story by Lily Weinacht
Emily DeAngelo of Calhan, Colorado, has put in countless hours in the practice pen, down payment on her goal of qualifying for the NHSFR, which she accomplished this spring. The 16-year-old breakaway roper, barrel racer, and goat tyer, went into state finals with confidence, making two slower but solid breakaway runs that advanced her to the short round. “I knew going into the short round if I could just catch I could get some average points. I ended up missing my first loop, but on my second loop, I ended up catching,” says Emily, who finished fourth. “I had a feeling I’d made it, but when my mom told me, I was almost crying.”
Qualifying for Nationals has been a long-time dream of Emily’s. Her older brother, Scott, was the 2006 NLBRA World Champion Junior Boy Flag Racer, while her mom, Carrie, has barrel raced, and her dad, Robert, competed in roughstock and timed events. Additionally, Emily’s aunt Kim Baum (nee DeAngelo) is a two-time CPRA barrel racing champion. “I just like how successful my aunt and brother were, and I want to go out and win Nationals and do something big, and show that I’m consistent and I can win.” Emily competed in gymkhanas until she joined the NLBRA when she was 8, then switched to junior high rodeo when she was 13. She was one spot away from qualifying for the NJHFR in breakaway that year and used another season in the NLBRA to gain her confidence back before tackling high school rodeo and the elusive Nationals qualification.
“Zeke Griffith and Krista Johnson have both helped me with my horse work. Krista lives in Calhan and goes to monthly jackpots with me, and Zeke also helped my brother growing up. Shelby Winchell has helped me with goat tying, and Kelley Schnauffer has helped me with barrel racing. They’ve all told me to stay focused and to not make it the goal to go to Nationals, but that it’s a bonus, and to go to improve myself.” Emily is in the arena every day, whether exercising her horses or ground tying and roping the dummy. Her parents own and operate a vet clinic and come hold goats and open chutes for her after work. “They’re both there to give me advice and keep my horses healthy,” says Emily. “I enjoy my other two events, but breakaway is my go-to event. I just love that you have to stay focused the whole time and make sure you get out good so you can have a fast run. And your swing has to be precise so you can get it sharp around the neck.”
Apache, the 21-year-old bay mare Emily goat ties and breakaway ropes off of, is a family legend. Emily’s aunt Kim and uncle Tim started the mare as a 3-year-old and sold her to Emily’s family. Apache carried Scott to his world title in the NLBRA, then carried Emily to her first NHSFR qualification. She rides Dinero in the barrels, a 13-year-old white gelding whom she’s also training for breakaway and goats. Her 10-year-old mare, Splash, does pole bending at jackpots and barrel races with Emily’s mom, while the family also has a number of barn cats, goats, roping calves, and two dogs, Diamond and Cinch.
Emily will be a junior at Calhan High School this fall, where she enjoys her agriscience classes and played basketball the last two years. She also helps her parents in their vet clinic, and is interested becoming an engineer or an FFA advisor. Presently, she’s the reporter for her new FFA chapter. “I report to the newspaper when we have an event, and soon I’ll have the website put together and I keep the social media updated.”
With her first trip to Rock Springs, Wyoming, on the horizon, Emily’s goal is to stay consistent in the practice pen and keep her skills sharp. “I’m just looking for more consistency, and looking to qualify for Nationals in more events in the future.”
