story by Kailey Pickering
After pursuing a passion for English jumping for four years, Grace Barnett turned back to her love of rodeo when her jumping horse passed away from Colic. At nine years old, Grace Barnett wandered into her family’s tack room and discovered an English saddle. The saddle was her mother’s, who had learned to ride English growing up in Oklahoma from a neighbor who was an English and Dressage trainer. After years of rodeoing, this saddle drove Grace to discover a love for English horse jumping. Grace grew disciplined to keep good form in her English competitions and continues to use these disciplines as she competes in rodeo. “Building strength and confidence not only for yourself but for your horse, too, is something you never stop working on,” Grace said. She hopes to get back into English Jumping one day but also loves the competition of rodeo and is grateful for the accomplishments she has reached. In 2022, Grace, now 17, not only claimed the world champion title in the pole bending event, but also took the championship in barrel racing in the American Junior Rodeo Association’s (AJRA) year end events. Grace remembers the feeling of elation she had after her double win. Grace has been a member of the AJRA for the past three years, and has enjoyed the atmosphere and the organization of the AJRA rodeos. “Everyone in the association is so kind; it’s a very friendly atmosphere.”
Grace grew up in Midland, Texas since she was three years old and is homeschooled, so she can direct more attention towards rodeo. She has been rodeoing ever since she can remember and while she can’t recall her very first rodeo memory, she followed in the footsteps of her family. Her mother, Linda, used to barrel race, her father, Jeremy, was a team roper, while her older sister Katlyn, 19, competes for Howard College in barrel racing. Her family has been her biggest supporters. Linda taught her how to care for her horses and always encourages her to chase her dreams. “She’s my number one fan.” Jeremy is always making sure Grace makes it to rodeo events. She says Jeremy will drive her to rodeo events after working late. “He loves fishing, but always takes time from that to get me to my events,” Grace said. She also appreciates the support from her grandparents, Glenda and Mike Barnett. “Granddad loves watching me…I know that he’s so proud and it makes me happy to know that,” Grace said. She also describes Mike as a knowledgeable man who she can turn to with any questions.
Grace looks up to her older sister who has preserved through injuries and now competes in college on a rodeo scholarship. Katlyn went back to rodeoing after recovering from breaking both of her ACL’s in back to back years in high school. Katlyn did not compete in English jumping like her sister but has modeled an attitude of perseverance and persistence for Grace. As a high school senior, Grace has goals to follow in her sister’s footsteps and rodeo in college. She’s looking into Howard College and Texas Tech University with a degree in Agricultural Business.
This year, Grace will be working her way towards rodeoing at a collegiate level. She listens to pump up song “Fast as You,” by Dwight Yoakam. When she’s not preparing for rodeo events, Grace works at Chick-fil-a.
“The thrill of it (rodeo) is unmatched compared to any other sport I’ve done,” Grace said. Grace has competed in many other sports including tennis, swimming and dance, but rodeo and English Jumping are where her passion lies.
