story by Lily Weinacht
This is Karlee Benincasa’s rookie year in the APRA, and the 17-year-old barrel racer from Gansevoort, New York, is enjoying every moment. Two of her favorite APRA rodeos over the summer included Ellicottville, New York, where she placed seventh out of a highly competitive group of horses, and Benton, Pennsylvania, where she was just a few holes shy of placing out of more than 80 barrel racers. “I like the people that I travel with for the APRA, and a lot of the arenas are nice that I go to around here,” says Karlee. “I travel with Hannah Kennedy and Jodie Mathews. I got to know them through rodeo, and I bought my horse from Jodie Mathews, so I really appreciate her. We have a good time when go down the road together.”
Karlee’s 14-year-old barrel horse, Nellie, has become a fast friend in the three months since Karlee bought her. “We’ve been doing pretty great, and I love her!” says Karlee. “I used to breakaway rope in the IPRA, but I just sold my rope horse to buy Nellie. My favorite is definitely barrel racing, and I think it’s mostly my horse, because she makes it really fun, and I just have to go out there and ride.” Karlee drives 30 minutes every day to where she boards Nellie so she can ride and practice. “Rodeo is just something that I love to do,” she says. “When I don’t have a good day, I just go out there with my horse, and she makes everything better for me.” Karlee and her family also have a cat and two dogs – a yellow lab and an English Bulldog.
Karlee was first introduced to horses at her grandma’s barn, where she started riding at 2. By the time she was 7 or 8, Karlee started junior rodeoing. She competed in the NYHSRA from 2014 – 2016, and works often with her trainers, Judy Dahoda-Taylor and Jodie Mathews. “My parents, Gary and Nichole, support me a lot in this event,” she adds. “They bought me a truck and trailer, and I feel like they support me a lot.” Karlee also has an 11-year-old sister, Mia, who enjoys barrel racing. “She stays local for open rodeos, but if I go to an APRA rodeo with youth barrels, she comes with me.”
A senior at South High School, Karlee’s favorite class is English. “I like to do the projects for that class. We’ll read a short book and do a project on it. To Kill a Mockingbird is a favorite one we’ve read.” She also loves science, especially doing lab, and enjoys playing varsity basketball on her school’s team, the Bulldogs. “I like to hang out with my friends and go to the lake or go on a boat,” Karlee adds. “I like to forget I have other stuff to do and just be me.”
Karlee never leaves for rodeos without her horse’s liniments and poultices, and makes it a point to stretch her before every run. “I would like to accomplish winning the Rookie of the Year for the APRA this year, and making it to the finals,” says Karlee, who’s sitting in the top 15 in the barrel racing. “I’d also like to go to college somewhere out West or down South. I’d like to thank my mom and dad for supporting me in everything I do. They’re always there for me, and I want to thank my horse, Nellie, because without her, I don’t think I’d be where I am.”
