Most little girls love horses, and Clearwater residents Brielle Leander and Carlee Bayer are no exception. Their passion goes a little further than most, however, as both girls are successful barrel racers.

 

Leander, who recently turned seven, has been riding since she was three and competing since she was five. Her mom Christie, a barrel racer herself, has been riding her whole life and got her daughter interested in the sport. Leander races on her mom’s retired quarter horse, 25-year-old Bobby. 

 

In barrel racing, horse and rider race against the clock. Three barrels are set up in a cloverleaf pattern, and the pair must follow the pattern without knocking over a barrel. Knocking one over adds five seconds to the rider’s final time, and breaking the cloverleaf pattern results in a no score.

 

Leander and her mom belong to the Pro Elite World Challenge (PEWC) association, with barrel racing competitions from January to October each year. Leander competes in the peewee division, and although she doesn’t race every weekend, she does compete often. PEWC competitions are held across a five-state area.

 

Points are awarded based on how well a rider places in each competition, and at the end of the season the points are added up to determine the top winners in each division. 

 

This past summer the Leanders attended a three-day Martha Josey Barrel Racing Clinic in Texas, where Brielle Leander won most improved. While there she rode Brewster, a quarter horse owned by her mom’s friend. They worked well together, and as her horse Bobby’s health isn’t what it used to be, he will be retired from racing this year and Brewster will become her new partner. 

 

“Barrel racing is very fun and we get to win prizes,” said Brielle Leander. “I like riding horses more than school.”

 

“It’s all about having fun,” said Christie Leander.

 

Carlee Bayer, who turned six in November, began competing when she was just three. Her first year she was in leadline, a competition for young children where an adult leads the horse and the child is judged on their horsemanship. She began barrel racing when she was four. 

 

Bayer’s entire family competes in barrel racing. Her parents, Grant and Erin, have  raced since they were little, and her four-year-old brother, Reed, has just started. They’re active in a number of associations, including PEWC, United Barrel Racing Association, (UBRA), Minnesota Barrel Racing Association (MBRA) and National Barrel Horse Association (NBHA). 

 

“It’s pretty much our life,” said Erin Bayer. “We compete every weekend and I produce barrel racing competitions at Arrowhead Arena in Maple Lake.”

 

Last year Carlee Bayer rode Bailey, a 24-year-old quarter horse. This year she competed on 19-year-old Thaya; her brother is now riding Bailey. 

 

“My kids have been able to excel and do well by riding older horses,” said Erin Bayer, who is also a trainer. “It’s important to put kids on horses they can learn from and are safe. People will buy a young horse for their young kids so they can grow up together, but that doesn’t work.”

 

“Barrel racing is just really fun,” said Carlee Bayer. “I want to win a lot.”

 

After the PEWC finals in October, Brielle Leander’s total points earned her third in the peewee division for the year, and for the second year in a row Bayer was named champion. Bayer was also named champion in UBRA and reserve champion in MBRA. 

 

PEWC held a banquet Jan. 20 in Elk River to honor the winners and celebrate a successful season.

 

Both girls said they were surprised and really happy with their wins, and they want to continue competing. 

 

“Barrel racing comes with a lot of opportunities,” said Erin Bayer. “It’s a great way for kids to learn social skills, teamwork, sportsmanship and how to work hard. There’s a lot of life lessons, a lot of valuable core ethics. It’s old-school, hands-on learning.”

 

The Pro Elite World Challenge (PEWC) is based out of Hinckley, MN, and is dedicated to promoting the sport of barrel racing in the Midwest.