story by BreAnne Benson
The first time Riley Isbell competed in barrel racing was in Waco, Texas. She was in pre-school, on her first pony named Camo, with her dad, Zach, running alongside them. However, the second time she entered, she had found her confidence and promptly told her dad to stand back, even though she was nervous. Riley is now a 17-year-old senior who calls Salado, Texas, her home and is headed to Las Vegas to run at the KK Productions finals in the barrel racing. It won’t be her first time running at the finals, as a four-year-qualifier, her favorite part of the association is “how much of an NFR experience it gives,” she said, “I just think it’s really cool to get the experience of what to expect when you go pro.”
Riley’s parents, Zach and Ashley, have both been supportive of her ambitions, her dad who was a team roper put his hobby on hold when she decided to get serious about barrels. She stopped playing volleyball and running track and cross country to pursue rodeo full time. Her first gelding she stepped up to in first grade “taught me everything I know now,” she said, “he made me work for everything and really helped to get me to where I am today.” The first person she started training with was Kelly Clayman, “I started training with her in first grade till eighth. Then I started riding with Tammy Fischer, she’s been a great help to me.” Riley dedicates her free time to keeping her horses is the best mental and physical shape they can be. After school she can be found working her young horses on the pattern or doing drills and slow work to “keep their minds moving,” and when it comes to her finished barrel horse, Fergie, she tries to ride her outside of the arena as much as she can, “whatever I can do to keep her loving it.” Riley has had the mare since her freshman year of high school, “we started off running pretty good and we’ve just gotten faster and faster, she gives me her all and always tries for me.”
Each run, before she enters the arena her dad reminds her to think about all the main points she needs to ride to, and “just hustle.” “If I think about hustling it usually turns out pretty good.” This year she won the KK qualifier in Bryan, Texas, which was a rewarding moment in a pen they’ve previously struggled in. She was also the Region X champion barrel racer in the Texas High School Rodeo Association. Riley has started training her own horses now as well, “it’s challenging and rewarding at the same time,” hoping to be able to train in the future. She looks up to Brittany Tonozzi for her perseverance through this season, “I think she’s a really amazing rider and seeing her progress through the years really amazes me.” Her goal for the finals is to simply “make it through as smooth and fast as we can.” The young cowgirl plans to keep her head down and work tenaciously, fitting her favorite quote, “hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.”
