National titles in reach for local barrel racers

Among the world's best youths, seven local children will try to win the world championship for racers under the age of 18.

By KENT FISCHER

© St. Petersburg Times,
published July 10, 2001

[Times photo: Janel Schroeder-Norton] Lara Dewees, 13, turns a barrel with Chocolotta during her afternoon practice at her farm in Lacoochee for the 2001 National Barrel Horse Association world championship.

It's not an easy sport to master. Endless hours of practice and training and traveling to competitions mean nothing if your horse won't go where you want.

Nevertheless, seven local kids are trying hard to become barrel racing champs. They'll travel to Jackson, Miss., this month to compete in the National Barrel Horse Association's world championship for racers under the age of 18.

Barrel racing is a rodeo sport in which riders circle their horses around each of three barrels placed in a clover-leaf pattern. The best in the world can complete the circuit in about 15 seconds.

Lara Dewees, 13, of Dade City has been barrel racing for six years. Last year, she took fifth place in the youth world championships. This year, she qualified for Division 1 -- home to the fastest horses. Lara is taking two horses to the race, George's Top Moon and Chocolotta.

"It's so exciting when you get up there," Lara said. "The suspense, the wind rushing past your face. You've worked with your horse all year and it's teamwork. It's a million-to-one chance, but I think if my horse does well, we could win it all."

Sharon McDonald, the racing association's director for the district that includes Pasco, said more than 1,200 kids from all of the nation will ride for the title between July 31 and Aug. 4.

Racers qualify for the world championships after first doing well at 18 local district shows. The top five finishers in each division earn berths at the national race.

"Our kids are very good," McDonald said. "Most of them live, eat and breath barrel racing. The competition is very tough."

Winners could take home thousands of dollars in prize money and tack equipment.

Andrea Shafer, 17, is going to compete in Jackson for the first time. She has been training her horse, Betsy, for four years. She and Betsy can post great times when the two are in sync, she said.

"I had to retrain her and we've finally bonded to the point where she'll listen to me no matter what command I make," said Shafer, who is from New Port Richey.

The other local racers scheduled to compete at the championships:

Tasha Holliman of Spring Hill; Naomi Minardi of Odessa; Tiffany Styck of Dade City; Tomi Thomas of Spring Hill; and Clint Malone of Odessa.

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