One of the celebrated equestrian team’s own wears the crown as the 2026 Folsom Pro Rodeo Queen while carrying on one of the rodeo’s most beloved traditions
For decades, the Painted Ladies Rodeo Performers have been among the most recognizable ambassadors of the Folsom Pro Rodeo, bringing precision horsemanship, patriotic pageantry and western tradition to Dan Russell Arena each summer.
This year, that connection between the celebrated riding team and the rodeo is even stronger when it comes to carrying the tradition of rodeo royalty as one of the Painted Ladies is also wearing the coveted crown this year.
Gabby Broton isn’t simply representing the Folsom Pro Rodeo as its 2026 Rodeo Queen. She is also one of the talented riders who will thunder into Dan Russell Arena as part of the Painted Ladies Rodeo Performers, making her both the official face of this year’s milestone celebration and a member of one of its most iconic attractions.
It’s a fitting connection.
For generations, the Painted Ladies have represented everything the Folsom Pro Rodeo celebrates—grace, patriotism, horsemanship and a deep appreciation for western heritage. Their performances have become one of the event’s signature traditions, with riders carrying oversized American flags into the arena while executing breathtaking synchronized riding patterns that routinely bring thousands of spectators to their feet before the first competitive event even begins.
This year’s performances take on even greater significance as the Folsom Pro Rodeo celebrates its 65th anniversary, the City of Folsom marks its 80th anniversary and communities across the nation commemorate America’s 250th birthday.
Against that patriotic backdrop, the Painted Ladies once again will provide one of the most memorable visual moments of each evening, filling Dan Russell Arena with a sea of red, white and blue while showcasing the skill, discipline and precision that has made them nationally recognized ambassadors for the sport of rodeo.
Long before the first bull bursts from the chute or the first barrel racer rounds a turn, the Painted Ladies set the tone for the evening.
Their entrance is impossible to miss. Mounted atop beautifully conditioned horses and carrying massive American flags that wave high above the arena floor, the riders gallop into Dan Russell Arena with remarkable precision. Every movement is carefully choreographed. Every crossing pattern is timed to perfection. Every horse and rider work together as one, creating a performance that is equal parts athletic competition, patriotic tribute and western pageantry.
The presentation has become one of the defining images of the Folsom Pro Rodeo.
For many fans, especially those attending for the first time, it is often the moment they realize they are witnessing far more than a sporting event. It is a celebration of community, country and western heritage that has helped define the Folsom Pro Rodeo for more than six decades.
Founded in 1948, the Painted Ladies Rodeo Performers have become one of the most respected precision riding teams in the nation. Throughout their history, they have appeared at rodeos, parades and special events across the western United States, earning a reputation for combining elite horsemanship with patriotic presentations that honor the traditions of rodeo and America.
Performances require months of preparation.
Unlike many arena acts that rely primarily on individual talent, the Painted Ladies function as a true team. Riders spend countless hours practicing formations, timing and communication while developing a deep bond with their horses. Every maneuver requires complete trust between horse and rider, as well as confidence that every member of the team will execute each movement with precision.
The result is a performance that appears effortless from the grandstands but represents hundreds of hours of preparation behind the scenes.
Their horses are every bit as much performers as the riders themselves. Calm under pressure yet athletic enough to perform intricate formations at speed, the horses become trusted partners whose training is just as important as the riders’ own preparation.
Together they create an elegant display of horsemanship that has become one of the Folsom Pro Rodeo’s most photographed traditions.
That tradition extends far beyond the three nights they spend each summer inside Dan Russell Arena.
Originally established in 1993 as the Painted Ladies Rodeo Drill Team, the organization evolved a decade later into the Painted Ladies Rodeo Performers, expanding beyond precision drill routines into a multifaceted equestrian entertainment and community service organization. While synchronized riding and patriotic presentations remain the heart of every performance, the group has become known throughout the West for representing rodeo, western heritage and community service wherever they travel.
Although the riders perform throughout California and Nevada at Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and California Cowboys Professional Rodeo Association events, their roots remain firmly planted in Folsom. Members often refer to the Folsom Pro Rodeo as their “hometown show,” a reflection of the special relationship that has developed over decades between the performers and one of Northern California’s premier rodeos. The organization also sponsors the Folsom Pro Rodeo Queen program and annual competition, making this year’s dual role of Gabby Broton as both Rodeo Queen and Painted Lady an especially fitting milestone.
Their performances have carried them well beyond traditional rodeo arenas. The Painted Ladies became the first and only horses ever to set hoof on the field at Sacramento’s Raley Field, home of the River Cats, and have opened nationally recognized events including the Hangtown Motocross Classic, which has been televised on ESPN. They have also appeared in the Hollywood Christmas Parade, participated in community celebrations throughout the region and were featured in a photo shoot at the California State Capitol that later appeared in an episode of the television series The Mentalist.
