Growth of barrel racing on display during provincials in Moose Jaw

Callie Barbour has been barrel racing for the past 12 years and enjoys the environment, the people, and most especially, the horses.

“I love working with the horses and getting them as competitive as possible and seeing their full potential,” said Barbour, adding it is an adrenaline rush racing around the barrels.

The Estevan resident followed in her sister’s footsteps and jumped into the sport when she was in Grade 2. Barbour eventually competed in high school rodeos, before moving to Glen Dive, Montana a few years ago on a rodeo scholarship. Barbour was in Moose Jaw from Aug. 14 to 16 to compete in the 2019 Saskatchewan Barrel Racing Association (SBRA) provincials, along with more than 500 other competitors from Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. There were 695 runs scheduled during the three days, while more than 1,200 visitors were expected to attend.

There were 46 kids in the peewee category, 128 youths in the youth category and 390 adults in the open category. OrganizVal Marie’s Mckenna Legault and her horse Autumn on Fifth pick up a five-second penalty after knocking over one of the barrels during the second round of races at provincials, on Aug. 16 at the exhibition grounds. Photo by Jason G. Antonio ers say this is the biggest year for entries they’ve seen in a while; there were about 150 more competitors this year than last year.

Barbour and her horse, Mack, ran into some bad luck during the first day of competing, but had a clean run during the second day, she said, which left her in the middle of the pack.

“I’m happy with that,” she said, adding she didn’t make the final round but her sister did.

This was the first time Callie Andersen, 10, competed at provincials after becoming a racer seven years ago. The Pangman girl and her horse, Otis, had two clean runs during the first two days, so they were placed at the bottom of the standings and will likely compete in the finals. “It’s very fun. I get to go fast,” Andersen added. “I get to hang out with all my friends (as well).”

The SBRA provincials returned to Moose Jaw after a 10-year absence, explained president Shasta Hanna. The finals were brought back to The Friendly City due to the extra space at the Exhibition Grounds — including grass fields for the horses — along with the fact Moose Jaw is in central Saskatchewan.

“We’ve just been growing our membership. We need a lot of parking for trucks and rigs,” said Hanna, who has competed in barrel racing for more than 20 years. The SBRA provincials are the largest equestrian event in Saskatchewan, while the SBRA itself is one of the largest — if not the largest — horse groups in the province, with 1,000 members, she continued. Daylynn Olliver’s horse WP Carries Command gets up close and personal with one of the three barrels during a second-round race at provincials, held at the exhibition grounds on Aug. 16. Olliver is from Vibank. Photo by Jason G. Antonio

“It’s exciting to watch and do,” Hanna remarked. While 90 per cent of the membership is composed of women, barrel racing is for everyone. “People want to do it and it’s awesome. It’s an adrenaline rush.” Racing comes down to milliseconds and who can manoeuvre their horse around the barrels the most efficiently. Hanna pointed out riders can practise all year long, but when they’re competing, threeone-hundredths of a second can affect where riders finish in the standings. “Every little bobble of the horse makes a difference,” she said.

Riders have to think of everything, from ground conditions to the health of the horse to the health of the jockey, Hanna continued. Riders usually treat their horses better than themselves, almost like their children. The equines receive therapy with infrared lights and even exercise on treadmills in the water.

“I enjoy how competitive it is. I’m a pretty competitive person and I enjoy the thrill of (how) every little thing counts,” she added. “And it’s always growing. You always have to be getting better.”