Sky Sanders recently returned home from competing in the seven-day National Barrel Horse Association (NBHA) Youth and Teen World Championships, in Georgia, United States.
Sky said the chance to compete in the US was an incredible opportunity with about 1300 people competing in the teen division.
"[It was] pretty epic," she said.
"We don’t have anything quite as big here, definitely not."
Barrel racing is a rodeo event in which a horse and rider attempt to run a cloverleaf pattern around barrels in the quickest time.
Sky travelled to the event with fellow rider Paris Wilson, of Lawrence, who became the second New Zealander to ride at the event.
As she could not take her own horse to the US, Sky competed on a borrowed horse, which put her at a disadvantage compared with many other riders.
Despite this, she consistently placed near the top in each division, just missing out on on the final qualifying round.
There was much more to barrel racing than just running around the markers, Sky said.
"It’s a bit of adrenaline rush."
"Competing overseas, you make so many connections and meet new people that you learn things from," she said.
"It’s just one big family really. Everyone supports each other. It’s a cool sport to be a part of."
Sky has been riding horses since she was 3 and competing as a barrel racer since 2015.
Her mother, Shelly, said Sky could literally ride before she could walk.
As a child, Sky suffered from hip dysplasia and had to relearn how to walk.
"She could ride before she could walk again ... ever since, [Sky has] just been in a saddle," Mrs Sanders said.
Sky hoped to return to the US next year to compete in barrel racing and rodeo events.
"There’s people I looked up to when I was little who I’ll be competing against," Sky said.
"It’s opened up a whole new world."
Sky thanked her sponsors for their help in getting her to the competition.