National recognition has followed the team as well. Earlier this year, the Painted Ladies made their tenth appearance in the prestigious Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, a remarkable achievement for any equestrian organization. During the pandemic, they were also invited to participate virtually in the National Memorial Day Parade in Washington, D.C., filming a patriotic presentation at California’s State Capitol when the traditional parade could not be held in person.
Service to the community has remained just as important as performance. Over the years, the organization has supported numerous charitable causes, including Tough Enough to Wear Pink fundraising efforts for cancer awareness, programs honoring veterans, wounded warriors and first responders, and “Light the Night,” an event organized to raise awareness following the tragic killing of two paint horses near Livermore. The riders also make regular appearances at youth programs such as the Inter-City Kids Camp, where introducing children to horses and the western lifestyle has become one of their favorite traditions.
In recent years, the organization expanded its mission even further by establishing the Painted Ladies Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to helping grieving children and young adults heal through equine-assisted experiences. Using the unique bond between horses and people, the foundation provides opportunities for young people coping with trauma and loss to build confidence, emotional resilience and hope—demonstrating that the Painted Ladies’ greatest impact often happens long after the applause has faded.
That tradition carries special meaning this year, alongside Broton’s unique role as Rodeo Queen.
As the 2026 Folsom Pro Rodeo Queen, Broton serves as an ambassador for one of California’s premier rodeos, representing the event throughout the community while celebrating the western values, volunteer spirit and patriotism that have become synonymous with the Folsom Pro Rodeo.
At the same time, she remains one of the Painted Ladies, continuing to ride alongside her teammates in the very performance that has become one of the rodeo’s signature attractions.
Her dual role reflects the close relationship between the Folsom Pro Rodeo and the Painted Ladies—a partnership built on a shared commitment to preserving western traditions while inspiring future generations to appreciate the values of horsemanship, sportsmanship and service.
For Broton, it also creates a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience this year’s milestone rodeo from two remarkable perspectives: as the official queen representing the event and as one of the riders helping create some of its most memorable moments.
Their performances also reinforce one of the defining characteristics of the Folsom Pro Rodeo itself.
While the competition inside Dan Russell Arena showcases some of the finest cowboys and cowgirls in professional rodeo, the event has always been about more than buckles and prize money. It is a celebration of American values, western heritage and the volunteers, families and traditions that have helped shape Folsom for generations.
The Painted Ladies embody those ideals every time they ride into the arena.
Their appearance reminds spectators that rodeo has always been rooted in respect—for the flag, for family, for community and for the traditions that continue to bring people together year after year.
This year, those themes carry even greater weight.
As America celebrates its 250th birthday and the City of Folsom commemorates 80 years, the image of the Painted Ladies carrying American flags across Dan Russell Arena serves as a powerful reminder of the community spirit that has defined both the rodeo and the city throughout their histories.
When Broton enters the arena this year, she’ll do so wearing two honors at once.
As the 2026 Folsom Pro Rodeo Queen, she will represent one of California’s premier rodeos throughout its milestone anniversary celebration. As a Painted Lady, she will also help carry on one of the event’s longest-standing traditions, reminding thousands of spectators why the team’s blend of patriotism, precision and western elegance has become one of the defining images of the Folsom Pro Rodeo.
The 2026 Folsom Pro Rodeo takes place July 2, 3 and 4 at Dan Russell Arena. Gates open nightly at 5 p.m., preshow activities begin at 6 p.m., and rodeo action gets underway at 7:30 p.m.
Fans can expect three nights of Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association competition featuring bull riding, barrel racing, team roping, breakaway roping and other rodeo favorites. Returning attractions include the Painted Ladies Rodeo Performers, the Flying Cowboyz freestyle motocross team, Bull Jumping, mutton bustin’ for young riders and nightly appearances by comedy barrelman Kyle Lamon.
Each evening concludes with the Folsom Pro Rodeo’s signature fireworks spectacular above Dan Russell Arena, while guests can also enjoy food vendors, merchandise booths and the popular Saloon Under the Stars throughout rodeo week.
Tickets are available in several options, including $30 general admission seating, $45 reserved seating, $65 premier reserved seating and the premium Corral Club experience for $85. Family Packs that include four general admission tickets are also available for $110, while children ages 2 and younger are admitted free when seated on a parent or guardian’s lap.
As the Folsom Pro Rodeo celebrates 65 years, Folsom marks its 80th anniversary and the nation commemorates America’s 250th birthday, few sights will better capture the spirit of the celebration than the Painted Ladies riding proudly into Dan Russell Arena with American flags flying high and one of their own proudly representing the rodeo as its 2026 queen.
Tickets and complete event information are available at folsomprorodeo.com.
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Keywords: Painted Ladies Rodeo Performers, Gabby Broton, Folsom Pro Rodeo Queen, Folsom Pro Rodeo, Dan Russell Arena, precision riding, rodeo queen, equestrian team, American flag, patriotism, horsemanship, America 250, Folsom 80th Anniversary, Fourth of July, PRCA, Flying Cowboyz, Kyle Lamon, Bull Jumping, Saloon Under the Stars, Folsom events
