Hanna Pederson has galloped her way to the top of the leader board of the British Columbia Little Britches Rodeo Association this summer.
"It feels pretty good," said Pederson between junior girls events Saturday at the 9th annual Tim Hortons Little Britches Rodeo at Nukko Lake. "You win a saddle, which I'm really excited about."
The points leader in each category wins a saddle after the final competition, which is this weekend in Clinton. Prior to the Nukko Lake rodeo, Pederson led all junior girls with 193 points, well ahead of her competitors.
Pederson said she's banked her rodeo winnings this summer, about $800, saving up to purchase a new saddle.
"Winning one would be nice," said the 10-year-old. "Then I can use the money for other things for my horse."
The product of Gundy, Alta., may not have to wait until this weekend to win a saddle - the Nukko Lake rodeo had two saddles for the top junior and senior rider overall in the two-day event. After Saturday's junior competition Pederson led all girls with 32 points, which was also well ahead of the leading junior boy who had earned 18 points.
Saturday, Pederson placed first in barrel racing [17.152]; second in pole bending [27.252] after a penalty added five seconds to her time; and earned four points in dummy roping after a seventh-place finish. She didn't qualify a time in goat tying.
"My horse is really good at barrels and poles," she said. "It's fun and my horse likes it to."
It's Pederson's first complete season on the Little Britches circuit, having travelled to Merritt, Kamloops, Princeton and Armstrong in previous weeks to compete.
On Sunday, Pederson and Paris Schneider of Princeton had an exciting duel in the barrel race, with Schneider finishing with a time of 17.22 and Pederson setting a Lakes Community Horse Club record with a time of 16.72. Pederson won $78.50 in prize money while Schneider picked up $107.50.
Pederson and Schneider tied for first place with 59 points overall.
Between the entry fees of about $200 to $300 for each rodeo, the cost of fuel and other expenses the young cowgirl's mom Jennifer estimated they've spent about $7,000 this year.
"It's in our blood," said Jennifer Pederson about why the family is willing to dole out the thousands of dollars. "It's the passion of horses. All of us compete. My husband competes and Hanna's brother [Tyler] competes. We get a family holiday every weekend."
But the family fun is secondary to the competition for the Pederson family who mean business when they step into the rodeo arena.
"We do a lot of practice because it's a lot of money to get down the road," said Jennifer. "Taking it seriously is important to us to keep her going."
The bridle and breast collar winners for local points leader for junior girls was Prince George's Allaina Proctor with 51 points, while Ashton Leblanc of Quensel picked up 34 points for senior boys. Proctor also earned $77.50.
In the junior boys division, Ryan-Spur Reid of Savona led all participants with 41 points, while Tyler Pederson placed second with 35.
In the senior boys category, Tristen Holt of Barriere, finished with 49 points ahead of Ashton Leblanc of Quesnel at 34.
