story by Skylar Wright
The 17 year old from Mona Utah has been rodeoing for a short time compared to her peers. The upcoming senior in high school is in the practice pen every chance she gets.
Shaylynn Carter competes in barrel racing, pole bending and goat tying. She got her start in rodeoing when her family moved to Mona. “Some family friends of ours got me started and it took off from there,” she said.
When she’s not rodeoing she plays the saxophone for her school band. “My dad used to play and I wanted to join band in the 7th grade. That was just the instrument we had at the house so that’s what I played.” She has now been playing for 5 years and wants to continue to play for as long as she can. She is also on the track team and says there is a fine line between finding enough time for all her hobbies.
Her first horse, the family bought as a yearling and when she was still a kid. This horse is still with the family and is now her barrel and pole horse. “We grew up together and one day I decided to start training him to run barrels.”
She ties goats on her dad’s horse and she also learned to ride on this same horse. “He is huge, most goat horses are small so you can get off quicker but I get along with him so I don’t change anything.”
Shaylynn is most proud of making it to Silver State in barrels and poles. “It was exciting to make it there, I work hard and it paid off.” She made it back to the short go in barrels and ended up in the top 15 for the year-end.
