The Rodeo Life

Chapter 1

"Hurry up mom were going to be late!" I said.

"Coming Hallie," she said. We are leaving to a barrel racing jackpot in Panoka. My new barrel horse Pete was already in our living quarters trailer. My two good friends Bailey and Sarah. When we arrived I saddled Pete and wrapped his lags with light blue polo wraps and purple bell boots.

"Hey bailey" I called "is Sarah here yet."

" hi Hallie, ya Sarah's here she's parked over there."

We went and met up with Sarah, we warmed up our horses while our parents were registering us.

To warm up we walked and trotted around, then we loped circles and made sure our horses were flexing.

Bailey's horse is named Dude a big brown and white paint and is really fast if he can keep the barrels standing.

Sarah's horse is named Gambler a little sorrel who is supper quick. Sarah runs very competitive and is better than me and Bailey but never gets Cocky.

"Come on guys there announcing the order" called Sarah.

"Coming" we said together

"First up Madelyn on Snake, second Bailey on Dude...... Sixteenth Hanna on Pete, seventeenth Shaelyn on Cree, eighteenth Samantha on Pongo, nineteenth Madison on Fly, twentieth Danna on Jitter...

"I better get going guys I'm second. see you later" said Bailey.

"See ya we don't have to go at least until the juniors are done"

At a jackpot the juniors always go first which is kids 11 and under. I'm in the youth which is 12-16 year olds. it takes place after the juniors. All the other ladies are in the 'open' category. To win money at a jackpot you have to win one of the three divisions. The fastest time wins the first division (1d). From there they divided the rest of the group into two other divisions (2d) and (3d). That way even if you aren't one of the fastest you have a chance of getting money.( sorry so confusing)

"Sarah do you want to stay and watch the youth?" I asked.

"Sure they are so cute! and some are pretty good" said Sarah.

Once the youth was done we went and warmed up once Pete was a little warmed up we went and watched Bailey. She had a really good run we cheered loud but she sadly took the third a little tight and knocked it down.

We went and warmed up our horses a little more until I heard the announcer say I was in the hole. That ment they were two more people ahead of me.

It's important to keep Pete calm at the gate so he doesn't learn any bad habits while he's so young.

Once they opened the gate we burst through the alley way, the first barrel was coming up fast. Pete was fast so I sat down and checked him. We flew around first we were headed to second. He switched his lead, got low and turned second really tight and we left it standing. We raced to third and Pete wiped around it. I kicked and Pete galloped home super fast.

"Another good run that was a 17.46" said the announcer.

"Great job" said Sarah.

"I bet you got some money" said Bailey.

"Sarah your in the hole we better get to the gate" I said.

Sarah's horse gambler gets pretty excited before he runs and is hard to keep calm in the alley. Bailey and I sometimes help by pretending were going in the alley so Gambler will fallow.

Sarah is very calm and tries to get gambler in the alley when the announcer calls her name.Gambler Is rearing up bat Sarah knows what to do. She motions for us to head towards the gate once Gambler stops. As soon as she gets in the alley she takes off.