Izzy York overcame fears to find success at barrel racing
(DILLSBORO, Ind.) -- A 16-year-old from Dillsboro simply loves riding horses and barrel racing.
She found a passion for it a few years ago and it's now paying off.
Izzy York just qualified for the Hooey Junior Patriot in Ft. Worth Texas.
That is a national competition known as the "world’s richest youth rodeo" with over $1.3M paid out to winners in 2022.
Getting to the Hooey required York to place in the top ten at a major qualifying event, which she accomplished last weekend in Illinois.
"It was the best feeling ever and I actually cried. It has taken me so long and I've worked so hard and struggled, but it was all worth it," Izzy said.
"Me and my mom were jumping up and down and I was calling everybody under the sun, it was the best feeling ever to qualify," she added.
Izzy's journey to competing in a major rodeo has not been easy.
At 10-years-old, she went to a rodeo in Lawrenceburg and it inspired her to pursue barrel racing.
But, York admits she was terrified when she got her first horse for barrel racing.
"It took a lot for me to gain courage on the horse and become a barrel rider," Izzy said.
The Rising Sun junior says she sometimes still gets nervous while riding, but credits her family and friends for helping her overcome fears.
"What helps you gain courage, is having a support system around you, and people in your corner that really want you to do well. I feel like if you're around people who don't want the best for you, you can struggle a lot," York told The 812.
Izzy says her biggest influence is her mother, Christy, which she calls her best friend.
The young rider is now setting her sights on a long-term future in barrel racing.
"I don't think I'm ever going to stop riding or drop this. Even as high schooler I always find time to make it work," Izzy said. "Right now, my long-term goal is to make it to the American Rodeo one day."
She also currently gives lessons and trains horses. She hopes to create her own business of helping young horse riders in the future.
York will compete in the Hooey Junior Patriot in Texas in March.
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