Saddle Up: Dunlap Spends Free Time In The Ring

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Image/Graphics by Courtesy of: Traci Yoder

Sydney and her horse Duke round a barrel in a race. Dunlap won the barrel competition.

Many students are involved in a wide variety of activities, from sports to academic teams to hunting and fishing. For Sydney Dunlap, and a select few other students, she spends her free time riding horses. Dunlap competes in many styles of racing, from English to Barrels.

Last weekend, she competed in a competition in Huntington. She won first place in the barrel competition with her horse Duke. She also competed in an English-styled competition, a team rope competition, and a poles competition.

“It was the first run I had gone on after retiring my two older horses, so I was looking to ride [Duke] right,” said Dunlap. “I love it, I’ve always been involved with it. My mother barrel raced and rode horses, so I’ve been on a horse my entire life. I continue to do it because I’m good at it and it’s what I love to do.”