Teenage cowgirl having barrels of fun
Albertan cowgirl saddles up for competition at B.C.’s Cloverdale Invitational Rodeo and Falkland Stampede
During the week, 14-year-old Taylor Manning’s life is pretty typical — high school, homework and horseback riding. Her weekends are another story.
On Saturday the teenager was at the Cloverdale Invitational Rodeo to compete in the barrel racing competition with her horse Matlock. On Sunday, after several hours on the road, she’ll be at the Falkland Stampede to do it all again. The Grade 8 student from Edson, Alta., plans to be back in school Tuesday morning.
“I love it,” she said of the rodeo circuit that will take her to 40 or 50 events this spring and summer. “I love being with my family.”
Manning’s father, Jay, was a pro bull rider and won the Canadian Finals Rodeo (CFR) in 1996. Her mother Shelly is also a barrel racer.
Shelly said Taylor was riding before she could walk and began riding on her own at age 3. She started entering rodeos when she turned seven and joined the pro rodeo circuit last year.
“The idea was to get her feet wet,” she said.
But Taylor won several events and qualified for the CFR, where she won her round — and more than $11,000 — with a 14.643 time. She is the third youngest CFR qualifier of all time.
In barrel racing, a horse and rider attempt to complete a cloverleaf pattern around pre-set barrels in the fastest time.
Taylor said the key to doing well is to “work hard” and spend time with your horse. She’s been riding Matlock, who was previously her mother’s horse, for about two years.
A few hours before competing Saturday afternoon, the teen admitted she was nervous but excited about her ride.
Barrel racing is among several rodeo events happening at the 72nd annual Cloverdale rodeo this weekend. Other disciplines include bareback, saddle bronc and bull riding. The Cloverdale Country Fair, which happens at the same time, is celebrating 130 years as the unofficial kickoff to summer in B.C.
Taylor is one of 96 cowboys and cowgirls competing at the rodeo, which promises big cash prizes to the winners.
The fair also features a kids’ zone, agri zone, lumberjack show, B.C. Country Music Association pavilion, a skateboarding competition with $10,000 in prize money, and B.C.’s largest travelling midway.
While not sunny, Saturday’s weather was ideal for fairgoers and rodeo spectators. The day began with the annual rodeo parade. Sunday’s events start with a pancake breakfast.
The Cloverdale Rodeo and Country Fair runs all weekend, ending Monday at 5 p.m.