Pee Wee Barrel Racing All About Family - Photo Essay
Photos and Story by Robert Thomas
Tuesday afternoon saw the pee wee barrel racers, children five to seven years old, out in their finest at the Saskatchewan Barrel Racing Association’s 2023 provincial championships.
A total of 38 pee wee riders competed in the event with all riders revive a prize at the end of the two days of competition.
Here are some photos of Tuesday afternoon’s pee wee event. The per wees also competed on Monday afternoon.
Some of the youngest riders crashed around the barrels stirring up dust
While others took a more cautious route but still made it fault free around the barrels
Pee wee competitors are typically the children of competitive barrel riders who turn the provincials in Moose Jaw into a family holiday said Nicole Hicks one of the organizers of this years provincial championships.
“Lots of people turn this into their family holidays. They stay off site in a hotel where they go for meals and use the pool and the water slides,” Hicks said.
While others were led through the barrels by mom on a full run
Down the stretch
Offering pee wee and youth divisions at the provincial barrel racing championships allows the event to be a family affair.
If a child is able to ride safely on their own through the barrels they are welcome to do so she said but it’s no problem to have a parent help out.
And of course you have horses all decked out including their Rider’s name
And yes there was mom….
The large crowd on hand for the pee wee and then later is a good thing Hicks said, adding “yeah it’s important (to have fans in the stands). It’s important, it’s exciting and the kids enjoy it I’m sure.”
Asked about the number of pee wee competitors and it was up she said “we usually have about 30 to 40 pee wees competing so it’s about average this year.”
…and mom….
….and mom sometimes leading the way..,
This year there were 38 competitors in the pee wee division.
There’s a unique thing when it comes to Pee Wee barrel, racing and rodeo sports. Many of the young children who ride barrels
“So this is the only thing kid at the age of five, six or seven (years of age) can you get into the arena. This is there first start which is barrel racing.”
She said many of the boys who compete at barrel racing, go onto other rodeo sports.
…or if you were on a full gallop mom was waiting for you at the finish line
There was a time to chat outside while waiting your run inside the arena
“It’s pretty important we host Pee Wee each year and get them to have that opportunity,” Hicks said.
Although it might seem that Pee Wee was a way to develop future barrel, racing competitors Hicks said that is not always the case and people have entered the sport as adults.
Hicks herself competed in the Pee Wee races as a youngster, but when asked if she would still enter the sport, even without the young beginnings, she replied “probably.”
For Hicks Pee Wee is more of a family thing.
And even a time to smile as you headed down the stretch at your top speed
Beating the heat was easy when mom brought you a popsicle to enjoy as you waited to do your run
If your mom and/or dad is a barrel racer chances are you will have the opportunity as a five, six or seven year old to ride barrels in the arena.
It’s a tradition and barrel racing. That is likely not to stop anytime soon.
Even the smallest child rode around the barrels on a really big horse
Rounding the barrels with a fancy horse collar and wearing a bright red shirt
WEDNESDAY
All events taking place indoors at the Golden Mile Arena on the Moose Jaw Exhibition Grounds (250 Thatcher Drive East)
Competition kicks off at 8 AM with the Bonanza Horses - five, six and seven year old horses from Saskatchewan.
These horses are seen as the up-and-coming horses in the sport.
“They are the young horses and they are Saskatchewan bred only,” she said.
There are 51 horses entered in the Bonanza which will mean it should take just over an hour for the event.
Immediately following the Bonanza Horses there will be the second round of the Open Draw.
The top times from the two days of competition advance to the on Thursday
Following the approximately five hours of Open competition the Youth Short Go will take place will take place to end the day.
Youth riders range in age from eight years old to 18 years of age.
BARREL BOOSTERS
The 2023 provincial championships boast 80 to 100 more horses than last year something which Hicks sees as a good indicator of continued growth and popularity in the sport.
Although the economic impact of the event is not fully known an unofficial count was made on Sunday evening - after competitors arrived - and 1,400 people left in vehicles from the grounds. Since it was the evening before competitions, the likelihood of the majority of those people were, they were going out to spend money in the community.
Although there is no accurate count in all likelihood, the Saskatchewan Barrel Racing Championships is economically the largest event putting money into the community that is held on the Moose Jaw Exhibition Grounds.