Shelby Ross, daughter of Sherri and Matt Ross, of Elkhorn has been participating in rodeos for nine years. At age sixteen, this is her seventh and last year of partaking with the Manitoba High School Rodeo Association (MHSRA); as she will graduate high school next spring.
Ross enjoys barrel racing the most, she started barrel racing very young. “It’s something I have always done,” she says. Ross adds that it is fast paced and an adrenaline race. Ross also enters into goat tying and pole pending.
“I’ve learned to be humble, because you’re not always going to win,” said Ross when asked what being in rodeos has taught her. She added, “There are always people pushing you to do your best, and be better.”
The goat tying clinics taught by Shannon Jackson at Souris helped Ross immensely with advancing her goat tying skills. Ross says that her mom, Sherri, has been her number one mentor, especially when it comes to learning barrel racing.
Ross is not only a member with the MHSRA but also rides on and off with the Manitoba Rodeo Cowboys Association (MRCA). She has been a member of the Manitoba Barrel Racing Association (MBRA) since she was 10 years old.
She has qualified twice for both the National Junior High School Finals Rodeo, and the Canada High School Finals Rodeo (CHSFR). Attending approximately 20 rodeos a year, Ross attended the National Junior High School Finals Rodeo in Des Moine, Iowa in 2014, and the CHSFR in Nanton, AB twice.
On her horse “Free”, a seven year old American Quarter Horse mare, Ross practices barrel racing and pole bending. She rides her horse “Nevada”, a six year old gelding for goat tying. Free came from Coyote Flats Performance Horses in Vibank, SK; and Nevada came from Dac Farms out of Virden, MB. Ross says she spends anywhere from one to three hours riding and practicing her events every day.
Ross remembers her favourite rodeo experience. It was at the Virden rodeo in 2015, where she made the top six in the Junior Girls Barrel Racing competition. “It was my first big rodeo placing on Free, she was only five and that’s when we started her,” said Ross.
Looking forward to participating in the Virden Indoor Rodeo, Ross will be entering in barrel racing, goat tying, and pole bending in the MHSRA, and in Barrel racing in the MRCA.
After Ross graduates next spring she intends on attending university, but has yet to choose a subject to study. She says that she believes rodeos will always be a part of her life and future.
