By Magie Downares-Nevius
Christmas came early for CPRA rookie sensation, Sadie Shake, after obtaining over $1,400 during the esteemed Fourth of July run and notching an additional two first-place wins in her belt. “I am super thrilled about it. Things have really taken off with my horse and I am so excited for the remainder of the year,” she said. The 14-year-old cowgirl has burst into the organization to become a high-end contender; raking in roughly $4,400 in earnings to take the position of third. “I am really enjoying the fun atmosphere that the CPRA has to offer and the members have been super nice,” Sadie said. The money is going into a college fund.
Coming from a rodeo family, where her grandfather (Don) is a former saddle bronc rider in the previously known Colorado State Rodeo Association and her dad (Shawn) rode junior bulls as a youngster, Sadie got her initial start through mutton busting at 9 years old at the CPRA Collegiate Peaks Stampede in her hometown of Buena Vista, Colo. “I watched the girls run and decided that barrel racing is what I wanted to do,” she said. From there, she went on through involvement in rodeo royalty. “I would enter the barrel racing on my queening horse and was completely happy with 30 second times, but then I got my first real barrel horse, who I clicked with, and realized the real adrenaline in going faster,” she said. Set in becoming a barrel racer, Sadie began her career as a competitor about two and a half years ago. “I got a new barrel horse, through my trainer, Kelly Conrado, in December, and competing really took off from there,” she said. Riding a 9-year-old sorrel gelding with flaxen mane and tail, Sadie admits that the chemistry between her and “Driller” did not come quickly. “It was a long struggle to get things worked out, but we finally had a clean run back in late February or early March and we were able to go on from there,” she said.
The urge of becoming a rodeo athlete has led Sadie to competing in the National Little Britches Rodeo Association and the future freshman plans on expanding to the Colorado High School Rodeo Association in the fall. Through it all, Sadie, an only child, has been backed by her parents. “My dad grew up with horses and hauls me everywhere and my mom [Jody] grew up in the city, but both are super supportive and definitely want to see me go far,” Sadie said.
While Sadie has her whole high school career to face, she says that she does not participate in additional sports, because rodeo consumes her life. With this, she has set her season goal at winning the CPRA Rookie of the Year title and placing high within the state standings. “I decided that I wanted to be a barrel racer, so that’s what I’m going to do,” she said.
