These days seventeen year old Mariah Simondale has her life over a barrel.  Well, around a barrel is probably a better way to put it. 

This Tyrone High School junior has traveled across the United States to compete in the sport of equine barrel racing. Simondale’s passion for barrel racing has led her and her horse to Wyoming, Texas, New York, Ohio, New Jersey, Maryland and all across the state of Pennsylvania to ride and compete in rodeos.

Barrel racing is a rodeo event where riders and their horse attempt to ride in a clover pattern around preset barrels in the fastest time possible.

“The hardest part of barrel racing is keeping your head straight before a run,” said Simondale.

Simondale’s love of horses and riding began at young age. “When I was six, I really wanted a horse but my parents wouldn’t buy me one, so I started riding the cow named Prescot. My dad would run beside me and catch me before Prescot bucked me off. After about a year and a half, they finally got me a free old horse named Dolly that wouldn’t move,” said Simondale.

Mariah soon outgrew Dolly and realizing her enthusiasm for riding was more than just a passing phase, her parents found her a better horse and she began to learn how to ride.

Simondale started riding competitively when she was only eight years old. Her first local barrel race was the Logan Valley Broncs in Bellwood. She immediately fell in love with competing and has been on the competition circuit ever since.

According to Simondale, one of the best things about racing career is that it brought her and her father closer together. When she was little, the two would trail ride and occasionally sort cattle together.

“My dad took me an hour away for riding lessons and took me anywhere that I needed to go to improve my riding career” said Simondale.

Racing is definitely a family affair for the Simondales.  Mariah’s biggest supporter is probably her grandfather, Ron Dunkel.

“My pap and I have had a close relationship since I was about six weeks old when I slept in his hospital bed with him after he broke his back. I would only talk to him until I was two years old,” said Simondale, “He was the one who really got me into spending time at the farm.” Simondale continues, “Pap travels with me wherever I go to be my biggest fan. He inspires me to be a better rider.”

In 2014 Simondale won the title of Pennsylvania High School Rodeo Queen. That summer she traveled to Wyoming to compete in the National High School Rodeo Queen Contest.

“All of my outfits had to be color coordinated from my shirt to my boots. I met a lot of really great girls out there. I still keep in touch with a couple of them. It was a really great experience and it inspired me to become a more serious rider” said Simondale.

This year, Simondale started travelling and competing even more. She’s even switched to half days of school so she could keep up with her schoolwork and continue to travel for rodeos. Her afternoon classes are done online through the school. 

“It’s really helpful. It gives me more time to ride and prepare for rodeos” said Simondale.

Simondale and her horse, Nova, most recently competed at the Pennsylvania Farm Show. This is Nova’s favorite rodeo setting. Simondale and Nova dominated and won both set of rounds.

“When running at Farm Show, there is over seven thousand people there and my horse absolutely loves it. She really strives off of the crowd’s energy,” said Simondale.

She recently competed in Texas at the Martha Josie World Final against 430 riders, some who were twenty years old. She fell in between the 2D and 3D crack. Worlds was a 4D format. They take the top 20 out of each D. The time of the 1D winner determines the start time of the 2D. Simondale was too fast for the 3D but a few milliseconds too slow for the 2D.

“It was a great experience to be there. The dirt was a sugar sand, almost like what you would walk on at the beach. My horse is used to deep grounded dirt like what we have up here. At first, she didn’t like it but then got used to it.  It was cool to see how her times improved after each run on the dirt.” Simondale continues, “I can’t wait to go back and hopefully I’ll do better.”

This summer Simondale hopes to improve her skills. She will also compete at the Central PA Rodeo in June.  

“I hope to be on the PRCA [professional rodeo] circuit and go to school for cosmetology,” said Simondale.