Youth Divisions Important Part Of Competition

When most people think of barrel racing they think of the major televised rodeos and the stars in the sport but for most of those competitors their rise into major rodeos started as a small child.

For the past two evenings the youth division has ran at the Saskatchewan Barrel Racing Association (SBRA) provincial finals being held at the Golden Mile Arena at the Moose Jaw Exhibition Grounds.

“The youth divisions are very important,” says Nicole Hicks, event organizer and the SBRA’s vice-president.

“The youth is important as that is going to be the future of the sport,” Hicks said.

PINT SIZED RIDE - Barrel racing isn’t all about the big horses cutting the course as there were ponies also competing against the bigger horses in the youth divisions - MJ Independent photo

The youth divisions, which are open to competitors from 5 - 18 years old, have 137 competitors at this year’s provincial finals.

The youngest division is the Pee Wee division for children ranging in age from 5 - 7 years old.

“It’s a little bit more this year just above the average,” she said, adding the SBRA sees all competitors from Pee Wee on up to the youth graduating into the bigger divisions of the sport as equally important.

The unique thing about barrel racing is that although there is the SBRA to foster participation and competition the younger divisions are really about what is happening on the farms and ranches throughout the province.

HELPING HAND - a youth rider receives a helping hand to learn the sport safely. The fans in attendance cheered on all competitors as they competed whether someone ran alongside of them to finish their first provincial finals.

Asked about how the sport is supported and nurtured she said it is all done on the farm.

“You grow up not knowing anything else but to ride a horse,” Hicks said, adding when she grew up on a farm in the Wood Mountain area it was something she did everyday and it led to her competing as a five year old in first local Little Britches Rodeos and later the SBRA final.

Little Britches Rodeos are smaller rodeos for youth held in smaller communities where the future competitors of the SBRA finals compete and gain rodeo experience. The events help to grow not just barrel racing but all rodeo sports.

GETTING READY TO RIDE - A young prospective barrel racing star waits in the show ring on a pony for her turn to round the barrels

Asked about her own start in the sport - at five years old - Hicks described it as a natural rush and addictive. Something that is one of the drivers for many other children entering the sport.

“It was fun. I always liked to go fast. I never liked to walk (on a horse) I always liked to run,” she said, adding “it is no different than now I get the same rush feelings.”

Another major driver that Hicks sees driving barrel racing’s future is the fact that it is a family affair.

Many of the children in the under 18 divisions competing have their mothers riding in the open classes and the children compete at the SBRA finals when their mother is competing.

“It (the sport) will always very high (in youth participants) and not going to go down…the majority of people who are 24 (Hick’s age) are just starting to have children and there are plenty of mothers who walk their children into it (barrel racing).”

Hicks though is quick to point out that although barrel racing in Canada is largely seen as a female rodeo sport that the event is open to anyone regardless of gender. Girls and boys are welcome to compete at the SBRA finals.

Something that is slowly changing.

AROUND SAFELY - A youth competitor makes it around the barrels

“It has always been broadcast as a ladies event but men can ride barrel horses and compete as well…in Canada the majority of competitors are women but in the US it is about equal (men and women competitors)….we are always a little bit behind them.”

The importance of the under 18 years of age divisions for the SBRA will be spot-lighted this Thursday as the best competitors from the Monday and Tuesday runs will compete for the provincial championships in their various divisions along with the open adult divisions.

The SBRA finals continue tomorrow Wednesday getting underway at 8 am and Thursday at 9 am and run until approximately 7 - 8 pm daily once the competitions are over.

The event is being held at the Golden Mile Arena on the Moose Jaw Exhibition (Fair) Grounds and are FREE to attend.

BOOTS AND SPURS - a young competitor takes time off for a burger at the concession