BIG SPRING, Texas – Emmie and Jinsen Boyd do things about which most adults wouldn’t dream.
Emmie is 9, older than Jinsen by two years, and they perform before large crowds at a young age. In the arena with their mom, Summer, the Boyds are prolific horsewomen who showcase their talents and enthrall audiences across North America as trick riders as Summer & Co. Fearless Equine Stunts team.
The trio returns to the Big Spring Cowboy Reunion and Rodeo, set for 7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 19-Saturday, June 21, at the Surge Energy Rodeo Bowl.
“Doing this together as a family is every bit as wonderful as it seems like it would be,” Summer Boyd said. “I don’t think I would be doing it if not for them also being interested in doing it with me. It makes all the difference in the world, and it’s fun to do it with them.”
The Boyds were a big hit last June when they performed in front of the energized crowd inside the historic rodeo bowl. That makes their adventure back to Howard County even more invigorating for the family. They will be joined by returning funnyman Justin Rumford, a 10-time winner of the PRCA Clown of the Year who has been recognized as one of the elite entertainers in ProRodeo.
“The whole experience last year was great,” Boyd said. “It was a great crowd, a great committee and a great community. We just love being in Big Spring. In fact, my oldest said, ‘I think this may be one of my favorite rodeos just because of all those reasons.’
“We really just enjoyed that community.”
The rodeo bowl features a unique setting, where the crowd is virtually on top of the action. It makes for a great experience for fans, who are there to see a high-caliber performance from the athletes and the entertainers. That atmosphere, though, is just as incredible to folks like the Boyds, who work about 20 rodeos a year.
“I think we adapt to a variety of arenas we work in,” she said. “I think it’s a really important quality to build and adapt to who you’re catering to, who you’re with and what you’re around. I feel like adaptability and being easy to work with are two really important things in what we do. I also love a rodeo committee that is willing to grow.
“They want to make it a better rodeo. Some places we go, the committee might be more close-minded because that’s the way things have always been done. The committee in Big Spring had some big ideas and good ideas and are willing to learn from others around them.”
Being flexible also allows Boyd and her family to develop the right kind of show. There’s something special about seeing young girls do incredible tricks while horseback.
“I try to match the girls with the horses based on speed and what that girl is doing at the time,” Boyd said. “My 7-year-old doesn’t need a horse with as much speed as the 9-year-old does. Emmie is Roman riding this year, so she has two little black ponies for that. She used to trick ride on one of them. She outgrew the pony she was using last year, so she passed it on to my youngest.
“We have a pretty good assortment, but the thing I found is keeping all three of us in horses is like slave labor. It’s as much work as trick riding, probably more. I’m always working on a new horse to see who is going to end up fitting and where we can slide it in.”
It’s a labor of love, and the proof is in the smiles of each of their faces as they perform their stunts and skills. The trio works to perfect each maneuver and each opportunity to work closely with their horses. Being from Lovington, New Mexico, they have a good understanding of what they’re going to experience in mid-June in Big Spring.
“We’re somewhat acclimated to the heat, because my oldest makes us practice no matter what the weather’s like,” Boyd said with a laugh. “It’s never too hot or never too cold for us, because the chances are she’s already made us practice in that weather.”
Come snow or heat or dark of night, the Boyds will be ready for what the fans in Howard County want to see when it comes to rodeo week.