Local Horse Event Has Solid Turnout

Families gathered to watch riders and horses practice in a local competition.

150 or more people gathered at an open arena to watch 55 entries compete in Sunday’s 3D Barrel Race, held by the Terrebone Livestock Agricultural Fair Association, at 220 Moffet Rd.

“It’s nice to see the older kids back with their children now competing,” said Christi Triche, Treasurer for the event.

Turnout was higher than expected, partly due to the weather and partly due to the time of the year. Horse event season begins in February, but smaller local shows begin in February.

“The first show is usually pretty packed,” said Veronica Songe, a Trainer, of Raceland. “People get the itch to go ride.”

Announcers spoke over megaphone from a large box overlooking the arena. Riders would burst forth from a metal gate, beneath the box, towards the obstacles placed within the arena, round each obstacle, then race back to the entrance.

Sensors just before the obstacles would mark their times and the fastest competitors would win.

There were five divisions, each with five events – not including the 3D event at the end.

“This ones different because instead of just barrels and poles, they have Texas Barrels, Stakes, and an Arena Race,” said Aurianna Estes, 12, of New Iberia, who has been competing for 4 years. “And I’ve never ridden in an outdoor arena like this before.”

Changing venues is good for the horses, said Estes and her friend Emily Brousaard. By exposing the horses to different venues the horse becomes less skittish to other scenarios, “New places and new things cause they tend to spook a lot, and it stops them,” said Broussard.

The opening event was lead-line events, where people could ride supervised with an adult leading the horse by rope around the obstacles. This allowed for the horse and rider to learn the basics.

Riding out with a colorful unicorn helmet and atop “Slick,” a 6 year old miniature pony, was Camrynn Boudreaux, also 6.

It was her first time competing with Slick, and she nodded with a large smile, that the event was fun.

Smaller venues like this are intended for families to come and have fun, said Songe.

“The kids, they do a higher level of barrel racing, but they want to come to these little shows because it’s so much more family oriented,” Songe said. “When we go to the big shows it’s like who you travel with is the only people there with you.”

The 3D event had riders rounding three barrels in a clover leaf pattern. The first rider sets the first division [1D], after which a 1 second break begins the second division [2D], and then another second marks the third [3D].

“It just kind of gives a chance to people,” said Taylor Guidry, a Horse Shoer by trade, and new board member of TLAFA. “You’re not just paying the three or four fastest riders – it splits it up so that you have some younger kids or older people that are still trying to ride, you know.”

Results for the 3D event are as follows:

1D) Riley Brumfield, on Tango, ran a 16.161 for first place. Rhealyn Legendre, on Rose, followed her at 16.470 for second place.

2D) Taylor Theroit, on Vogue, ran 17.526, for first place. She was followed by Nicole Authemont, on Lena, with a 17.617, in second.

3D) Sophie Badeaux, and Rebel, take first with a time of 18.261. Adele Stein, and Lulu ran a 18.268 for second place.