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Liberty Cunningham dreamed of being a professional trick rider since she was a toddler. At just 12-years-old, that dream became a reality.
Horses were not new to Liberty when she began trick riding. She is a 3rd-generation rodeo cowgirl and comes from a competitive rodeo family known for training quality barrel racing horses. Her older sister Lakin is a World Champion goat tyer and was the CNFR Rookie of the Year.
Liberty has ridden since she was a baby and began competing in youth rodeos at age 5. She was a Top 20 barrel racer at the National Little Britches Finals Rodeo in 2020 and has held several rodeo princess titles.
Liberty has experience in many equine disciplines including several rodeo events, English jumping, reined cow horse, and reining. Her newest equine endeavor is bridleless and liberty work. Because of her vast experience, she is a versatile and knowledgeable rider at young age. A true horse whisperer, she develops amazing, heart-felt bonds with the horses she works with.
Liberty’s dream to become a trick rider became reality at age 8. She has trained with some of the best in the industry. Her long-time coach Jennifer Gatrel taught PRCA Dress Act of the Year 2020 Award Winner Bethany (Iles) Kiesner for 10 years. Bethany is who inspired Liberty to become a trick rider. After seeing her perform multiple times, Liberty started training with the same coach and performed in her first show just a month later.
After adding more matching paint horses to her herd, Liberty expanded to Roman riding at age 10. She trained her Roman riding horses for this discipline herself and has differentiated herself by incorporating jumps, leaps, handstands, and acro flips atop her team of horses.
Liberty developed this signature Roman riding style through her dance background. Since age 3, she has trained in jazz, lyrical, ballet, contemporary, hip hop, tap, musical theatre and acro. She’s won several awards including 2021 Prestige Dance National Champion. At age 9, she was introduced to aerial hammock, silks and lyra.
At age 13, Liberty added liberty horsemanship to her skills and now performs a unique signature act that features all three disciplines – trick riding, Roman riding and liberty horse – and four horses.
Liberty is in public school where she is in her school’s gifted education program. She enjoys reading, singing in her school’s Advanced Choir, and playing with her dog and cat. Beyond school and horses, she is a Principal Aerialist for Trilogy Cultural Arts Centre’s Cirque d l’air Cascades Company. Liberty lives with her mom and older siblings Lakin and Lane in eastern Kansas where they raise horses and goats.
Liberty’s horses are special to her. Though it takes extreme skill for Liberty to trick ride, Roman ride and do liberty horsemanship, she couldn’t do it without amazing and dependable equine athletes that she trusts. She wouldn’t be where she is today without her four matching paint horses and her grey Arabian cross she has as her team.
Blair is Liberty’s main horse for trick riding and opening ceremonies. She is 13 years old. Liberty bought her in September 2019 when both were 8 years old. Blair already had training in trick riding when she joined Liberty, but Liberty trained her in Roman riding when Blair was 10. Together, they have performed all over the country and make a dynamic team. Blair has a strong, fast, assertive personality when riding but is always consistent and reliable in performances. She is sassy, sweet, and powerful.
Interesting facts about Blair:
• Blair is “one of the best trick riding horses in the industry right now,” according to the legendary trick rider and Roman rider Dusti Dickerson.
• Blair has been a trick riding horse since she was 5.
• Blair is a descendant of the famous Arabian stallion Cass Ole. Cass Ole was the horse that played “The Black Stallion” in the classic 1970s-80s Black Stallion movies and won several World Titles for western pleasure, English pleasure, side saddle and high point.
• Blair was Liberty’s main Roman riding horse for two years and now is her back up.
• Blair had cancer late 2022. She had a tumor removed, treated and is now cancer free!
• Blair’s size and coloring is what the rest of Liberty’s horses were purchased to match.
What Liberty says about Blair:
“My journey with Blair hasn’t been easy but it’s been amazing. I had to learn to get over being intimidated by her power and personality. I love to trail ride, jump, ride bareback, and read with Blair. She is my heart horse. I couldn’t imagine her with anyone else! We go together like pb & j!”
Cletus is Liberty’s main Roman riding horse and is sometimes used for opening ceremonies. Liberty purchased him in January 2021, envisioning that his matching pattern, coloring, size, and stride would make him an ideal Roman riding partner for Blair. Although Liberty was new to Roman riding, she trained both Cletus and Blair, and the team started performing just a few months later. Cletus has been part of many events and is considered bomb-proof for riding. Since joining Liberty, he has traveled across the country performing.
