story by Lily Weinacht
There’s a hoof print beside many of Josey Snidow’s earliest memories. The 12 year old from Parachute, Colo., entered her first rodeo as a five-year-old Little Wrangler in the NLBRA, and today, she’s aiming for a qualification to the NJHFR, competing in barrel racing, pole bending, goat tying, and breakaway roping. “Rodeo is really fun – it’s been in my life a long time, and I don’t ever want to quit!” says the second generation cowgirl. Her dad, Donnie, is a roper, while her mom, Jamie, competed in many of the same events as Josey when she was a child. “I love spending time with my family,” Josey adds. “My parents work a lot, but they both always come with me and we get to talk a lot on the way to the rodeo, and hang out together at the trailer. I’m thankful for them, and for God.”
Of all her events, barrel racing comes in first on Josey’s list of favorites. She and her horse, Harley, have bonded to make a talented team, putting them in the top five of the CJHSRA standings. Josey is coached by her parents, and she also looks up to Trudy Peterson, a CPRA barrel racer. “She sold me my barrel horse, and I want to be like her,” says Josey. Together, she and Trudy are training a mare, Bird, for barrels and poles. “Trudy took her to a barrel race in Golden where she ran a 17.4 while we were at a junior rodeo in Golden,” Josey explains. “I also ride my horse Sparkles in the goats and poles, and Ringo in the breakaway roping. We have more horses, a goat, a puppy named Bubbles, and two other dogs, Maggie and Nuts.”
The Snidow family and their animals call several acres outside of Parachute home. Josey and her six-year-old sister, Kashlynn, have enjoyed many more hours there since they started homeschooling in 2015. The siblings also have an older step-brother and step-sister, Tyler and Katie. Josey enjoys the flexibility of homeschooling, but admits she misses seeing her friends every day. Throughout sixth grade, her favorite subject has been Bible. “I like memorizing Bible verses,” she says. “But I’m excited for summer vacation. I’ll mainly rodeo this summer, and we’re hoping to go to Disneyland with my cousins and aunt in the fall.”
Josey practices daily, helping Kashlynn with barrels and poles at the same time. She’d love to practice with professional barrel racers CJ Vondette and Mary Walker, while in her spare time, she’s finishing schoolwork, roping the dummy, tying goats, or occasionally watching TV with her family. “My whole family loves the series When Calls the Heart, and I like it too, but they always end each season on the biggest question, and it drives me nuts!” Josey says with a laugh.
Her goal for the summer is to qualify for the NJHFR in Lebanon, Tenn., which she hopes to compete in prior to the 2016 NLBFR in Guthrie, Okla.
