story by Michele Toberer
Like the energy building to a smoldering intensity in a dramatic scene of a movie, experiences and lessons learned have been building the necessary components for Rachel Stickler to achieve great success in rodeo. Rachel started out riding fairly green horses at Michigan High School rodeos, thanks to a great neighbor Cassie Bettis and her dad, Skipper, who were more than willing to haul her along with them to NBHA shows and rodeos. Prior to that, Rachel, her older sister Jessie, and younger brother Guy, just rode their all-around backyard horses at fun shows for enjoyment. After high school, Rachel ventured out to amateur and open rodeo circuits, taking every rodeo as a lesson, learning how to run on different ground, and how to help her horse in new situations. “I have mostly had a lot of fun so far in rodeo, I didn’t have a really finished barrel horse until about 10 years ago. I’ve gained a lot of learning, instead of a lot of money, but it’s taught me how to lose, and always appreciate the horses. I’m extremely competitive, and we enter because we’re competitors. But, you learn right away that you are likely to lose more than you win, so you better have fun.”
Rachel lives across the road from the family farm she grew up on with her parents, Jack and Jenine Stickler. Tragedy struck the Stickler family 9 years ago, when Jenine passed away due to injuries from a horse riding accident. The loss to the family was devastating, and although it made Rachel more thoughtful of the concern her family may have about her chosen sport, she never thought of quitting, knowing that accidents happen, she is careful to stay in smart situations with her riding. Losing their mom also reminded them all how important family is and she is grateful to have a close family, and she shares her love of horses with her nieces and nephews any time she can. Her brother Guy now lives across the street with his family, and sister Jessie and her family lives nearby.
She and her husband of three years, Eric, purchased the 80 acres they built on, where they keep her horses and spend a lot of time hunting. “Usually when fall comes, I hang up my saddle and pull out the camo.” The couple loves the precision marksmanship of archery and spend most of the fall months hunting deer; and winter, hunting rabbits with their beagles, often traveling to Missouri and Ohio on hunting trips. Eric owns Pride Custom Homes, where he works as a builder, and although the couple jokes about him being half-owner of their mare, Chic, they’re currently using as a broodmare as she recovers from an injury. He does travel with Rachel to nearby rodeos to support his wife’s passion and cheer her on. Rachel has two adult step-kids, Lauren and Hunter, that support her rodeo endeavors as well.
Rachel has been teaching for 10 years as an elementary teacher at Riverview Elementary. She thrives on reading everything she can about barrel racing and loves to watch videos on the sport, constantly in a state of learning and improving. She is drawn to the lessons of Dena Kirkpatrick and Jordan Briggs. “They both really ride their horses up into a barrel, and they are very clean riders, staying upright and getting their horses up into the pocket, not making their turn until they have their legs by the barrel. I respect their consistency and riding them to their spot before thinking about anything else.”
Last year, Rachel spent seasoning her 10 year old palomino mare, called Lena, at the rodeos. It was her rookie year with MSRA-E and she jokes that she was “the Queen of one hole out of the money.” Rachel is excited to see what this season will bring. She feels confident that she and Lena are ready to step it up a notch and let their hard work show. She looks forward to making the season finals and moving forward to IPRA competition in the future.
