BEAUTY ON THE BARRELS

from Emanuel County Living 2021

THE LINE BETWEEN STUDENT AND TEACHER IS A FINE ONE

ON THE BARRELS Story by LAUREN CANADY / Photos Provided by the familyBeauty

Ella Canady has risen through the ranks of the barrel racing community quickly since her start in the sport only five years ago, recently competing against some of the best rider-horse duos in the country and holding her own. The Swainsboro High School student has grit and natural talent, but her fearlessness and determination set her apart and ahead of other riders.

For most of her life, after school and during summers, Ella could be found tending to an animal. Her family had somewhat of a "funny farm" going for as long as she could remember. Ella was surrounded by wildlife, whether chickens, goats, dogs, cats, or the occasional alpaca. Interacting with these animals came to her naturally, and it was only a matter of time before she found her niche. In 2013, Ella was introduced to her first horse, a rescue affectionately named Sugar. The two were quite a pair. Sugar was a former Mennonite working horse, and Ella was an 8-year-old with no horseback riding experience. Most afternoons, Ella could be found feeding, brushing, or just talking to Sugar in the field behind her house. Through patience and dedication, and against her parents' better judgment, Ella began to ride the wild horse. Shortly after, Ella began taking riding lessons at Clarke Park Morgans in Swainsboro. Though Sugar and Ella got a late start relative to others in the community, they learned quickly together. Within a few short years, they began attending exhibitions and competing in dressage shows around Georgia. Ella's interest in barrel racing was piqued after watching local barrel racing legend Taylor Hooks at the Georgia Sports Arena. Ella explained, "Dressage is very different. I liked it, but the adrenaline and excitement of running barrels had me hooked instantly." Taylor took Ella under her wing and introduced her to the sport.

Though Taylor was a family friend, this still left Ella a bit starstruck. "I was so inspired by her. I grew up watching her ride and knew I just wanted to do what she was doing. She taught me important things that I needed to know and encouraged me when I was insecure about my skills." Taylor tragically passed away before Ella's first barrel racing show in 2018. Ella now rides to honor her memory. Now, at age fifteen, Ella competes in over twenty shows a year on her barrel horse, Reign. They spend most weekends kicking up some red Georgia dirt in an arena somewhere. The two have attended nearly one hundred shows together, both for fun and competition. They participated at the Youth World Competition in 2020 and 2021, the Winter Classic in 2020, and the state competition in 2019, 2020, and 2021. In a barrel race, hopefully, a run will last only a short fifteen seconds. For spectators, it is over in a few blinks of an eye. According to Ella, it is a similar experience for the rider. “It’s always an adrenaline rush. A lot goes into the run, with not much room for mistakes. It seems so much faster during the run." The speed and intensity of the run make it essential for the rider to trust both herself and her horse for a successful and safe run. Not much has changed since Ella's first introduction to horses. After she leaves Swainsboro High School in the afternoons, she is most often found in a field with her horse. She is intentional with her time with Reign, saying, "I don't just get to do the fun stuff. Half of the experience is maintenance and cleaning, and going over the pattern. It takes real work before we ever set foot in an arena." This attitude has proven fruitful in their competitions and has even caught the attention of other horse owners who have asked Ella to race their horses. Ella raced two horses in the Winter Classic 2020. She raced Reign, as well as PJ, co-owned by Daniel K. Sherrod. Daniel approached Ella after watching her ride. He left impressed, saying, "Ella has a great posture and natural seat on the horse. She has soft hands for a good connection to the horse." Daniel has had many successful barrel horses, so Ella felt honored when she was asked to give PJ some racing experience. They fell short at the Winter Classic, but Ella values the experience, nonetheless. Ella and Reign have picked up some speed through the years. They finished at the top of the second division at the Hippodrome Events Complex in North Augusta, South Carolina, for Winter Classic 2020 and finished in the third division finals in the Youth World 2021, held in Perry, Georgia, among some of the best young riders in the country. "We are both just trying to stay in shape, mentally and physically. I am nervous about every competition, but Reign is consistent, and I trust her. She is an honest horse. She knows her job and gets it done," Ella explained. Ella and Reign have had many good runs, but there are days where months of training are blown away in seconds. A run that is a split second too long or if you graze a barrel can mean the difference between success and going home with nothing. When the rising barrel racing star was asked what she has learned through her sport, she explained, "I think I have learned not to get discouraged when things don't go your way—you're not always going to win. You have to enjoy the journey and the race just as much as the recognition and prize money if you win." As Ella preps for for the next big event, she works, she works for her future further ahead as well. She hopes to take her straight-A's and horse-whispering skills to the University of Georgia when she graduates high school. There, she hopes to continue her journey as an equestrian. Her barrel racing days are far from over.