Question: Alexa, Tell us alittle about yourself?
Answer: I am 16 years old and I attend UmatillaHigh School as a sophomore. I have been rodeoing for 7 years now and LOVE every minute of it. Some of my future goals are to make it to the NFR at least one time and to get a full scholarship to a rodeo college. When I grow up my dream is to become a pharmacist.
Question: Tell us something about your mare?
Answer: There is one word to explain my horse AWESOME! Her name is Color me Creepy or as I call her Gaby, she is a paint horse about 15.3 hands tall and has an attitude like you have never seen. When we bought her about 6 years ago and she had nothing but a barrel pattern on her. As the years went by I decided that I would try her in pole bending, my first year running her I was a 8th grader in the Florida Junior Rodeo Association and she took me to state I ended up 4th in the State. That following summer I was out there almost everyday working at those poles trying to find ways to make her better; the summer went by and I was in my first year of high school. I had set a goal to make it to finals as a freshman but before I knew it I was reserve champion for the Florida High School Rodeo and not only that I was a National Qualifier as a freshman and got to represent Florida at the National Finals Rodeo in FarmingtonNew Mexico. As we started to click and become a team I was in the beginning of my sophomore year she started running consistent 20’s and took me to finals in first place, to win the title Florida Pole Bending Champion all I needed was to take 3rd place in one round. The first night I had my head set on just making a clean and smooth run and that’s exactly what we did I ran a 21.1 and took third! As I sat behind the alley way waiting to run on the second night which was the 2nd go it finally hit me that I was the new Pole Bending Champion.
Question: What does this title mean to you?
Answer: I started thinking back to all the things my papa told me and one thing I remembered word for word was “run a 19 for me baby girl” as they called my name to run that statement kept going through my head that night I rode as hard as I have ever rode before and got that 19 to win it all and made my papa proud! I have to say that’s the best accomplishment I have ever made, I know I can never repay him for all the things he has done for me but just to see that smile on his face was enough for me! I’m looking forward to representing Florida once again at the National Finals Rodeo this summer! Thank you to everyone that has helped me and supported me without you I would have never been able to accomplish all the things I have!
Thank you Alexa for sharing alittle about your rodeo life with us. I would just like to say to all the other young ladies out there reading this article, "This is what hard work, practice and believing in your horse and your self can bring you!" Best wishes Alexa and I hope all of your dreams come true in your bright future!
By - Tina Spangler