WILKIE — One young lady from Wilkie has been making her mark in the Junior High School Rodeo scene this summer, with a brand-new buckle to commemorate her title win at the Canadian championships.
Gabby Lorenz, 14-year-old daughter of Aaron and Sara, attended the Canadian High School Finals Rodeo in Brandon, Man. July 31 to Aug. 3, where she placed third in junior high barrel racing and took home the title as junior high pole bending champion.
Lorenz first started riding at the young age of four and as she gained confidence in her riding, she branched out into some competitions. With some help from mom, Lorenz started to compete in the Saskatchewan Barrel Racing Association (SBRA). When older brother, Kyler, joined the high school rodeo circuit, Lorenz was too young to join but she always tagged along to watch.
“I couldn’t wait until I was old enough to rodeo. I had been competing with SBRA since I was little and was excited to enter more events in the high school rodeo,” said Lorenz.
In Grade 6, Lorenz joined the junior high school rodeo with KC Goldmine Kid, also known as Duke. Duke is an 11-year-old sorrel gelding American Quarter Horse and was passed down to Lorenz from her mom. Sara, who also competes in the barrel races, knew Duke had the know-how to help her daughter in the barrel races she was entering. For Lorenz, she was excited for new challenges and wanted to expand into other events.
“I compete on Sippin’ Doc’s Brandy (Radar), a 19-year-old palomino gelding American Quarter Horse who can pole bend, barrel race and breakaway ropes. We bought Radar because he is an older horse who knew all the events I wanted to enter,” said Lorenz.
Pole bending is a timed event, where horse and rider weave through six poles. If a pole is knocked down, a five-second penalty is added to the time.
The young athlete first qualified for the Canadian finals last year and was able to qualify again in the barrel racing and pole bending events this year. Lorenz also qualified for the National Junior High Finals Rodeo for the first time this year, where she travelled to Des Moines, Iowa, June 23-29.
“Going to Nationals was an awesome experience. The facility was amazing, and it was really cool to meet people from all over North America,” she said.
Outside of the high school rodeo circuit, Lorenz also competes in the Kakeyow Cowboys Rodeo Association (KCRA) alongside her brother and mom.
“My mom and me always travel together. My older sister, McKenzie, and dad don’t compete but they still come to cheer me on as much as they can,” said Lorenz.
Lorenz said she has great role models, including her own mom and four-time world champion Hailey Kinsel.
“My rodeo friends and I are always cheering on and supporting each other. Even though we are competing against each other, we are still proud of each other’s successes,” she said.
Lorenz will continue to train at home and attend some clinics over the winter months as she prepares to enter the High School Rodeo circuit as she will be entering Grade 9 this fall.
