Sophie Bolen, a sixteen year-old AQHA member and avid horseman, has recently had an amazing opportunity to combine her love of acting and horses while starring in the film, Rodeo Girl.
“Horses are a big part of my life,” Bolen told us. “I have grown up with horses; my mom is a retired quarter horse trainer. Another part of my life that I discovered on my own is my passion for acting. To bring these two huge parts of my life together was an absolute dream come true.”
Bolen stars alongside Kevin Sorbo (who formerly played Hercules for six seasons on USA Network) in the upcoming movie. Rodeo Girl is about a young girl played by Bolen, that moves to Michigan to live with her father. Her estranged father is a former rider for the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. Although Sophie’s character, Priscilla, has had a background with hunter jumpers, she is intrigued by the rodeo lifestyle and seeks to compete in the National Youth Rodeo.
Bolen, a Michigan native, (pictured right with her real life family) has been involved with horses since the age of three. She has competed in AQHA events as well as 4H competitions and Open Shows over the years. While Sophie has been busy with her acting career, she leased out her Quarter Horse gelding, Designed By Kid, who the Bolens purchased from AQHA trainer, Kevin McDavitt when Sophie was nine.
Now 16 years-old, Sophie got her start in acting at an early age by joining a local theater as well as attending multiple acting camps and workshops. Sophie landed her first movie, The Christmas Bunny in 2010 where she co-starred with Florence Henderson of The Brady Bunch. (pictured left)
After this great performance, noted director and producer, Joel Reisig, noticed Sophie and she became the main choice for his upcoming movie, Rodeo Girl. Knowing that the Bolen family had a background in the horse industry, Reisig used both Sophie and Jane’s knowledge and contacts to find the perfect place to shoot the movie as well as the perfect horse for the role.
During her search, Jane reached out to lifelong friend and AQHA judge and trainer, Mary Luther-Eggleston of Lowell, Michigan for a horse that would be suitable for such a demanding job.
Eggleston suggested, Hunting In Red, a solid registered Appaloosa with many achievements of her own with owner, Jennifer Schulte. Also known as Scarlet, this mare is a multiple National Champion with many High Point titles as well.
“I knew Scarlet before the film, so it was so much fun for her to be the star along side me,” Sophie says. “It was so fun working as a team and to bond like she was ‘my’ horse. It took a lot of hard work between the both of us to transition from the very well trained hunter jumpers to the best barrel racers in the state. I think that Scarlet was destined to be in a movie. She always somehow knew whenever the camera was on. After ‘action’ was called, she would put her ears up and give her best performance.”
Sophie told us about her favorite scene to film in the movie. “My character, Priscilla, was out for a leisure ride on an old dirt road. The antagonists of the story roll up in a truck and try to run Priscilla off the road,” Sophie explains. “This scene was so much fun to film because in real life, I am not much of a speed rider, but I had to be for the film. To get the shot for this scene, the camera crew filmed in a vehicle that moved next to us when I had to run Scarlet down the dirt road. Mary Luther had to sit in the back of the camera crew vehicle to give me some, ‘Speedy Motivation’,” Sophie says laughing. “She would holler at me to go faster and what to do to make Scarlet go fast. It worked, we looked like a real speed team in the film.”
Sophie’s mother, Jane adds, “Scarlet was so quiet and easy to get along with. She knew she was on camera and usually did the right moves without anyone having to tell her.” Jane also mentions that she felt very safe with letting her daughter ride the mare, knowing that she was the right horse for the job with her quiet nature.
Multiple scenes were also shot at the 2015 All American Quarter Horse Congress. AQHA member and exhibitor, Katy Kuhr (pictured right, far left) and her horse were used as a stunt double in one of the barrel racing scenes in the movie. Not to mention, Zuidema Performance Horses also offered a horse from their barn to be used in a scene. Katy Zuidema’s mother, Jan Johnson, who is a longtime friend of the Bolens, can also be seen in one of the shots walking around the Congress with Sophie’s character.
While Rodeo Girl is set to premier on January 30th, Sophie has been busy filming an upcoming movie titled, A Parent’s Worst Nightmare, which takes a look at the sex trafficking industry. Sophie has also won awards for her work including a Best Child Actor award from the International Family Film Festival.
While Sophie and the Bolens continue to work in the movie industry, Scarlet has also been busy. Now, she is being used 
as a lesson horse, as Mary Luther-Eggleston (pictured left) is the head coach of the Grand Valley State University Equestrian Team. Scarlet is also used for equestrian team meets.
“If the opportunity for her to be in another movie came around, I would not turn it down. It was very interesting seeing the movie process and Scarlet handled all of the strange equipment that is used during the movie very well. We always joked around that she was a diva, and now she is!” says owner Jennifer Schulte.
No matter if Scarlet’s movie appearance was a one time occurrence or not, she definitely earned her rightful peppermints for her outstanding performance.
About the Author: Samantha Armbruster is a 21-year-old student from Sunbury, Ohio who is currently pursuing a degree in Public Relations from Franklin University. She currently shows her Quarter Horse gelding, Oops I Am Good, or better known as Hudson on the Ohio Quarter Horse circuit. Samantha rides with Lori Gingrich and loves being involved in the industry from lending a hand to the younger kids to learning from the top professionals. Though Sam primarily shows the all around events, she also has experience with World Champion halter horses as well as some of the top performance stallions in the nation.
Photos © Mary Luther-Eggleston, Jane Bolen, Denise jones, Photography by Denni, LLC
The film is also now available on Amazon Video and at Walmart stores across the country.
View the movie trailer below.
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