Fort Worth

Barrel racing puts spotlight on women athletes at Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo

Barrel racing has rodeo athletes taking their horses on tight turns around barrels, trying not to knock them over, while racing the clock

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The Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo has hosted countless rodeo events, but for some in the John Justin Arena on Monday, it was their first rodeo.

"Is that your favorite," Anna Rodgers asked her young daughters Palmer and Penelope. "That my favorite," Palmer replied.

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Rodgers brought all 3 of her daughters to the FWSSR today specifically to see the barrel racing, which is a mostly female event.

"I have three girls, so it's very important for them to see strong girls just doing something really cool," Rodgers said. "Proud, kind of, to see girls do this!"

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18-year-old Lindsey Estes from Keller was among the barrel racers.

'I think this one's so fun because it really dives into the horsemanship of rodeo," Estes said. "So there's so many, like to wrap a barrel that quickly, there's so much horsemanship that goes into it. I really enjoy that aspect of it."

Racers have to navigate around 3-barrels in a cloverleaf pattern, mostly at a gallop, trying to cross the finish line with the fastest time.

"When I'm in there, sometimes I get a little nervous," Estes said, referring to the staging area. "Out there (in the arena), I kinda forget how I'm feeling, and everything and I just focus on what I need to do, how I need to ride my horse my best."

Estes started barrel racing when she was a little girl. Now, other little girls are watching her chase her dreams.

"Now to see her as one of those ladies that girls look up to as a competitor, it's really neat," Estes's dad, Eric Estes, said after watching his daughter race. "It's all a dad could ask for!"

There is a barrel racing exhibitionon Tuesday starting at 9:00 a.m. at the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo.

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