Rachel Nordenstrom and her quarter horse competed in cutting at a Lake Elmo rodeo in the fall of 2013.
Family, horse travel to Rock Springs, Wyoming
Two years ago, Rachel Nordenstrom represented Minnesota at the National High School Rodeo Association queen contest in Wyoming, after winning the state finals in Hugo. She was judged on her interview, speech, modeling and horsemanship, and came home with a 21st-place finish out of 55 contestants.
This week she’s back in Wyoming in an entirely new experience.
The 24-year-old quarter horse gelding who traveled with her to Wyoming in 2012 is retired now; Nordenstrom’s mother uses him for trail riding.
The new quarter horse mare, 18-year-old Penny, is an experienced cutting horse. She knows how to separate a cow from the herd and keep it from returning.
Nordenstrom and Penny took first place in the state at the high school final in Hugo in June, qualifying for a spot at the nationals. The National High School Finals Rodeo is held in Rock Springs from Sunday, July 13, to Saturday, July 19.
The family left July 10 for the two-day road trip. They stop every three hours and let the mare out of the trailer to rest. She is given electrolytes to fight dehydration and gets to stay at a ranch overnight. (The humans sleep in the trailer.)
“My horse is pretty good,” Nordenstrom said, “and I practice a lot.” She works with the mare three times a week and practices cutting every day at her job working for trainer Dave Scribner in Stacy. She spends her mornings there riding colts and warming up horses.
Last summer she worked for Zach Bell, a trainer in Hugo. That’s where she acquired Penny, who is originally from Texas. She’s had this horse for a year.
The 2014 Forest Lake High School graduate will attend St. Cloud State University this fall, majoring in nursing and minoring in Spanish. Someday she hopes to be a pediatric or maternity nurse.
“My dad told me to go into something medical so I could support my hobby,” she said.
While in Wyoming, the girl and her horse will compete Tuesday and Thursday. If they earn enough points to place in the top 20, they will compete a third time. Results are available at NHSRA.com.