Karen Vold

Karen Virginia Vold (née Womack; May 11, 1939 – January 12, 2026) was an American trick rider who was inducted into the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame in 1978.

Background Karen Virginia Womack was born in Phoenix, Arizona, on May 11, 1939. She was the daughter of ProRodeo Hall of Fame rodeo clown Andy Womack.

Vold's family owned a riding stable just north of Phoenix. She would guide visitors riding out in the desert. One of the ladies who worked in the stable owned a Palomino and a trick riding saddle. Vold learned her first three tricks from her. Vold's parents divorced when she was 8 years old. Her parents bought her a horse and saddle to help deal with the situation. She was about 10 years old, and she practiced trick riding on that horse. Her father ended up having to leave to rodeo as a clown for six years due to the death of rodeo clown Jasbo Fulkerson. Vold said "When he came back and saw how serious I was about trick riding, he sent me to Colorado to take lessons from world champion trick rider Dick Griffith."

After she turned 10 years old, she began learning trick riding. Vold competed in her first professional rodeo when she was 14 years old. She married Harry Vold in 1972; she was his second wife. They had one daughter, Kirsten, who runs the ranch now.

Career Vold was a performing trick rider for 17 years. She assisted in forming "The Flying Cimarrons", which brought the event back into the spotlight for many years. The formation of teams for trick riding was also innovative and enhanced the process of hiring riders. When Vold got married, she retired from performing. However, she still was involved in the sport through coaching and clinics. For 28 years she taught trick riding with one of her former students, Linda. They opened the Red Top Ranch Trick Riding School in Avondale near her ranch, about 20 miles from Pueblo, Colorado. 2016 Donita Barnes Award