Now ranked third in the state of Louisiana in barrel racing, Morgan Meyers, 12, is climbing the ranks in the sport’s Wrangler Division.

After finishing third in the state barrel racing competition at the Ike Hamilton Center in West Monroe, Meyers with her new horse Charger, has her sights on the National Barrel Horse Association’s Junior World competition in Jackson July 23 and then the NBHA World Finals in Augusta, Ga., in October. Meyers also qualified to compete in the Wrangler National Rodeo in Gallup, N.M. July 2.

“I am very proud of getting my new horse, getting to go the NBHA junior world and world competitions, and qualifying for Gallup in my first year,” Myers said.

The soon to be seventh grader began riding at age 5 after her father, Steve, who has ridden horses all his life and trained horses, put her in the saddle.

“He just got me into riding and doing play days or little rodeos,” she said.

Since that time her career as a barrel racer has taken off, and while her dad got her into the sport, it has been the speed that has kept her there.

“I just like the speed. That’s what it is all about,” Meyers said. “I don’t like to go slow at anything I do.”

Despite being able to go fast, Myers said the sport also has its challenges.

“When you go to these big runs there are these girls that practice all the time, so there is hard competition,” she said. “It is also hard when you are getting to know your new horse.”

A second challenging aspect involving rodeo sports is long distance travel.

“I enjoy traveling because you get to go to places you normally don’t get to go, but it is kind of hard for us because we have a little truck and a little trailer,” Meyers said.

Fortunately, travel won’t be that big of an issue for her next competition, the Black River Roundup in Jonesville. It also happens to be Meyers’ favorite venue.

“I like going to the Black River Roundup because you get to practice with your horse and you get to meet a lot of new friends,” she said.

Having friends that rodeo, Meyers said, makes competing more enjoyable.

When Meyers is not out competing, traveling or practicing, she enjoys shopping and riding four-wheelers with her 14-year-old brother Tyler. Meyers also possesses a singing talent, which she has showcased with her father at various churches. She is also waiting to see if she will be singing the National Anthem at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.

But her love for singing does not outweigh her love for barrel racing, and ultimately Meyers said she wants to win a barrel racing title at the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas and eventually turn pro, like her favorite barrel racer Charmaine James, who won her first NFR title at age 14.

If she makes it to Las Vegas, she said it won’t be without the help of her dad, her mother Tanee, her grandmother Georgia Jones, who films every ride, Carroll Caldwell, who helps with Charger and Scott Tractor in Stacy, who is sponsoring her trip to the junior world competition in Jackson.