Bella Skinner has taken 2024 by storm, from a WRWC top four finish to the WCRA Division Youth Junior barrel racing world championship in July.
The 16-year-old from Wills Point, Texas, picked up $8,750 at the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Oklahoma, July 23-24, after winning both the WCJR event title and the world championship.
The road to a world title
Skinner’s route to the 2024 WCRA DY world title started a year ago in Guthrie at the WCJR. After entering as a sort of walk-on, Skinner knew nominating was made for her.
“We went to Guthrie, the WCJR, last year,” Skinner said. “We just went and ran, and then after that, we figured out how good the event was and started nominating at all the different things.”
Skinner nominated high school rodeos and youth events earlier in the year and got her WCRA bearings entering DY showcases over the last year, picking up a second-place finish at the Stampede at The E DY Showcase in January. Her biggest prep came in May, however, when she had the opportunity most 16-year-olds would dream of: running inside AT&T Stadium.
“I had my dad down there with me, it was such a cool experience,” Skinner said of the 2024 WRWC. “I never thought I’d get to run there. It’s very nerve wracking with a lot going on, very big crowd. It was very cool.”
After strong performances in the preliminary rounds and Semifinals of the WRWC, Skinner advanced to the Championship Round which featured 12 athletes inside the famous AT&T Stadium. Skinner called on her main mount, “Grayman.”
“I did not know he’d handle it the way he did, and he handled it very well,” Skinner said. “He loved the crowd.”
Skinner and Grayman finished fourth with a 15.791 and picked up $11,900 during their WRWC outing.
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Who is Grayman?
The 12-year-old gray gelding joined Skinner’s team three years ago, finished and ready to run. But it took the two nearly two years to get on the same page.
“Just getting our timing down,” Skinner said of their hiccups. “He really wasn’t different from my other horses, it was just getting our timing together. He used to be really spooky on the ground, kind of goofy. But now he’s not, and we got really close.”
Once things clicked, they clicked and the winning commenced. Consistent as they come and a fan of rodeos and big crowds, Skinner has learned the keys to being successful with Grayman.
“Having a good first barrel and giving plenty of pocket going into the first barrel, that’s my main thing,” Skinner said. “Because if I have a good first barrel, my whole run is set up to be good.”
Her herd doesn’t end there. Skinner has a new mare that she’s working on learning, as well as a sorrel gelding, two Epic Leader colts, a Triple Vodka colt and and Aint Seen Nothin Yet colt.
“We have big plans with those,” Skinner said. “Very big goals.”
2024 WCJR
Skinner and Grayman kicked off the 2024 WCJR in the Qualifying Rounds winning $400 for fourth in Round 1. Skinner was a little longer and out of the money in Round 2, but she advanced to the Semifinals. With a 17.272, Skinner continued to move on, solidifying her spot in the Finals and picking up $350.
“I had a decent run, but I didn’t think I was going to make it back,” Skinner admitted. “But we made it back.”
Not even the slightest bit nervous, Skinner had one was focused on making a clean run in the Finals.
“I just knew I had to go in there and make a good clean run,” Skinner said.
Skinner and Grayman topped the field with a 17.214-second run for $6,000 to win the WCJR event title and the world championship.
