The Region Nine Championship is a place to try new things.

By Larri Jo Starkey

Julie Peppers of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, watches as her daughter Sydney competes in her first barrel race. You can see photos of Sydney's run as well as her attempt at showmanship in the slide show below.

The Peppers family of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, was at QuarterFest in May. In August, the family decided to attend the Region Nine Championship, bringing along some of the family’s  cutting horses. First up was the showmanship clinic with Karen Evans Mundy. While other participants were getting tips on arm positions, the quarter system and backing straight, 10-year-old Sydney Peppers was discovering something different.

“I need something with a little more action,” she said afterward.

Next up was working cow horse. No, mom Julie told Sydney. Not that much action.

At the end of the day, Sydney entered Lil Smart Playmate in the barrel racing while the rest of the family waited anxiously.

“Wow,” she said after loping to the first barrel, trotting between barrels and then loping home. “Let’s do that again.”

Looks like Sydney found her sport. Meanwhile, an AQHA Professional Horseman who has been in horses for quite a few years found something new to try as well. Roger Elder of Maryville, Tennessee, has been a roper most of his life, but he recently acquired a cow horse. The Region Nine Championship was his fourth show.

“That’s what the Regional Championships are for,” Roger proclaimed, “trying new things.

To see photos of people trying new things and trying to get better at old things, watch the slide show below, exclusively from The American Quarter Horse Journal. When you’re on the road, we’re on the road.

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