noticed. Isn’t that life’s greatest mystery now? Who cares about flying cars or time travel. Everyone wants to be famous. Everyone wants to be special and noticed. Is it possible for someone to be special, if nobody ever notices them? Do the unnoticed, the average, the “copycats” have anything to offer this world? I think we do!

Unfortunately, nowadays, anyone can be famous for both good and bad reasons. The random viral Frenchie, a psychotic reality tv star, or a president who loves social media. There is no telling how someone achieves stardom these days. You could read the same play book of your favorite influencer and still have zero views. What gives?!

Yes, we all have something to offer. Our own spin and pazazz on this thing we call life. Doesn’t mean you’ll be noticed. Doesn’t mean anyone gives a shit about your opinion or what you are doing in your life. Doesn’t mean you will achieve your goals even if you spend your whole life chasing them. The world is cruel. It has a funny way of deciding. Don’t believe the Tik Toks you watch about how someone can achieve anything they put their minds to. The harsh reality is, we are not all cut from the same cloth so why would you convince yourself you have the same capabilities as someone who has achieved everything you have dreamed of. What if I had the desire to be a WNBA player? I am 31 years old with a 2” vertical. There is no manifesting that one. Even if I trained my whole life, this white girl can’t jump. Why would I waste years telling myself a lie instead of accepting the fact that it wasn’t meant to be. Some of us are funnier than others, more talented than others, more beautiful, more entertaining train wrecks… you get the point. We are all born with a unique set of skills that indeed make us special. Its finding your own specialness that counts, even if the world doesn’t notice. We all can’t be Kassie Mowery, Jackie Crawford, or Stetson Wright. Yes, excuse my references to my generation. There are many greats out there that could all be named as the history setters of the rodeo industry. These are just a few. The point is, no matter what horse we ride, how much money we have, the experiences we collect, or the years of knowledge we have to share, we are us and they are them. Does that mean we should all be shuffled away to an island and forgotten? Why would anyone waste time on us? Because the rodeo industry needs us! There needs to be enough entries, enough participation, enough content out there in the world to keep rodeo on the map. That’s what makes averages janes and joes so special after all. There are far more people in this world that can relate to the struggles of ninety-nine percent of the equine industry than the one percenters that we see on the Cowboy Channel or in the horse magazines.

So that leads to the questions. Who do I think I am? The simple answer, “I’m Kayla Ball!” and I, like many of you, am the Average Jane Cowgirl. I’m part of that ninety-nine percent. I am not someone who is naive to the fact that someone has already done this in one form or another. My spin on it is exposing the fact that anyone can rodeo. If I can do it, so can you. You don’t need to wait for the perfect horse or the perfect time. Just do it! When I first started rodeoing, I had no idea what I was doing. It took failure after failure before I even started to have an idea of what this whole thing was about. I was flying by the seat of my pants. I didn’t care about ground or having the “right” horse, I just got in the truck and entered. I realized how much easier it would have been to have some guidance along the way. Everything online was coming from the big leagues. It was like going from 0 to 10. There wasn’t much information out there for people at my level. Everyone talks about wanting to go and wanting to do but doesn’t know how to get started. I’m here to offer the knowledge and experience I have gained chasing my dreams. Offering a guide to those who might never make it but are willing to give it their best shot.

But I’m not ready?! Nobody is! It’s like having a baby, nobody is prepared for that until you do it. Think of rodeo as your screaming baby that keeps you up all night, is never satisfied, and takes all your money. Just kidding, it’s not that bad. It is not some special league of people with special skills. Everyone can rodeo. If that’s the dream, get after it! Like I said before rodeo needs us average janes. The 5D barrel racer or the 55% catch rate breakaway roper who shows up at every rodeo, donates the entry fee, loads up and heads home only to wash rinse and repeat. Although there are no buckles for us average Cowgirls who keep licking our wounds, the upside is at least you are helping pay someone’s bills. All those one percenters couldn’t do it without us. Be proud to be the couch jockey, the barrel betty, maybe even a buckle bunny. Our charitable donation is what they strive to take. Just think of how Yellowstone promoted the equine industry. It inspired so many city slickers to shop at Boot Barn. People who have never ridden a horse, now wanted to be a cowboy. Their views and merchandise purchases led to the success of the series. Why? Because everyone who didn’t know what they were doing wanted to live the dream. So, cheers to all of us who have no idea what we are doing but are going to live as though we do anyways. Sound like a wash? It isn’t! Although there are no participation ribbons, nobody can take away your experiences or the memories you make.

What could I possibly have to offer that hasn’t already been attempted in the equine industry. Maybe that’s not the goal. Maybe…I do have something I feel as though no one has yet to offer. The humbling perspective that I share the same human wonders and doubts of the average horse person. We aren’t all meant to be super stars, record breakers, or viral worthy citizens. What makes me unique is the ability and openness to speak about it. The confidence and acceptance of just being average. My fearlessness to ask dumb questions, be vulnerable about my failures, and get a whole bunch of things wrong. There’s a much bigger audience of individuals just like me, than there are those who have changed the equine industry all by themselves. We might not all stamp history but we sure as hell contribute and participate. I like to consider myself the reliable horse you pick in the barn to achieve any task but wouldn’t bet the farm for it to win the race. Do I wish I could see myself as Seabisquit on the racetrack? Of course, but no matter how much I envision it I have come to bet on myself. That my story is capable of being far greater, no matter how average it might be.

It begs the discussion of what indeed makes something so special. What draws the attention of others? How does one develop the capability of their voice being heard? It’s relatability. There is nothing more dangerous than the relatability of the average person. It might be hard to believe at first but there are thousands of racehorses all capable of running the race, and only one Seabisquit. Its time the story is told of all those who ran alongside him because within that mix, it’s possible the next Seabisquit is waiting to be born.

-Kayla Ball