ERA Athlete Spotlight: 11‑Year‑Old Rodeo Star Chayni Chamberlain

The countdown is on for this weekend’s inaugural Elite Rodeo Association (ERA) World Championship, set to take place at the American Airlines Center. Over three days, 120 elite athletes will compete for one of the largest payouts in rodeo history. Leading the field is 11‑year‑old Chayni Chamberlain of Stephenville, Texas, the youngest competitor on the roster.

She's an animal lover (and it runs in the family.)

Chayni’s home is a true animal sanctuary: a horse named Flo Jo, four dogs, four cats, and a goat named Chief. She dreams of becoming a veterinarian and helping animals in the future.

Flo Jo has been part of the family for years, and his presence keeps Chayni calm during competition.

A typical day in Chayni’s life is jam‑packed.

On school days, she starts at 8:30 am, attends classes until the afternoon, then spends time on the field. When school takes a back seat, she feeds, grooms, saddles, and bathes her horses before a brief reading session, followed by practice after lunch.

“My favorite part of the day is any time I can spend with my horses,” Chayni says. “I also love visiting my grandmother in West Texas, and I enjoy basketball, so weekends at home let me balance rest and training.”

Her family is showing up in a big way.

At the arena, a sizable front‑row crowd will cheer her on. Nearly a dozen of her closest family and friends will travel to Dallas to watch her compete. Chayni and her mother will stay in the arena trailer to stay close to Flo Jo, while the rest of the family will meet them there on the big day.

She’s ready to show Dallas the rodeo life.

The event kicks off at Fair Park, where livestock are housed. Chayni will saddle Flo Jo there before heading to the American Airlines Center. She will stay with her horse until her turn, showcasing her skills to the audience.

“Come ready to see a great show, great competition and really sweet cowboys and cowgirls,” Chayni invites. “It’s sort of a cowboy party!”