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Carson Hildre rakes to the riggin’ for World Bareback Ridng Title. [Photo: 4-C Photography]
Three young North Dakotans recently showed the rest of the world they have what it takes.
World Champion again—
Bringing home a world title doesn’t happen for most people, but for Carson Hildre, he just did it a second time. His repeat of a world championship materialized at the National Little Britches Rodeo Association (NLBRA) Finals held at the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Oklahoma this past July 2-8, 2023.
The cowboy from Velva, North Dakota earned the ‘NLBRA Bareback Riding World Champion’ when he won the short go in the bareback riding. Back in 2021 during his 8th grade year of junior high rodeo, he spurred steers to the top for his first national championship in the bareback steer riding.
It’s in his DNA. Hildre was born to ride bareback horses. [Photo: submitted]
“I started riding bareback horses because of my grandpa, Jim Hystad, who got me into the rough stock, and I fell in love with bareback riding,” said the champ. “The highlight of the finals was winning the short go and the world, but the experience of riding different bucking horses and meeting new people was the best experience I could ask for.”
Rodeo roots run deep in Carson’s blood from his grandfather, parents, and sisters. Carson’s grandfather, Jim Hystad of Velva, owns and operates J-H Timed Event Cattle and has been involved in rodeos as long as his family can remember. “He has always been involved in rodeo from one aspect to another — from being a competitor (bareback and bull riding) back in the day, bull fighter/clown, judge, pickup man, and now stock contractor,” said Carson’s mother, Jennifer Hystad Hildre, Velva.
In 2022, Carson was crowned the reserve bareback riding champion in both the North Dakota Rodeo Association (NDRA) and the Roughrider Rodeo Association (RRA). The Velva Aggie is currently topping the bareback riding standings of the NDRA and RRA.
Carson seems to like being in the top spot. He is also a 132 pound force on the wrestling mat, where he earned the title of the 2023 Class B State Champion.
The cowboy says he will be setting his sights on being a two-time national high school bareback riding champion, competing in college, and aiming for the National Finals Rodeo.
Carson also competes in tie-down roping and team roping. When he isn’t chasing the rodeo trail or pinning the next wrestler, he helps his dad build post frame pole barns at Hildre Construction, Inc and helps put up hay for his grandpa. He said he takes delight in hunting and fishing across the prairies of North Dakota. He is the son of Marty and Jennifer Hildre and the proud brother of Kylie Hildre and Reagan Sedivec.
Carson Hildre and Ashtyn Klatt, the World Champs. [Photo: submitted]
Ashtyn Klatt brings back World Championship Junior Trail Course—
Ashtyn Klatt, Dickinson, rode Stella, a 12-year-old Pony of America, to a World Championship title at the NLBRA.
“She is fast and gives me everything she’s got, or as she is called, ‘The Fire Breathing Dragon,’” said Ashtyn describing her horse. “I’m so thankful to the Goven family who we got Stella from and honored to have her as my own.” Ashtyn said she also uses Stella in goat tying and that she is an all-around horse.
World champions, Ashtyn Klatt and Stella. [Photo: submitted]
Stella has her own resume when it comes to winning as well. She was the 2018 Reserve Trail Champion, 2020 World Champion in Trail, and 2021 and 2022 Reserve Trail Champion with her previous owners, the Goven Family.
Ashtyn said her best moments at the Lazy E Arena this summer were winning round number 1 and 2, thus getting crowned the national champion in the Junior Trail Course.
The 2022-2023 Miss North Dakota Junior High Rodeo queen said she decided to compete in the trail course, since it was an event in Little Britches rodeos and helped with the all-around points and, most importantly, helped with horsemanship.
“My whole family and, of course, my parents and big brothers need to be recognized. My brother and biggest fan, Weston, was with me before and after each run,” said Ashtyn.
Ashtyn is 12 years old and will be a seventh grader at Dickinson Middle School where she also plays basketball and volleyball. She is the daughter of Delvin and Nancy Klatt.
Ashtyn Klatt with her brother and biggest fan, Weston. [Photo: submitted]
The young equestrian says she plans to continue to rodeo in North Dakota and throughout the United States. She also said she thinks that when she goes to college it will involve equine science in some form or another.
Top Five in the World of the Steer Wrestling—
The ultimate memory for Kyler Morgan on his trip to Guthrie was getting to be first out in the steer wrestling event and last out for the entire week. “It was awesome, because I got to set the pace and finish it out,” said the Bismarck cowboy. Predominantly a tie-down roper, this ‘newbie’ to bull dogging had quite the first ride tale to tell…
Kyler Morgan and his horse, Richard. [Photo: 4-C Photography]
Kyler was aboard his horse, Richard, who is 20 years ‘young’ and took home 5th place in the world at the NLBFR. “Richard is an amazing athlete, especially for being 20 years old and for being one of the biggest bulldogging horses around. He has a personality outside of the arena; he is no pushover, that’s for sure, and he will tell me what he wants and won’t stop until he gets it. Sometimes he acts like a grumpy man, but I can’t get mad with him because of how well he performs,” explained Kyler regarding his horse.
Kyler said he hated chute dogging when he was in North Dakota Junior High Rodeo; the event scared him. “As I continued to go to practices, it even got worse. My dad and others kept pushing me to do it, and, eventually, I got better and decided to jump off a horse,” said Kyler, “At that time, I wanted my dad to be able to haze for me and he wanted to, so that’s why I jumped off.”
The rest is history, as this young talent is finding success quickly at the event; he is sure to keep jumping ‘down’ to chase. “My uncle, Jayce Doan, has not only become an inspiration for my bull dogging, but an awesome partner to practice and compete with. I have the biggest appreciation for my dad, Don Morgan, for supporting me and helping me to improve in everything in life. He went so far as to start entering the bull dogging with me to get a feel for himself and be able to coach me through doing,” said Kyler.
The gracious cowboy added, “I’m so thankful for Cael Hilzendaeger for taking me with him to practice and getting me going, Tyler Schau for allowing me to practice at his place and being an amazing coach, along with the entire bull dogging group that I practice with including Hadley Erickson, Kenneth Haegen, and Cole Gerhardt.”
All smiles – Carson Hildre (left) & Kyler Morgan (right) [Photo: submitted]
When Kyler isn’t doggin’ steers, he said he is tying and roping calves with his dad, has a job, helps with his family business and younger siblings, and manages to fit in groups such as FFA and 4-H. He said his plans include going to college for applied digital marketing and getting started in the ‘real world’ while college rodeoing. Kyler is the son of Don and Shanda Morgan and proud sibling of Jayden, Shayda, and Kayzen. He is a junior at Legacy High School.
For more information and results, visit www.nlbra.com
Tisa Peek is a long-time horse trainer, competitor in barrel racing and team roping, and writer about the equine. Rodeo and horses run deep in her roots. JT Family Equine is where she calls home, south of Bismarck, ND. Tisa, along with her husband, Jon, and boys, Blu and River, train horses and host clinics. Tisa is the host for Dakota Cowboy on BEK TV.