story by Michele Toberer
Claudia Freier was excited to finish 2019 as the Mid-States Rodeo Association Rookie Champion Breakaway Roper and reserve champion breakaway roper for the season after winning the average at the MSRA finals rodeo. Born and raised in Birch Run, Michigan, the first-generation cowgirl started out riding dressage horses when she was 10 years old, but once a friend from school introduced her to rodeo, there was no turning back. She started in the Michigan High School Rodeo Association her sophomore year and competing in breakaway roping, barrel racing, goat tying, pole bending, and even a little team roping. In 2018, Claudia’s senior year at Birch Run High School, she won the average in breakaway roping at the state finals and was the MHSRA reserve champion breakaway roper.
Claudia’s parents, Monica a nurse, and Ron a supervisor at General Motors, are extremely supportive of her rodeo endeavors. She will be leaving her parents’ home in August, as she heads to Texas to study equine studies at Texas A & M Commerce while she competes on the college rodeo team. “After graduating from high school in 2018, I took a couple years off from school because I wanted to work on horses before I went off to college rodeo. I have a palomino mare named Barb who is 14 years old, that I’ve owned for 5 years, but just started her in breakaway roping last year. She’s a really nice little gritty mare that does whatever you want her to do. She just wants to please everyone. I’m starting to finish her and hauled her last year to most of the MSRA rodeos. I’ve also bought and sold a couple horses in the past couple years and just bought a new gelding from Oklahoma in November. Levi is a really cool bay gelding that is 18 years old and he is finished in team roping and breakaway roping. I’m really excited about him.”
Rodeo and work are the main areas where Claudia spends her time. She’s worked for two years as a waitress at Tiffany’s, a little bar that gets quite a crowd overflowing from the local businesses in the German-themed tourist town, Frankenmuth, Michigan. “There’s a large restaurant with the most dining room seating in the U.S. called Zehnder’s, and the country’s largest Christmas store called Bronner’s. It’s such a cute little town just 15 minutes from where I live, and I enjoy working there. And, pretty much if I’m not working, I’m riding or competing.”
When she can, Claudia watches her favorite breakaway roper, Jackie Hobbs-Crawford, “I love her roping style because it makes sense to me and she is just a textbook roper.” She is excited for all the opportunities ropers like Jackie have opened up in the breakaway roping world for cowgirls like herself. “I think it’s amazing and cannot wait to expand on it. I plan to rope as a part of my daily routine once I’m in Texas.” Claudia is not only grateful to her parents for all their support, but also to her trainer, Jim McCartney. “He helped me go from a novice rider and roper to where I am today. He gave me tools he didn’t have to and I’m so thankful to him.”
“I’m enjoying being a part of the MSRA; rodeo is just a great fit for me, being able to compete at this level and win money. I already have my card for 2020 and look forward to going to as many rodeos as I can. I’m excited to start school in the fall and make it known that northern girls aren’t just soft ropers, we know how to rope up here too.”
