By Rich Winter 

605 Sports

MARTIN — As Martin’s Isabel Risse got ready for the short go in the goat tying competition at the National High School Finals Rodeo she remembers feeling nerves like she’s never felt before. 

She sought out the advice of her father Rocky. 

“That was the first time I’ve ever told my dad that I was really nervous,” Isabel Risse said. “I’m always a little nervous but there were so many people in the crowd and I wanted a good run to put pressure on the top girls.” 

Her dad calmed her down with a little, ‘Just breathe, it’s just another goat’ advice.  

Just before the short go at the National High School Finals rodeo, Isabel Risse sought advice from her dad, Rocky - Photo courtesy of Bonnie Law

Risse entered the short go tied for 12th place. A good run could move her into the top-ten. A great run might yield something special. 

Risse laid down a scorching fast run of 7.59 second, vaulting her into first place in the average with 13 riders yet to go. 

“I had a great goat and after I got done some of the other girls started messing up,” she said. “Everyone kept coming up to me and telling me that I was still sitting first in the average.” 

Risse’s run was the 2nd-fastest of the short go and her three-run total of 24.13 seconds made her the third best high school goat tyer in the world. 

A remarkable run for a young lady that only got to know the horse ‘Princess’ in early May. 

“She’s ten years old and my older sister Elie bought what was deemed a ‘reject riding horse’,” Risse said. 

Once the Risse’s got a better look at the horse, Princess caught the eye of Isabel and Elie’s sister, Mary who uses the horse for goat tying and breakaway roping at Tarleton State University. 

With Mary Risse done with college for the year, Isabel and ‘Princess’ started working together in early May of 2022. 

The results weren’t spectacular in the early going. 

“It was a lot different than my old horse and it took a lot of time for us to click and get our rhythm and everything to be smooth,” Risse said. 

The pair earned 30 points at their regional rodeos and did just enough to qualify for the national finals with a 4th place finish in the goat tying competition at the South Dakota High School Rodeo Finals. 

As the summer progressed Risse and her horse continued to gain familiarity with each other. 

“We ran a lot of goats to really get familiar with where and how to get off,” Risse said. “I did a lot of running and short sprints so that I would be ready after getting off the horse.”

Just prior to the national finals Risse did very well at Wall’s PRCA rodeo in front of a big crowd. 

“Doing well in Wall gave me confidence,” she said. “I had never been on that stage before and I felt like it prepared me for the big stage.” 

A terrific performance at Wall's PRCA rodeo gave Risse confidence as she headed to the National Finals High School Rodeo in Gillette, Wyoming - Photo courtesy of Bonnie Law

Team South Dakota had an excellent run in the goat tying at the National High School Finals Rodeo. Jaysee Jones of Howes finished in 8th place at the national finals while Spearfish’s Brylee Grub was 19th in the average. 

“I couldn’t be prouder of being from South Dakota and having the opportunity to compete against other states that have a lot more rodeos than we do,” she said. “Last week (Team South Dakota finished in 6th place in the team competition) we showed that we can compete at the highest level. I think a lot of South Dakota kids did well because they have the work ethic to be really good.” 

Isabel Risse is the youngest of Rocky and Joan Risse’s eight children. All have participated in rodeo. The youngest sibling has learned from her family and has a deep level of appreciation for the work that goes on between horse and rider. 

“I think for me my favorite thing about rodeo is working with an animal,” she said. “You don’t come across a very good horse very often so it’s really special to rodeo and win on something like that.”

Risse is a 2022 graduate of Bennett County High School and plans to attend Black Hills State this fall on a rodeo scholarship.