For 11-year-old Linley Schuenemann, barrel racing is just the right pursuit.
The Hillsboro R-3 School District fifth-grader began riding horses just a couple of years ago and already has found some success in barrel racing, which calls for competitors to ride a horse as fast as possible around barrels set up in a course.
Before Linley, the daughter of Jennifer and Nick Schuenemann of the Hillsboro area, landed on horse riding, she struggled to find an extracurricular activity that interested her.
“We wanted her to try sports, but she never found one she liked,” her mother said. “She took piano lessons. She took violin lessons. She tried basketball, volleyball, gymnastics. She couldn’t find her niche.
“One day she asked, ‘Mom, could I take horse-riding lessons?’ She took her first lesson at Grit & Grace Ranch in Hillsboro and loved it. That was two years ago and she has not stopped.”
Barrel racers compete for belt buckles, which serve as trophies, and some cash, and Linley and her horse, Dixie Rose, have been making some noise at their competitions, Jennifer said.
Linley feels one of her biggest accomplishments was when she and Dixie earned their first buckle during the Missouri Girls/Guys Racing Association’s July 2021 competition for the Average Pee Wee Barrel Champion.
Competitors are divided into age and skill level categories.
Linley and her horse placed first in the Youth 1D (13 and under) Valley Mount Summer Series Barrel Race for 2021. In December, Dixie and Linley also placed in the 3D open barrel race, which included about 100 competitors, and the duo also placed in the 2D youth at Reflections Equestrian Center in Festus, Jennifer said.
In February, Linley and Dixie competed in the annual Battle in the Saddle Barrel Race at the Agricenter Showplace Arena in Cordova, Tenn. They competed in the age 12 and under division in the three-day competition.
“Linley and Dixie Rose had clean runs all three days, ended up winning some money and bringing home a beautiful buckle for 3D reserve champion,” her mother said.
Jennifer explained that barrel race events can differ in length depending on the size of the venue.
“There are always three barrels, but sometimes they’re set apart further than others,” Jennifer said. “(Good race times) depend on the size of the arena. At Reflections Equestrian Center, she can run from 15.8 seconds to 16.4 seconds.”
Linley is the first in her family to pursue a horse-riding activity.
She said her interest in animals led her to barrel racing.
“I love animals, and this mainly started with me seeing videos of people riding horses. I thought that looks fun,” Linley said. “I learned how to ride. I love going fast and I love horses, so I tried barrel racing.”
Linley said she feels she has gotten better as a barrel racer.
“At first, it was hard,” she said. “I kind of got better and better. I’m still not perfect.”
She said she continually tries to improve her horse-riding technique.
“Hand placement has been the toughest part,” Linley said. “There’s a lot to do in a few seconds in barrel racing. I have to learn to use my legs more.”
The Schuenemanns keep Dixie Rose, a quarterhorse, at Southern Charm Stables in rural Hillsboro. Dixie Rose is Linley’s second horse. She used to ride Buttercup, who apparently was not willing to go fast.
The family donated Buttercup to Dynamic Strides Therapy, a therapeutic horse-riding organization in Republic.
Linley has become extremely close to Dixie Rose.
“My favorite part of all of this is hanging out with my best friend, Dixie Rose,” she said. “Dixie enjoys barrel racing. I think she enjoys her job. She enjoys carrots and Purina Outlast treats.”
Jennifer said her daughter takes good care of Dixie Rose.
“She goes out three or four times a week to clean Dixie’s hooves and does her grooming,” Jennifer said. “Dixie requires stretching, because she’s a performance horse. Linley physically stretches Dixie’s legs. She’ll do carrot stretches to stretch her neck. That’s a technique using a treat for the horse. Linley also massages Dixie. This is before she even rides. Then, of course, she rides about an hour.”
Dee Henderson of De Soto, a horse-riding instructor who has worked with Linley, said she is impressed with the young horse rider’s work ethic.
“Linley has a big heart and a lot of ‘try,’ and anyone with a big heart and a lot of ‘try’ who is willing to work, can succeed,” Henderson said. “I’ve been working with her the last couple months and there’s been huge improvement.”
Jennifer said participating in barrel racing can be costly, but she is glad Linley is excited about the activity.
“It’s definitely not a cheap hobby and it’s time consuming,” she said. “But, she really has found her thing, something she can excel at.”
Linley said she can’t imagine not riding horses.
“I think I’ll ride horses my whole life,” she said. “I have a plan to move to Texas and get a huge ranch.”
She said she has become interested in other rodeo events.
“I love watching bull riding, bronco riding and breakaway roping,” Linley said. “I’ll try breakaway roping. My parents won’t allow me to try the others.”