Ep 146: When Preparation Meets Opportunity with Rayne Grant
You’ve heard the saying, “success happens when preparation meets opportunity.” For this 18 year old cowgirl, success showed up in a big way at the 2022 National High School Finals Rodeo.
Rayne Grant, a senior from Wheatland, Wyoming, captured the coveted NHSRA All-Around Championship title, Pole Bending National Championship, Barrel Racing Reserve National Championship, and 11th in the nation in Goat Tying – all with three fractured vertebrae in her back.
This young cowgirl is the epitome of how perseverance, preparation and passion lead to massive results. Rayne has a bright future ahead, and we are honored to have her share her wisdom with us on this show. Here are a few highlights from our conversation:
Phil: There are a lot of young girls out there who look at what you’ve accomplished with great admiration. If you had one piece of advice for yourself a few years ago, what would you tell her?
Rayne: Just have fun. It’s so simple, yet one of the most important things you can do as a competitor. I’ve seen people who are really talented and really passionate about what they do, but sometimes, it can become an obsession. Once it reaches that point, the fun gets stripped away. I’ve noticed that I’m at my best when I am happy and really loving each part of what I’m doing.
Phil: Talk to us about how you prepare for this level of competition.
Rayne: Preparation is the absolute most important part of rodeo. It’s a commitment, and it’s a long game. This year, something really clicked for me in the way that I prepare. I told myself that I was just going to focus on making my run each time. By the end of it, I knew that I had put the work in that needed to be done to reach my goals. I don’t want to sound cocky in any way, but I knew I had done what it took to finish at the top. I was confident in my preparation, and that confidence was everything.
Phil: What’s next for Rayne Grant? What are your plans moving forward?
Rayne: I am really wanting to get into training futurity horses. We had a conversation earlier this year about my plans, Phil, and I asked you, “what should my Plan B be?” You told me, “the best Plan B is not to have one.” That really stuck with me, and it’s made me look at my future goals with so much more intention. Of course, I am still planning to go to college and get a degree, but I want to be all in with my training goals. It’s what I love to do, and it’s what I’m passionate about.
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