For most ranch sorting families, a trip to Fort Worth, Texas, for the Cinch RSNC World Finals is the highlight of the year. It’s a time to celebrate a year’s worth of achievements with friends from across the world and, hopefully, to come home with new gold championship buckles. The Hegge family is no exception.
Hailing from Wyoming, the Hegges—mom, April; dad, Malik; and sisters Kylynn, 17; Adell, 15; and Viann, 13—came to the show with the goal of adding more world titles to their already impressive resumes. What they encountered, though, was a brush with tragedy.
Rising From the Wreck
On Sunday, June 8—day two of the eight-day event—the Hegges’ World Finals began in a way no one could have predicted with a wreck that would send even the most seasoned family into a panic.
In the second round of the #18 Rated Youth class, a loose cinch caused Adell to fall from her horse, Dual Or No Dual, aka “Dually” (Dual Madera x Hear Breaking Annie). In the livestream on Ride TV, viewers watched as Viann and Adell sorted off five cows before Adell’s saddle listed to the right shortly after the 7:30:45 timestamp on the player. She landed hard on her hip directly in front of the gelding, where he couldn’t avoid her. He hit her twice, striking her face and torso…