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Maricopa girl going to Nationals in NHSRA Junior High Division
Doris Fightmaster
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Fourteen-year-old Maricopa native Madison Byrd won Rookie of the Year for 2010 at the State level for the National High School Rodeo Association (NHSRA) – Junior High Division. According to her mother, Rosalind, she was a half-point away from being the All Around Cowgirl at the State event. Madi, as she is called by her friends, placed in three events to entitle her to go to the 2010 National Junior High Finals Rodeo in Gallup, New Mexico on June 27th – July 3rd.
For placing in pole bending, breakaway, and goat tying, she won three saddle pads. These beautiful leather pads are stamped with the event and 2010 on the bottom. She also won a horse’s breastplate that is also stamped leather with the year and event. For winning Rookie of the Year, Madi won a belt buckle worthy of a true champion.
Pole Bending is a timed event of a rider running a weaving path around six poles arranged in a line. The rider starts at one end and rides to the opposite end, then zigzags through the poles, going the direction of the starting point. At the last pole, the rider turns and zigzags through the poles the opposite way to the last pole, then rides back to the finish as fast as she can. It is essential that the rider remain seated in the saddle and use her lower body and legs to navigate the horse through the poles.
In Break-Away Calf Roping, the cowgirl needs a very well trained horse, as the horse and rider are behind a barrier and go as soon as the calf is at the proper place. The rope is tied to the saddle horn with a handkerchief. After the rider’s loop is around the calf’s head, as soon as the rope is taut, it breaks away from the horn and the timer stops. The fastest times in this event is usually recorded by high school cowgirls.
Goat tying is a rodeo event in which a goat is staked out on a 10-foot rope and a rider must race to the end of the rodeo arena, jump off their horse, and tie three of the goat’s legs together with a nylon or cotton rope. Contestants throw their hands up when the done, thus stopping the timer
Madison rides a 15-year-old quarter horse named Perry for Pole Bending and an older horse, Frankie, for Break-Away Calf Roping and Goat Tying events. She is required to wear cowgirl attire, a long-sleeve, button down shirt, jeans, boots, and a cowboy hat when she competes. The State meet was held in Queen Creek on May 7th and 8th, but the Nationals in New Mexico will be a full week of competition. Stepdad Darwin helps Madi to keep her horses fed, brushed, and groomed. She said the best thing for her to do is to just ride as much as possible. At a very young age, Madison told her folks, “I want to be a cowgirl,” and she has turned out to be one of the best.
Madison’s folks wanted a list of sponsors who are helping her get to Gallup, New Mexico, but the list is not available yet. The Communicator will report on Madison’s results at Nationasl and may be able to include the sponsor list at that time.
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