story by Lindsay King
They say to go for gold, that is exactly what Rio Flaharty did at the 2016 AQHYA World Show. The El Dorado, Kansas, barrel racer is used to running against stiff competition. This past February the 15-year-old was the 2017 Patriot Young Guns Champion, qualifying her for The American semi-finals in 2018. “The American is my dream rodeo to compete in, so I am looking forward to running in the semifinals in 2018. I also went to the Junior NFR in Vegas this year.” Rio was winning the barrels going into the short round and ended up seventh overall. “It was the toughest youth event I have competed against most of those girls before though. It was neat to go watch the NFR for the first time after competing,” said the OHSRA competitor.
The Flaharty family lived in Oklahoma for ten years before moving to Kansas in 2014. “I learned how to ride and compete against the girls in Oklahoma. I could not quit competing down there because all my friends were there.” Rio says Oklahoma has some of the toughest barrel racers and “you are only as good as your competition.”
Rio admires Sherry Cervi’s riding style mostly because she is a quiet rider. But her mom, Colette, is her biggest role model in barrel racing. “My mom used to run barrels and she trained my current horse. She teaches me how to get better.” Rodeo is a family sport as her dad Troy was a calf roper and bulldogger. “I was born into it. My parents put me on old horses when my mom was at a barrel race or pro rodeo. Eventually they put me on barrel horses and let me go as fast as I wanted. It has taken off from there.” Her aunts, uncles and grandparents mostly team rope or ride cutting and reining horses. Her half-brother Tehl, 22, did not catch the rodeo bug like Rio did.
“I just love how fast I get to go and being able to do that on my horse. I used to goat tie and pole bend, but barrel racing is what I am good at and truly enjoy.” If Rio had a pole horse, she would love to pole bend. As a freshman, Rio was second in barrels at the IFYR. “I was young compared to everyone I was competing against. It was my first time there, so I was proud that I did so well against some of the toughest girls in the world.” Rio is working towards an IFYR championship title and a national title this year. “I have been to nationals the past two years. I was reserve champion in eighth grade and then I made the short go as a freshman.”
The El Dorado High School sophomore aspires to be a professional barrel racer one day. “Going pro is my biggest dream but I have also thought about becoming a physical therapist.” Rio used to be involved in cheerleading and gymnastics but decided to fully pursue rodeo. She is a self-proclaimed chatty Cathy. “I love talking to people and getting to know them as best as I can. Basically, I am good at making friends.” One of her good friends is her geometry teacher. “I do not like the subject itself, but I like my teacher. She makes it a lot easier to learn.”
Nerves used to overcome Rio when she was about to run, she has worked through this to focus on piloting her horse, The Wonder Bug. “My mom always tells me to keep going and not to stop even when I am doing bad, to always keep moving forward.” Rio always takes the time to thank her family, God and her sponsors: Flo Boots, Marty Tanner at Tanner Equine, OE Nutraceuticals and Flaharty Bits and Spurs.
