Before she could walk, local barrel racer Heather Haug was on a horse.
All her life Haug has been surrounded by horses, rodeo and everything that comes to mind when one thinks of western living. So it was just a natural progression that she would saddle up and enter the arena.
"They used to have a Monday night rodeo here in town and I was running barrels along with participating in the pole bending then," she said
At a tender 19 years old, Haug said she first started running barrels at the age of four.
Along with her horse of nine years, Dude, Haug took to the rodeo and carried it on into high school. A stand out athlete at Pine Bluffs High School, Haug was a regular at the Wyoming High School Rodeo Association state finals every year of her high school career.
Then, as with now, Haug said that her training regime is a little bit different then most.
"I don’t take Dude into the arena every single day," she said.
Haug went on to explain that Dude is a true ranch horse capable of doing just about anything.
"You can rope off him, he can bring in the cattle, just about anything," she said. "And I try to do that with him. We may go to the arena once or twice a week but most of the time we’re out on the ranch doing a lot of other stuff."
In her opinion, this different training approach keeps Dude calm.
"He’s not some high-spirited barrel horse,," said Haug. "When we go out he doesn’t feel like we’re just going to the arena and just running barrels."
Unlike more traditional high school sports, high school rodeo is both physically and financially demanding on the athlete. Those participating are responsible for their horse, getting back and forth to rodeos all over the state and picking up all the equipment needed to participate. Through all of it, Haug said it was her family that was always there for her.
"I don’t think my mom or brother missed a rodeo my entire career," she said.
"That’s one of things I really love about rodeo, it’s a family affair," said Haug.
In addition to her family, Haug was quick to point out that some of the friends she’s made in her rodeo career are friends she’ll keep for life.
"This is a really competitive sport, but you’re still out there helping each other out," she said.
"You may be thinking to yourself I hope I run a faster time than them, but when you get done you’re rooting them on," Haug said. "Someone gets done with their ride and they tell you the dirt is a little soft on the left side or maybe they’ve drawn your calf before and they give you some advice on what they might do," she added.
Since graduating from Pine Bluffs High School, Haug has moved on to Chadron State College where she’s pursing a degree in Ag-Business. She said she’s very interested in the finacial side of the degree but the creative aspect of it all also intrigues her.
The college does have a rodeo team but Haug acknowledged that it might be too much for her to compete and keep up with her studies.
"Actually that’s one of the things that makes college harder," she said. "Not being able to ride as much as I used to," she said.
And for Haug, there’s nothing better than riding, a love she intends to pass down to her family when the time is right.
"When I have kids, I’ll definitely pass down my love of riding and rodeo to them," she said. "I feel blessed that I’ve done this all my life and I was raised like this," she added.
Offering advice to those looking to enter the sport, Haug said the key is to always do your best.
"You might go out there and run the worst time of the group but as long as you know you went there and did your best, that’s what matters," she said.
That is one of the reasons she loves the sport so much.
"This really is a sport anyone can participate in, they even have a senior citizen rodeo group, so anyone can do this," she said.
"Whether its watching or participating I do love this sport," said Haug. "It’s constantly changing, there’s always something different and you get to see the ups and the downs, the exciting time and the trying times."
