BeautyandtheBeast

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éxtraordinary

WRITTEN BY Carol Leavitt

She’s lovely – her chestnut brown hair tumbling gently past her shoulders to her waist. As an attorney, she’s the epitome of “high-powered,” styling heels and a buttoned-down suit that compliments her fit physique.

But, when she steps into the role that she really loves, it’s hair in a ponytail, cowboy hat and jeans donned, hanging out with a big, bulking, 2000-pound animal that bucks and snorts up a storm. Meet Cyndi Gilbert and all of her world-class, record-holding, bucking rodeo bulls. In a surprising yet natural evolution, she has exchanged her city-slicker attorney role for that of “flanker” in the rodeo, and has carved out an unconventional and highly-satisfying niche for herself in the Wild West.

The Young, Ambitious Lawyer

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t began following law school when Cyndi took the initiative to start her own law practice in downtown Salt Lake City. They were humble beginnings, and she took practically anything that came through the door – bankruptcy, debtor work, etc. She really enjoyed being a champion for the underdog, wanting to give good service and be the best attorney she could be. She was eager to learn, inquisitive, and didn’t mind asking others for help. These values, instilled in her by her mother, would influence Cyndi throughout her career and life choices.

C21, White Magic

She enjoyed being an attorney, and thought she would do that for the rest of her life.

However, her fate changed dramatically when she met Steve Gilbert, an entrepreneur who had a fierce hobby as a rider in the rodeo – on bucking bulls and broncos. Within six weeks they were engaged; married in twelve. Where did they go on their honeymoon? To the National Finals Rodeo, of course, which was Cyndi’s first exposure to the world of riding and bucking. She was immediately fascinated by the sport, and wanted to know more. She sat in the rodeo stands and watched how the animals were scored.

She asked questions, got answers, and still wanted to know more. In their first year of marriage, she and Steve travelled to a number of M AY t h r u J U N E 2 0 1 0

rodeos while her interest continued to grow. “I was open to changes that first year, but I didn’t know where they would take me,” she admits.

It became increasingly hard to balance the legal work she was doing for Steve’s companies, sustaining her own legal practice, and traveling to rodeos. She finally gave up her practice to alleviate some of the stress.

Jumping Into the Chute

The next year, their interest in the rodeo compounded when they bought five bulls and a bucking horse in a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity (Cyndi likens it to a horse aficionado having the chance to buy a world-class racehorse). They started to raise these bucking bulls at their ranch, and riders would come there to train. But Cyndi wasn’t satisfied by simply standing around as an owner and watching her animals. She began “flanking” them – getting in the bullpen chute and putting the flank strap around the bulls’ bellies before the ride. Steve was supportive of her in this role, which Cyndi reprised frequently as they hit the road on the rodeo circuit.

Cyndi had to deal with significant guff she got from the old-school cowboys and officials, who saw women in the rodeo only in the role of secretary, barrel racer, roper, or timer. These didn’t fit Cyndi at all. It was her analytical bent, combined with her intuition – both of

Cyndi Gilbert - Photo by Bonnie Bracken

Breeding program: 1 clone from C21, White Magic (white one); 3 clones from P57, Wanna Dance? (red ones), born in August, 2008. woman

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C yndi has evolved into a unique, powerhouse cowgirl who has changed the way the rodeo circuit views women. which were honed during her legal training – that had her watching the animals and riders closely, paying attention to what they were doing, noting how each was feeling. She says, “You can’t make an animal buck. My job is to finesse it and make it as easy as possible for them to buck, and to keep them and the riders safe.” She read, she watched, she observed, she listened – and discovered exactly how to get the best performance possible out of the animals.

“Flanker” as Teacher

Another characteristic that was important in the courtroom and is also pertinent on the rodeo grounds is her love for educating others.

In the courtroom, it was all about educating the judge or jury on the facts and details of the case. At the rodeo, it’s a much more important lesson. “What I learned about how others treated me in the beginning was that I could either have a chip on my shoulder and resent them, or I could use it as an opportunity to teach them. I found that people may not have looked at what others can do when they have the right attitude.”

She has the chance to influence this now, starting with a much younger generation. She and Steve lend their animals to a program that exposes young kids to animals and the rodeo at an early age.

Cyndi says that if she can work with kids when they’re little, when they are learning, then she can teach them respect and etiquette.

“You can really teach a lot of lessons to kids about how to treat animals, how to treat the environment. They learn how to be polite to a woman, too, which carries on through the rest of their lives,” she says.

She also enjoys educating rodeo spectators – especially women – about the power of these animals and the intricate actions of the cowboys. “I’m here to help facilitate the dance between the cowboy and the bull or horse, and I love it when others see that,” she says.

“I can’t change the world, but I can sure change what goes on in my purview. I can mentor people; I want to make a difference in their lives. I can make their world and mine a little better, and hopefully it spreads out.”

View from behind the Chutes (Saddlebronc, LR7, Mini Mean); Photo Credit: Andrea Kaus

inquisitiveness, intuition, probing – to be a successful cowgirl.

She proudly declares that, “I used to be known as an attorney who was trying to be a cowgirl, but now I’m known as a cowgirl who’s also an attorney.” However, she’s anything but conventional. She’s an intuitive, sensitive, nurturing, individual who is tuned into the vibe of the animals and the people. Her mission is to put them together in the right way, and she is deeply concerned with making sure they are all well taken care of. Admittedly, she is the soft and gentle part of a tough profession, and stays “in the moment” with the animals and the cowboys. Frequently, the next cowboy to ride will ask her, “What will the bull do (such as spin left or right)?” Cyndi replies, “He’s going to do any damned thing he wants.” She explains that, “If you ever start thinking that the animal is going to do what the book says, you’re going to get the short end of the deal. You always have to zone in and pay close attention to what’s really going on.

That’s what made me a good attorney and a good bull-whisperer.”

Who knew that beauty and the beast would get along so well outside the fairy tale?!

The Contented “Bull Whisperer”

What’s next for this beauty and the majestic beasts she loves? Cyndi admits that the traveling is getting hard on her mother, who is a constant companion to her and Steve. Her next evolution, however, will again be easy and natural. She and Steve are currently doing significant bull breeding now, and Cyndi anticipates ramping this up in the near future. In fact, they are already becoming known as the most prominent bull breeders in the world due to the number of animals they’ve bred thus far. Cyndi claims that it fits perfectly with her lawyerly analytical tendencies, as she’s constantly thinking about what genetic traits go together.

Cyndi’s triumphant transition from attorney to cowgirl was an “organic” evolution that has brought her tremendous satisfaction and reward. In fact, she’s using her skills as a savvy attorney – curiosity,

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Behind the Chutes (Saddlebronc riding); Photo Credit: Andrea Kaus

Carol Leavitt offers management consulting and organizational effectiveness coaching to clients in St. George and the western region through her company, Leadership @ Work.

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