Jamie
Polson is being put on her horse by her father. Polson as been riding
horses her entire life.
Ask someone how long he
or she has been doing something and they might say, "Ever since I
was born." But when senior Jamie Polson makes that statement about
horseback riding, she means it.
On the day Jamie was brought home from the hospital
after she was born, her father took her in his arms and rode off on a
horse. She is now 17 and has been riding ever since. Although she rode
her horses just for fun and occasionally would show one of her horses
in 4H, but it wasn't until three years ago, inspired by her father, that
she started a career of barrel racing. Little did Jamie know what was
in store.
With her father's influence and her ability to ride
horses, Jamie found barrel racing not only to be a lot of fun, but an
event in which she was a natural.
Last Spring Jamie's father passed away. Even thought
it was a hard time for Jamie, because her father was such a big part of
her riding life, she was able to overcome it enough to keep racing. With
the help of Jamie's neighbor and trainer, Nan Potts, she was ready to
compete this last summer at the National Barrel Horse Association.
Jamie competed in the 2000 state N.B.H.A championships
for Montana in May. On the first day she was ranked eighth out of 70 riders.
On the second day, she had an even better day, and moved up three ranks
to fifth place, with one day left.
"The third day is the day you start getting butterflies
in your stomach," said Polson. "But you don't want to get nervous,
because your horse will notice how you are feeling and he'll act the same
way you are feeling. So you just want to stay relaxed and focused."
The next day on her last run, Polson had one of the
fastest times she has ever ridden, and it was good enough for her to take
first place.
"I didn't plan on it (winning)," said Jamie.
"I just kind of went, and it just kind of happened. I made a good
run and it was good enough to win."
After high school Jamie hopes to qualify for the National
Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, but that will take a lot of work.
To make it to Las Vegas she has to qualify for the Circuit
Finals in Montana. If she makes those, she will head for Vegas.
"My first year out, I probably won't make it,"
says Jamie. "But I want to try and get there my second year."
