story by Erin McAleenan
Making a trip to Las Vegas in December is exactly what Paisley Nobles is looking to do. The 13-year-old from Apple Valley, Calif., secured her spot at the Junior World Finals by winning the KK qualifier barrel race in Buckeye, Arizona in March. Smooch, Paisley’s talented barrel horse helped her succeed in the arena “He is just a dork, I mean he’s got a big personality.” The pair have been working together for a couple of years now. “He’s a freak of nature, he’s super talented, I’ve been incredibly blessed that God put him in my life he’s opened so many doors for me.”
While she didn’t plan on going to the qualifier, Paisley was sure glad she entered. “We kind of just decided to go for it and it definitely worked.” The team is excited to head to Vegas in December and compete with the rest of the qualifiers. “I think it’s a super cool opportunity, how they set up KK when you get there prepares you for what rodeos are going to be like in the future.” Being reserve in a round for a previous Junior World Finals, Paisley is driven and has a goal to take home the big win this December “I made it my goal that I wasn’t going to stop trying until I won the whole deal one year.”. Paisley plans to keep her horse healthy and in shape and work with some trainers in preparation for Vegas. “When I get there, my goal is to place top 5 in every round.”
Paisley runs barrels alongside her mom Stacey Hart, who helps Paisley with her horses along with maintaining her own. Paisley not only runs barrels but also breakaway ropes competitively and occasionally team ropes with her family, “There’s just something about running barrels that’s super special to me and it’s something I don’t like taking a few days off from because it’s just something that’s a part of me.”. Paisley is focused on rodeo and has taken interest in the breeding side of the sport as well and enjoys learning all about it. Rodeo and running barrels take up most of Paisley’s time, when asked about other hobbies she doesn’t have any outside of the arena.
Since Paisley is focused on rodeos, she attends school online through Ogburn, making it easy for Paisley and her mom to travel to rodeos whenever they get the chance. Paisley has also considered what she wants to do in the future with education and rodeo, “I would like to be on the Cal Poly rodeo team or the UNLV rodeo team.” Continuing in the sport of rodeo is important to Paisley as she has dedicated her life to the sport.
As for preparing for Las Vegas in December Paisley plans on keeping Smooch and her other horses in shape and healthy. She plans on working with different trainers to compete at her best. Keeping her horses light and consistent is something Paisley focuses on when it comes to working her horses in preparation for a big competition. Paisley has put in the hours and hard work, but it has paid off.
