story by Lily Weinacht
Gravity may make Earth orbit the sun, but running barrels is what makes Riley Arrington’s world go ‘round. The 11-year-old from Kingsland, Texas, started riding as soon as she could hang onto the saddle and was in lead-line rodeo events by the time she was three. Today, she’s an avid AJRA competitor in the barrel racing, pole bending, goat tying, and soon, breakaway roping. “I tried putting Riley in other sports – just to test the waters – like softball or soccer or gymnastics, but if it didn’t have animals, she wasn’t interested!” says Shelly Arrington, Riley’s mom. Riley weaves her way across The Lone Star State, competing in the AJRA, CPRA, and barrel races. She was the AJRA Reserve Pole Bending Champion in 2014 and swept the barrel racing in her age division in 2015, winning the World, finals, and average titles in the event. Another high point in 2015 was breaking the arena record with a 15.2 barrel run during the CTYRA finals in McGregor, Texas, where she was also the CTYRA finals and year-end champion in the barrel racing, as well as the finals champion in the pole bending.
“I’ve wanted to rodeo since I was a little girl – I watched my mom and aunt run barrels, and my dad, Brandon Arrington, rode bulls,” says Riley. “Barrel racing is my favorite because I have my first rodeo memories in that event, and I’m not as nervous going into it. I look up to Fallon Taylor because she had her bad accident and started over, and she overcame her fears.” Riley met Fallon Taylor and Babyflo last year at a barrel race in San Antonio, Texas, where the pair of barrel racers were stalled in the same barn.
Riley runs barrels on her 12-year-old mare, Lucy. “I was scared the first few times I got on Lucy because we kept hitting barrels, but she was so much fun, and so smooth!” Riley explains. “We’re getting better and better. I also use Lucy for poles, and I’ll be getting a new horse for goat tying and roping.” Riley practices daily, but when Lucy developed an abscess in her foot after the rain and flooding in their town, Riley had to give her mare time to recuperate. “I want to thank Elgin Vet Clinic and Dr. Marty Tanner for their support. My horses always come first every day,” says Riley. “Then I go work in the goat barn. I exercise them and take care of their hair and feet. I show them in our county stock show and in Houston, San Antonio, and Austin in the winter.” Shelly, an Ag. teacher, adds, “Riley is a member of the Burnet FFA, and she’s responsible for buying her own goats. I firmly believe if kids invest in their animals too, they’ll work harder with them.” Riley also owns seven head of cattle – five cows and two heifers – which she works every time she visits her grandpa’s. “I have the chance to earn scholarships with rodeo and FFA, and one of my goals is to go to college on a scholarship,” she explains.
Riley will be a fifth grader at RJ Elementary School this fall, where she particularly enjoys science, but first, she and her family will be taking a trip to Washington state. “Every year, my parents take our family on a vacation. We’ve gone to Calgary, Cheyenne, the Prescott Round Up, and national parks like Yellowstone and the Grand Canyon,” says Shelly. “We’re going to the Omak Stampede this year, and one of our favorites was Prescott. We loved the people and their dedication to the U.S. and rodeo – and the charisma of the town.”
Above all, Riley wants her travels to take her to the WNFR not as a spectator, but a competitor. “My biggest dream is to go to the NFR,” she finishes, “and I know if I put all my work and effort in it, I’ll be able to go there.”
