NSRA member, Carla Jensen – Chuck Borcher
Carla Jensen of Dannebrog, Neb., knew barrel racing was the event for her long before she entered her first rodeo. The 28 year old grew up on a cattle ranch, riding horses and showing them in 4-H, and spent each summer watching the rodeo in Wolbach, Neb. She went on to run barrels and poles in 4-H, spurred on by her mom’s own interest in rodeo, and Carla won her first buckle during the Ericson Junior Rodeo on her horse, Cricket. It was the first of many buckles and rodeo checks.
Carla wasn’t able to pursue barrel racing seriously, however, until she went to Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture (NCTA) in Curtis. She started entering local jackpots, where she truly began learning the art of chasing cans. “I really learned to become a barrel racer while I was in college,” says Carla. “Everyone gave me pointers and the local ladies were a lot of help.” During college, Carla interned in Texas, working on a reining and cutting horse ranch. While she enjoyed the showing, her focus was ultimately on the barrel racing during every AQHA show.
Following college, Carla moved back home, and in 2011, she went to Ohio to purchase a mare, Famous Painted Lady. She came home with a second horse, Time Tikin Away (aka Hope), a five-year-old green broke mare whom Carla planned to trade. But when Famous Painted Lady bucked Carla off and broke her hip, Carla and her mom partnered up and sent Hope to Jenna Lee Thompson for training. By that winter, Carla was ready to ride again, and she started easing Hope into rodeos. They were winning 5Ds in January, and by spring, Hope was placing in the 1D. “I really started hauling once I got Hope going – we went to 60 rodeos that summer,” says Carla, who is now a member of the NSRA, MSRA, IRA, URA, KPRA, and WPRA. “I love the speed and adrenaline rush of barrel racing. I hit 60 – 70 rodeos a summer, and I’m still super nervous about it every time! I love how you lose yourself in your run, and when you make a good run, it’s the best feeling in the world. I grew up idolizing women like Dori Hollenbeck and June Holman, and now I get to compete right next to them!”
In addition to Hope, Carla also runs a 14-year-old mare, Ryder. “She’s a homegrown mare – we bred her out of our stud, and I started and trained her,” says Carla. “She’s a good-hearted horse, and she can run through mud like there’s nothing there.” Horses loaded, Carla never leaves for a rodeo without her Chihuahua, Booger. “He goes everywhere with me, and he loves rodeos,” Carla describes. “He thinks he’s tough – he’ll even try to bite the roping steers!”
During the off season of rodeo, Carla can be found at Apex Cattle Company, where she helps with feeding, calving, tagging, building scales, and even running the ranch’s booth during shows. “I love having a variety of things to do, and I love having a job where my boss understands my rodeo addiction!” says Carla. Though it is rare, Carla uses her spare time to see friends, or she’ll make the 30 minute drive to her parents’ ranch in St. Paul, where she helps them with the cattle.
“In rodeo, I want to better myself every year, and I’d love to make The American and the NFR,” Carla finishes. “I’ve never won a saddle, so that is my next goal. I’m taking baby steps – first a saddle, then the NFR!
