North Greene senior Morgan Robertson has been riding horses for almost as long as she can remember and in that time she has developed a passion for competing in barrel racing.
Now that passion will continue into the collegiate ranks and on Wednesday in front of friends of family she celebrated signing with the rodeo program at Murray State University.
“This is a big leap in opportunity. I’m so excited to be taking this risk and to see what it will lead to,” Robertson said.
Collegiate Rodeo has been around since 1949 and currently more than 100 schools around the nation have rodeo programs governed by the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association. The competitions cover events like bull riding, calf roping, steer wrestling, and, of course, barrel racing.
Murray State competes in the NIRA’s Ozark Region with 13 other schools from Arkansas, Alabama, Missouri, Mississippi, Tennessee, Georgia and Kentucky. The top qualifiers in each region compete in June in Casper, Wyoming at the Collegiate National Finals Rodeo.
Murray State is located in Murray, Kentucky in the far western portion of the Blue Grass State.
Roberston had some nerves about traveling over six hours away to go to school, but some of her friends from the youth rodeo circuit are already part of the Racers’ program and that made her more comfortable joining the program.
“Murray State really felt like home,” Robertson said. “Everyone was so welcoming and it didn’t feel like there were any strangers. Especially since its six hours away, it feels good to know that I already know people who are there. I’m little scared to be going that far away, but I’m also really excited.”
Robertson played other sports growing up, but barrel racing was always what she was most passionate about. She loves the adrenaline rush she gets when on the back of her horse, and she gets excited about working every day to perfect her craft.
“I love the adrenaline of racing. You are always trying to be perfect, and if you mess up the tiniest bit it can throw everything off,” Robertson said. “It’s always about critiquing and critiquing and trying to be better. I love trying to figure it out. You have to be a little bit crazy while also be being really focused.”
Robertson will not be going to Murray State alone. She will be taking her horse to stay in the stables on campus and compete with her. She has developed a strong bond with her racing partner, and the connection with her equine companion is an integral part of her success in the arena.
“I don’t ever go more than 12 hours without seeing my horse. I wake up in the morning, go feed, and go ride. I get home from school and go feed and go ride,” Robertson said. “You create a bond, I don’t really know how to describe it, but it’s a really strong bond. You have to know the horse, if their mood is a little off it can change the whole race.”
While at Murray State Robertson plans to study to become a veterinary technician.
“My heart is really into animals, large animals especially, and the more I thought about it the more I knew that is what I needed to study,” Robertson said.
