The roar of the crowds, the waves of applause and cheers, the flashing of camera lights. She alone is in control of 1,300 lbs of solid muscle. All that she has worked for is only going to last for 30 seconds. Straight in, around the first barrel, around the second, around the third and a straight shot back into the gate. This is her moment to shine.

Junior Hannah Holland, a 17 year old barrel racer, competes all across the nation. Practically born in the saddle, Holland grew up living on her family’s ranch surrounded by cowboys and cowgirls. Both of Holland’s parents were rodeo competitors.

“We are absolutely thrilled at the progress Hannah has been making and that she has been doing so well,” said Hannah’s mother, Karen Holland. “Her father and I are very proud of her.”

“My dad used to team rope and my mom was a barrel racer,” said Holland.

Holland’s three older siblings also competed. Both of her brothers were amazing team calf ropers her sister was a breakaway roper and a barrel racer herself. Growing up with three other rodeo participants made Holland a fierce competitor and a determined barrel racer.

“My sister taught me breakaway roping when I was younger,” said Holland. “But I loved barrels and being able to go fast.”

Breakaway roping is a variation of calf roping; it is less aggressive than tie-down roping and it is very different from barrel racing. Barrel racing combines the horse’s athletic ability and the rider’s horsemanship skills to successfully maneuver the horse through a cloverleaf pattern around three 55 gallon drums placed in a triangle.

In order to keep her horses fit and compete at the level she does, Holland has to regularly trains and exercises her three horses: Shesha, Boone and Aprillina. Rain or shine, snow or sleet, she practices for two to three hours seven days a week with her schedule pack full with tennis in the fall and her schoolwork.

“I’m very lucky, I have an indoor area so I am able to practice inside,” said Holland.

Having an indoor allows her to be able to practice inside and away from the harsh weather elements in the winter and fall. Though she has to ride every day, she cannot just go out to the barn and jump on a horse and immediately start riding. First, she has to properly brush and tack up [saddle] the horse. Then she proceeds to warm up the horses, complete the actual circuit of exercise, and the cool them off.

“I ride everyday. Well, sometimes I give them Sunday off,” said Holland. “I mean every athlete needs their day off.” All of her dedication and her horses’ hard work pays off in the in. She competes nationally and locally against people from all across the world; she’s competed against people from Australia, Hawaii and Canada.

Holland learned a lot from her horse trainer Kelly Yates. Yates and all of her family have been national qualifiers for the national rodeo on multiple occasions.

“My trainer who has trained all of my horses and also helps me out a lot who’s taught me so much and definitely who I look up is Kelly Yates,” said Holland.However, Holland does not see Yates frequently because she lives in Colorado. Due to the location inconvenience, Holland has a local trainer, Jeanie Anderson, who is currently helping her train Boone and Shesha.

One of her biggest influence and greatest teachers has been her mother, Karen Holland. Karen was a barrel racer and now she helps teach Hannah prepare for her own rodeos. This sport has brought the Hollands closer together.

“One thing I love about this sport is that I can do with my family,” said Holland, “You know traveling all over the country has definitely brought me closer.”

Barrel racing has become a popular event for people of all ages. It is a very common rodeo event at the high school and collegiate level. At the collegiate level, it is mainly a female dominated event. Freshman Grace Botarro is new to barrel racing, but instantly fell in love with the sport.

“I’ve only been barrel racing for a year, but I’ve been riding my whole life,” said Botarro. “I love [barrel racing] and I think it’s a great way to show your horsemanship and the bond you have with your horse.”

Though Holland has spent countless hours with her horses and down at the barn, she makes mistakes in the area just like any other human being. Each barrel that is knocked down in the area causes the rider to have five seconds added to his or her time. Knocking down a barrel may ruin a rider’s run but he or she need to keep his or her head up. Holland, like any other barrel racer, has been in this position before.

“The rider is in control. If he or she leans in too sharp or too far back, it affects the horse,” Sophomore Jessica Bitteker. “I feel like all riders make mistakes; even the best ones.”

Though it is difficult for a rider to admit that any penalty is his or her fault, it is the truth. Penalties occur in moments where horse and rider miscommunicate and a conflict occurs.

“Never blame anything on the horse,” said Holland. “They’re just doing what they’re told.”

This girl is a competitive rider and confident in her horses’ ability. Patience, determination, blood, sweat and tears have made Holland the rider and barrel racer that she is today. She works endlessly in pursuit of a wild dream that she has turned into a reality. Though she has moments where she is unstoppable and moments isn’t, she has never given up on her horses or her dream.

“Nothing stops me.”