Cowgirl Up -- Professional competitor leads WPRA rankings

By MONETTE TAYLOR | South Central Texas Edition

Dr. Tami Noble-Herbert closes in on a calf during competition at the Pat Hughes Sierra Stampede event. Herbert, a chiropractor, spends a lot of her time aboard a horse in the Women's Professional Rodeo Assn. -- Courtesy photo

August 12, 2004 - There's one thing Dr. Tami Noble-Herbert may never need to purchase, and that's a new saddle!

As the 2003 Women's Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA) All-Around Champion, Breakaway Calf Roping Champion, Team Roping and Heading Champion ... she won six, new, championship saddles.

We caught up with her at the first, annual WPRA All Women's Rodeo in Lockhart in July. Presented by the Lockhart Kiwanis Club, the rodeo was held at the Jack Schneider Rodeo Arena. In spite of rain earlier in the afternoon, the women competed in front of a full house.

Although Herbert was reared on a ranch and around cattle and horses all of her life, in the working world, people around Marble Falls know her as "Dr. Herbert," the chiropractor. Not only does she administer her skills to humans, but works with horses, too. She said having a body that is fit is absolutely necessary to do her best in the competitions. She shares her knowledge with other contestants, and often helps them get over some of the injuries they incur while participating in the rodeo circuit.

While attending high school in Oklahoma and Sul Ross State University in Alpine, Herbert won numerous national titles and all-around best cowgirl awards. Her coach was, and continues to be, her father Charlie Noble, a horse trainer and breeder in Oklahoma. After 50 years in the business, Herbert depends on her dad for her horses. She said he "always knows which horses will be right for each of his children."

As a member of the WPRA for two years, Herbert said she really enjoys working with her horses and in the competitions. She said "women have always been in the background" in rodeos, but that has changed and will continue to just get better.

"The caliber of the competition is great ... they (women) are all professional athletes," noted Herbert.

Although you will find Herbert in her office during the week, working with her patients, she said she makes the time to ride, nightly, and practices a couple of nights for the competitive events. The hardest part of going to the rodeos each weekend is "juggling her time for the events and her chiropractic practice."

Along with her three horses, she participates in anywhere from three to five events each weekend. With all the time at the rodeos, Herbert said she really enjoys meeting the other contestants and sharing experiences with them.

In Lockhart, the women competed in six, classic events: bull riding, bareback riding, team roping, tie down roping, breakaway roping and barrel racing.

"We are pleased to be able to bring Lockhart a professional rodeo of this caliber," said Judy Crawford, president of U Go Girl Rodeo Productions. "Our rodeos sell out wherever we go and make an economic impact on the towns where we perform."

As Herbert was preparing for the night's competition in Lockhart, she had a closing remark for Country World readers, "... lots of people like to play golf ... I'd rather rodeo!" laughed Herbert.