This is a story of me and my mare by Shayna Penn 14 yrs. old

Almost every equine lover has heard of the nationwide sport of barrel racing and some have had the chance to feel the adrenaline rush around every barrel and the beloved partnership between the rider and their horse. The partnership of the racers is based fully on trust and love. I had that chance when I was ten.

I had always bugged our next door neighbour to ride his horses, his name was Tommy Enfinger. He and his wife Amy had a ranch consisting of over 30 head. I had already started riding English with a dressage trainer, but I didn't like it and only stayed to be around the horses. I started pestering Tommy when I was three. I went over almost every weekend until one day he gave in. He told me that he had a two year old filly I could ride, but I'd have to gain her trust and break her in myself. I was definitely up to it. As I headed for the pasture, I had the floating thoughts of my dream horse running through my mind. My dream horse that would take me to the Women's Professional Rodeo Association and get me the championship buckle. I knew this would be the best day of my life. And, until I reached her, I was sure of it, however I changed my mind I saw her. She was a hairy, skinny, mangy bay ball of tangles. Tommy came up from behind me and said, " No one can catch her. If you can break her you can have her." I knew it was my only shot, and thought that maybe if I did break her, Tommy would realize what a good rider I was and would let me ride his other horses. So, day one began of a slow, slow process. I went over every day with food as treats, but every day, she either ran from me or charged right at me. After about a month of fighting I sat down in her pasture and gave up. I cried my eyes out because I knew I could never reach my dream at this rate.

As I buried my face in my hands, I felt a warm, tingling feeling in my neck. I turned my head to see the wild filly breathing on me! As I moved, though, she stepped back, I quickly poured the food on the ground and she came back to me! Everything went smoothly from then on, she began meeting me at the gate with a friendly nicker. I practiced leading her around, putting blankets on her back, and spending the hot, summer days with her out in the cool woods with treats and gossip. She loved hearing those stories. Her hair became smooth and shiny from careful brushing and a lot of baths, and she was definitely becoming bigger around the stomach area. She was actually turning out to be an okay horse. I named her Lady. The day came after about five months, the day that I finally got the guts to put a saddle on her and break her in. I knew that we trusted each other completely and she wouldn't try to hurt me, but I still had a lot of doubts. She seemed her normal self as I lead her out of the pasture. I put her in the round pen and watched Tom-Tom ( as I lovingly called Tommy) give her her workout.After about half an hour, he let me in the gate. As I petted her and put my foot slowly in the stirrup, Tom-Tom told me he was proud of me. It gave me the confidence and courage I needed. I pulled myself up and slung my leg over. I was on her! I petted her, told her how much I loved her and Tommy led her around the pen. After her thirty days of riding. I began walking her around the barrels after our workouts. She even got to the point that she walked them by herself! Amy helped through the faster gaits and soon had her on a solid lope through the pattern. My Mom signed me up for NBHA, National Barrel Horse Association, in 1997, and we were on our way.

She began consistent times at the shows. I made many new friends and we even bought two new horses. Missy- a three year old unbroken mare & Lily- Missy's Four month old filly. At the end of my first season, I counted up my points and realized, I had won 1st place in the 3rd division! I was very happy when I received my first belt buckle. She went on that year to get me third in the Alabama State championship and 2nd in a local 4-h state show. The next season went on just the same except she won both the 2nd and 3rd divisions for me. ( 1st division is the fastest, 3rd is the slowest). We also ran in the Dixie Nationals that year and placed third and the Alabama State to place second. She had done so well that we took her to the 2000 NBHA World Championship in early January. We also brought along another horse, Thunder, that I was training for a doctor in northern Alabama. We ran in the first two go-rounds with good standings and made it to the finals. I knew that I had a bad habit of holding her back, so I just let her go. She runs an automatic pattern without me. She ran with all her might and won. The entire Championship. She won a saddle with a belt-buckle and plenty of money to cover the entry fees and make my parents happy. I was so proud of her. I decided to give her a good months break and wait to run her in the Dixie Nationals later that year. I rode the other horses I was training for other people at the local NBHA shows. Lady had given me enough points to start on and I ended up winning the 1st division, the 2nd and the 4th ( 4th is one that they started in late 1998). The Dixie Nationals came around in February. It was her last show. She tripped around the 1st barrel, went wide, but continued her pattern. I really didn't think much of it. She seemed fine. I had made the finals though and went to rinse her off and put her up for the night. It was dark, and I couldn't really see that well, so I didn't notice anything wrong. The next morning, my alarm clock didn't go off. I had approximately 45 minutes before my run. I got dressed, saddled her up, and gave her a brief exercise before our names were called. Again, I didn't notice anything. As I led her into the arena, I noticed she limped a little, but seemed as spunky and spirited as ever. Our turn was up and she pranced to the gate. Suddenly, she pulled the reigns from my hands, laid her ears back, and sprinted towards the first barrel. I let her go. I felt worried, but nevertheless knew that she could do it. Our time was a 14.2, a complete second and a half off our first run! She had won it. I was very proud of her. I later learned what the problem was. She had a painful, fully developed splint on her right, front leg. It was caused from the stress of her trip around the first barrel on the first go-round.

She was bred shortly after her win, and left me a beautiful paint baby with her heart and curious personality. Unfortunately, another mare she was pastured with kicked her sensitive right leg shortly after her filly's birth, and Lady had to be put down. It's devastating to go out to her pasture and not hear her friendly nicker greet me. But her baby, Dancer, has gotten me through it. She didn't get me to reach my goal, but I plan on taking her heart with me the rest of the way.