Barrel Bash competition rolls through Sterling

STERLING – Although the weather outside was less than perfect, inside the Double G Arena this weekend, the Barrel Bash was on.

The 3-day Cowgirl Tuff Barrel Bash featured riders young and old who competed to win cash prizes. In a barrel race, riders and their horses must ride around three barrels, making a clover-leaf shape, as fast as possible without knocking any of them over.

Among the competitors Saturday was Taylor Skromme, of Prophetstown, who said she has been riding seriously since she was 8.

“I like that you get to go fast,” said Taylor, now 11. “I’m a fast kind of person.”

Her proud mother, Stephanie Skromme, said her daughter is very competitive.

“She also enjoys it because it’s just her and the horse,” Stephanie said. “It’s not on a team, so it’s just her and her horse. That’s what she really likes about it.”

Taylor has been riding her American Quarter Horse, Fred, for the past 2 months.

“She had a little trouble – she tipped a couple of barrels – but she’s still getting used to Fred and he’s a big horse, a lot bigger than what she’s had,” Stephanie said.

It’s not easy to guide her horse around the barrels, Taylor said.

“For me, I have a big horse,” she said. “It’s hard since I’m so small, to guide him around the barrel. That’s a little tricky.”

With the wisdom of someone much older, Taylor said the key to success is to “practice, practice, practice.”

“If somebody was new, I’d say ‘Don’t give up, keep your chin up, and practice, practice, practice,’” she said. Her dream is to become “the best barrel racer,” she said.

Heath and Lori Passmore, of Sterling, manage the Double G, which is at the Wahl Equestrian Center. Their son, 11-year-old Garrett Passmore, didn’t compete this weekend because his horse was sick, but he was there to cheer his friends on.

Garrett has been barrel racing since he was 2.

“It’s fun. You get to run fast,” he said. “You have to balance when you are turning the barrel so you don’t fall off or anything.”

“If your horse starts bucking you have to pull up on the reins, so you stop ‘em,” he said.

Morrison veterinarian Cal Vandermyde has been racing for 6 years.

The pattern is what makes this a unique event, Vandermyde said.

“Everybody has to do the same thing,” he said. “You can start to the left, or the right. Most people to go the right. Some horses go better to the left.’

Vandermyde said he enjoys barrel racing because “the people are really nice and it’s fun to do.”

Heath Passmore agreed.

“It’s like one big family,” he said.

About the Double G

The Double G Arena and the Wahl Equestrian Center is at 24236 Lincoln Road, Sterling.

The facility hosts weekly equine events; the public is always welcome and admission for spectators usually is free.

The center also provides horse boarding, riding lessons, horse bedding, feed and more, and there is an onsite Western were and tack shop.

Go to www.doublegarena.net or call 815- 626-4213 to learn more.