By Lyndy Berryhill

NATCHEZ — Friday evening, identical twins Cobie and Cayden Johnson were headed to Monroe, La., for the 17th annual Bayou Black Rodeo.

This is not their first rodeo and it will not be their last.

The pair spent their last two weekends at rodeos where they competed against one another and a multitude of others in their under 15 years old age bracket.

The 8-year-olds have been training for this summer since they were 3 years old, just barely able to stay in the saddle by themselves.

They have come a long way since then. Now, they dart up and down their grandfather’s arena chasing calves to catch with ease. Their stark white cowboy hats are constantly hitting the dirt.

Cayden and Cobie rope individually on their own horses “Emma,” a light red mare, and “Sweet,” a bay mare, and have polarized personalities.

Cayden is shy around new people. Cobie does not meet many strangers.

Their first rodeo was in Jackson was July 8 at 15th Jackson Black Rodeo.

“It was great, and we had a lot of fun,” Cayden said.

It was a challenge for both. Cobie’s horse stopped too quickly and Cobie fell off once, but he was not hurt and got back in the saddle.

That’s what real cowboys do, Cobie said.

They have a strand of competitiveness running deep in their veins when it comes to rodeo.

But it does not keep them from getting along or finishing each others’ sentences.

“If he doesn’t say something, I’ll just say it for him,” Cayden said.

“Well, he always wears them broken up jeans,” Cobie replies.

Their little sister, Chloe, is introduced as “the boss.” She is starting to pick up her own pink rope and try rodeo work herself.

“She tries,” Cayden says.

“I was going to say that,” Cobie cuts him off.

Then they both laugh at each other.

Their grandfather James Berry Sr. had the arena where they practice built.

Berry said he is proud of their hard work. For him, it is all about good horses and good attitudes.

He was taking them to rodeos in the area when they were babies, He taught them most everything they know about the sport.

Although they have not won anything yet, Berry Sr. said he thinks the boys’ success will come in its own time for the eager cowboys.

“At their age you don’t expect them to just come out and start winning,” Berry Sr. said. “The next time they go, they’re going to do really good.”

Like their uncle, James Berry, III, or “Lil James” as he is known to many, the pair got the rodeo bug early in life. Their uncle James travels in rodeos professionally for cash prizes and belt buckles. When he is not on the road, he is in Natchez practicing with his nephews.

Even when they are not roping on horseback, their ropes are never too far away. They have about 10 calves they rope when they practice in the arena and a small herd of goats. But they practice on all three of their roping dummies and anything else they can cast a loop on.

They rope random objects throughout their home and in their yard.

Their mother Ciera Berry Johnson said they often rope each other in her house when they are supposed to be getting ready for bed.

“Even when they are in the house, they are roping,” Ciera said.

She has videos of them practicing in their pajamas at night.

She loves it that the twins are spending time with family and are learning responsibility along the way.

“It’s been really positive for them,” Ciera said.

Most evenings this summer, the twins have their horses saddled before the sun sets. The heat is starting to subside. Their grandfather uses a sprinkler to wet down the arena beforehand to help the red dust settle.

Sometimes they practice until 1 a.m.

Their matching pairs of boots, only a few months old, are now starting to wear out. They finish practice dusty and sweaty, but it has only whet their appetite for more.

They both want to catch as many calves as they can. They both want to win as many belt buckles as possible.

“Everything is a competition to them,” she says smiling.