Horse Roundup 2026 | Star-Spangled Violinist
Emory Bell Forbes of Kaycee, Wyoming, loved the violin from the time she was four years old.
Her violin teacher made a deal with her: if she could sit still through one lesson at four years old, she could be enrolled in private music lessons. She didn’t move a muscle.
Thus, Emory began her lifelong pursuit of music.
Now 14, Emory performs the National Anthem on her violin horseback before rodeos.
The classical instrument in a western setting lends a unique sound to the Star-Spangled Banner.
“It’s just a really cool instrument to play. It’s like nothing I’ve ever done,” said Emory.
The cowgirl fiddler has deep roots in rodeo and agriculture. Her grandpa, John Forbes, was a five-time NFR qualifying bronc rider. John continues to raise bucking stock and contract rodeos.
Her great uncle Emory, for whom she is named, was also an exceptional bronc rider.
Her father, Sandy “Bob”, and mother, Penny, own and operate Forbes Outfitters in Kaycee, as well as their own commercial cow operation.
Penny rodeoed professionally, keeping the mold of her Albertan family. Her father, Brian, was a Canadian Finals Rodeo qualifier, as was her brother, Jeff. Another brother, Greg, was an NFR and CFR qualifying bull rider.
Penny enjoys training barrel horses when she is not helping her kids pursue their dreams. Sandy is a retired professional saddle bronc rider and spends most of his summers picking up for various stock contractors.
Luckily, this means that the family attends rodeos together when Emory performs.
Emory’s dad is usually the one holding her horse, the microphone and his hat as she pays tribute to America during opening ceremonies.
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Emory’s dad, Sandy “Bob” usually holds her horse while she plays the Star-Spangled Banner. Photo courtesy Jackie Jensen Photography.
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Emory Forbes was inspired by her grandmother to play music at a young age and she now plays her violin. Photo courtesy Jackie Jensen Photography.
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Emory’s mastery of the violin came after a decade of weekly violin lessons. Photo courtesy Jackie Jensen Photography.
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Emory Forbes also competes in track, volleyball, basketball, and youth rodeo.
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The Forbes family: Sandy, Penny, Dusty, and Emory.
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Emory hopes to play at more pro rodeos and has her sights set on playing at the NFR someday.
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A good horse is imperative to her success, according to Emory.
She credits her early love of the violin to her grandmother, Lyndi Waters, who also lives in Kaycee. Her grandmother’s passion for music was easily passed onto a young Emory during the many hours they spent together during her childhood. Emory now plays her grandmother’s violin.
Emory also credits her longtime music teacher, Sumer Hansen, for the many years of dedication to her musical education. Hansen owns and operates the Sumer Hansen Violin Studio in Casper, and is the sister of Brooke Latka, the violin player in the Chancey Williams band.
Emory attended violin lessons with Hansen every week for 10 years. Now, they are once every two weeks. She practices several times a week, especially when she has a rodeo coming up.
A prolific musician, Emory also plays the trumpet in her school band.
“She’s got a good ear,” said Penny.
Not one to remain idle, Emory competes in volleyball, basketball, and track for Kaycee. She will be a freshman in high school this fall. In the summers, she youth rodeos, and her favorite events are barrel racing and pole bending.
Emory was first asked to perform at Chris LeDoux Days four years ago. Since then, she has performed the National Anthem at 30 different events, including Don King Days, Longmire Days, the Ten Sleep Rodeo, the Central Wyoming Fair & Rodeo and the College National Finals Rodeo.
“I am proud to be an American and all that stands for,” she said.
While last year she performed during one of the performances at the CNFR, this year, she was asked to perform during the short round.
“It’s a very memorable opportunity and I am honored to be able to have the chance to play,” she said.
Looking forward, Forbes aims to play at even more pro rodeos and hopes the NFR opening ceremony is in her future.
