It was an exciting moment for Oxford High School sophomore Kaitlyn Trezil on Sunday, as she participated in the Longhorn World Championship Rodeo at The Palace of Auburn Hills.
Although she placed 23rd out of 40, Trezil broke her 16 second average in the cowgirl barrel racing event with a time of 15.7 seconds. The winner’s time was 14.2.
Barrel racing is a rodeo event where the rider races in a cloverleaf pattern around barrels laid out in a triangle as quickly and as accurately as possible.
When most people think of a rodeo, they picture a cowboy trying desperately to hold on as he rides a bucking bronco, but there are many other fun events, like steer wrestling and bull-riding. But, Trezil always thought barrel racing looked the most fun.
Before the rodeo started 50 friends and family members looked on as Trezil, 15, got to ride in the opening ceremony as the Star Spangeled Banner played in the background.
Trezil has been riding horses since she was three-years-old and began taking riding lessons when she was six. She’s been a member of the OHS Equestrian Team for the last two years as well.
Trezil said she was ‘fascinated? by the barrel racing event in rodeo and that it was always something she wanted to do.
‘I just thought it was cool how they could go so fast and do turns so quick and how the horse stays under control,? she said. ‘I thought it was a cool bond between a rider and the horse.?
Trezil began racing with her horse Dream, an 11-year-old, brown Appaloosa, last year.
The hardest part of barrel racing, according to Trezil, is rating the horse, or getting them to speed up or slow down.
‘They either want to slow down or they don’t want to stop,? she said.
So far, Trezil hasn’t had any accidents while barrel racing, and she doesn’t plan on any in her future.
‘You gotta focus and it takes lots of practicing,? she said. ‘It takes a lot of time and patience.?