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From monroenews.com....
Ida students benefit from barrel racing
Evening News staff writer June 16, 2002
Carie Wingeier of Corunna, Ohio, rides J.D. through the poles as she competes in a rodeo to raise money for Ida High School Saturday.
A fundraiser held during a horse show at Glenn Stock Arena will help fund the prom and after-prom party at Ida High School.
By MICHELLE SWARTZ
Garrett Read may be young, but he knows exactly what to do when barrel racing against the clock and other riders.
"You gotta' kick to win," the 4-year-old said with confidence while sitting on his horse and waiting his turn in the Pee Wee division.
Garrett, along with his parents, made the trip from South Lyon to participate in Saturday's horse show at the Glenn Stock Arena at the Monroe County Fairgrounds.
"This is a really nice arena with a good crowd today," said Garrett's mother, Rhonda. "And it's even better if it's a fundraiser."
Luckily for the upcoming junior class at Ida High School, it was a fundraiser.
"We're raising money for our prom and after-school prom party," said Rachael Dowd of Ida, an upcoming junior who will benefit from the proceeds. "We also need money to buy gifts for those who attend the prom. That's something that is done every year."
Many students signed up to volunteer at the horse show. Some of their duties included working at the concession stand and helping set up the pole and barrel races in the arena.
"(Volunteers) have designated times so we are all helping out," Rachael said during the approximate 5-hour show.
The hard work seemed to be paying off for all those involved. Nearly 200 riders participated in various divisions of pole and barrel racing events. Also, a steady crowd filed into the arena throughout the day. Spectators were asked to give a $1 donation at the door.
"We hope to raise anywhere between $800 and $1,000 today from donations and concessions," said Barry Figert of Ida, who organized the horse show. "Whatever we make from that will be doubled by Wal-Mart and tripled by Grainger Industrial Supply in Perrysburg (Ohio)."
Mr. Figert works at Grainger where they developed a program to triple the total amount of donations at a fundraiser. The company program only applies to their employees.
"Because of those two companies' additional donations, we could make anywhere from $4,000 to $5,000," he added.
Mr. Figert gave credit to the National Barrel Horse Association and Michigan Barrel Racing Association for the large amount of participants at the event.
"We have people here from all over Michigan and Ohio, Indiana and Illinois," he said. "The two associations sponsored and advertised the event; as well as local sponsors."
More than 30 horses began the event with pole racing in the adult division. After the first round, Carrie Wingeier of Corunna, Ohio, earned the time to beat by crossing the line at 20.838 seconds.
"I'm very happy with the time; especially since I just started riding this horse about a week ago," she said after her run. "I just hope (the time) holds up."
Ms. Wingeier has been riding for about 25 years and enjoys competing in pole racing, where a rider has to weave in and out of six poles in the fastest time.
"The key is to keep the ride as smooth as possible because once it gets choppy, you lose time," she said. "You want to stay as close to the pole as possible in order to make an easier turn."
If a pole is forced to the ground during the race, the rider's time is disqualified. It nearly happened to Ms. Wingeier when the sixth, and final, pole teetered back and forth.
"I hit it as I was making my turn so I reached out and grabbed it so it wouldn't go down," she explained.
The second half of the horse show included the barrel races, where a rider must navigate a course around three barrels before crossing the finish line. Kelly Robertson of Clarkston stayed near her horse, Nitro, until her name was called for the race.
"Balance and agility is more important in pole bending; you have more time and space to circle in barrel racing," she explained. "The (three) barrels are placed in a clover leaf pattern. The average time depends on the size of the arena."
Riding since 1994, Ms. Robertson is a huge barrel racing fan. She is such a big fan, she wasted no time getting back in the saddle after the birth of her baby boy.
"I delivered a baby last Saturday but I'm ready to go today," she said, smiling