Interesting facts about Cletus:
• Cletus is an all-around horse with experience in almost everything – hog hunting, trail riding, rodeo pageants, drill team, barrel racing, roping sled, jumping, and trick riding.
• He is grade and in his upper teens.
• He enjoys French fries, potato chips, and baguettes.
• Cletus is Liberty’s only gelding and puts up with all the bossy, moody mares.
• He has two vices: pulling back when tied up and being left alone without his friends.
• In 2022, Cletus had cancer and underwent surgery, laser radiation, and topical chemotherapy. He handled the treatment well and was incredibly brave.
What Liberty says about Cletus:
“Cletus has taught me many different things and is my go-to horse anytime I need one that won’t spook, no matter the environment, props, or costume. I love Cletus, and he has found his forever home with me!”
Liberty purchased Elite in August 2022 with the dream of creating a 3-up unicorn team for Roman riding. Liberty trained Elite herself for this discipline and now uses her with Cletus as one of her main Roman riding horses. Elite was a seasoned barrel racing horse prior to coming to Liberty. Liberty not only trained her for Roman riding, she also trained her to jump and currenlty plays around with her doing bridle less/tack less.
Interesting facts about Elite:
• Elite’s APHA registered name is Elite Factor and she is 10 years old.
• Elite is the lightest colored bay of Liberty’s four paints.
• Liberty and her older sister Lakin have competed and won money running Elite in barrel racing.
• Elite was trained for trick riding by Liberty and is her back up horse for that discipline.
• Elite is very sweet to humans but is the dominant horse and THE BOSS of Liberty’s four paints.
• Elite is the most “spooky” of Liberty’s paints and the most “fancy broke.”
What Liberty says about Elite:
“Elite has a funny personality! She will reach around while you’re riding for assurance, and then bite your toe and turn back around. She’s got so much talent in so many things. I have loved having Elite on my team!”
Liberty purchased 6-year-old Special in August 2023 with the hopes of having a 4-up Roman riding team and eventually replacing Cletus when he retires. Liberty easily taught Special to smile on cue and saw her potential as a liberty horse. She is currently at KR Horsemanship getting trained for the fundamentals of liberty. Special is loving, easy going and patient.
Interesting facts about Special:
• Special’s APHA registered name is Shezabeduino Special.
• Special is the tallest of Liberty’s four paints measuring 15.3 hands.
• Special is the youngest of Liberty’s four paints.
• Special was being seasoned for barrel racing by Liberty’s aunt Jill Herring from ages 3-5.
• Special completely severed her tendon the day after Liberty brought her home. She had a year of stall rest and is now recovered from what could have been a career-ending injury.
• Special is super smart and is picking up liberty very quickly.
What Liberty says about Special:
“Special is super sweet! I fell in love with her the first day I met her. Her puppy-dog personality is enough to make you get immediately attached, but not to mention she is also one of the smartest and most willing horses I have ever worked with. She is for sure ‘Special!’ ”
Mouse came to live at Liberty’s farm in 2024. She is owned by Karla June with KR Horsemanship. Mouse was purchased by Karla when she was a preteen with no horse experience. Karla purchased her for a mere $10 from a Kansas kill pen. Karla trained her and they have performed liberty horse all over the country winning awards and being featured at prestigious events. Karla retired from performing to start a family and is now a successful liberty horse trainer and clinician. She knew of Mouse’s love for performing and Liberty’s interest in learning liberty horsemanship so she generously sent her beloved horse to Liberty.
Interesting facts about Mouse:
• Mouse is grade with an estimated age of 22.
• Mouse is the smallest of Liberty’s horse herd measuring 14.2 hands.
• Mouse has been used for bridleless, Roman riding, trick riding, jumping, liberty horse off another horse and trail riding.
• Mouse has foaled one baby.
• Mouse and Liberty’s love for each other was instant.
• Mouse’s breed is unknown but she is suspected to be an Arabian or Arabian cross.
What Liberty says about Mouse:
“Mouse is such an amazing horse! I met Mouse when I was 8 years old and she introduced me to the art of liberty. I started a free lease of Mouse in April 2024, and she has helped me grow so much as a horsewoman through learning to clearly understand your horse! She is quite ornery but that is what makes her special. I am so excited for our future. Our bond is so strong!”
