Fifteen-year-old Eloisa Atkinson, a teenage cowgirl from Bradford, is set to compete in the National Barrel Horse Association Team Teen and Youth World Championships in Georgia. Specializing in barrel racing—a fast-paced event where horse and rider navigate a cloverleaf pattern around barrels—Eloisa will represent Lincolnshire’s 4 Strides Equestrian centre. Although nervous about the large-scale competition with over 2,000 riders, she is excited for the challenge, noting that the sport is much bigger and faster in the US compared to the UK. Eloisa will ride a hired horse in the event, having only about an hour to practice with it before competing.

Barrel racing requires a fast, agile, and responsive pony, qualities Eloisa values highly. This championship, open to riders aged 18 and under, is expected to be chaotic but thrilling, with significant prizes including buckles, saddles, and potentially millions of dollars for world-ranked competitors. Sally Heron of 4 Strides Equestrian highlighted the UK’s strong presence in the sport despite its small size, with British riders frequently returning home with awards, helping to raise the country’s profile in the barrel racing world.