Trailer and Saddle Showdown draws riders from across the country

From behind a large metal gate, a brown-and-white horse darts into an arena, hooves kicking up clods of dirt.

The rider, an 8-year-old girl, directs the quarter horse to make a large cross, rounding the barrel to the left, the barrel to the right, the one in the middle and finally back toward the gate. A large digital timer flashes 17.640 seconds.

Casey Erfelt of Marion, Ill., raced her second best time on Saturday. Since she started competitive barrel racing a year ago, her personal best is 17.435 seconds.

"I'm going to do a lot better tomorrow," Casey said.

From Friday through Sunday at the Trailer & Saddle Showdown VII, every person has a chance at winning a cash prize, whether they're a beginner or a seasoned competitor. Friday's brought nearly 200 riders from across the country to the Flickerwood Arena in Fruitland.

Saturday attracted nearly 300 entries, and 210 of the riders competed in the open, or all-ages, category to place first through eighth in four divisions.

Much like a bell curve for school grades, the fastest time sets the standard for each division.

For at least an hour on Saturday, Patty White of New Madrid, Mo., held the fastest time at 14.7 seconds. Division II started at 15.2 seconds, a half-second from her time. Division III started at 15.7, one second off her time, and Division IV started at 16.7, two seconds after her time.

White, 44, was knocked into second place in Division I when a younger woman shaved the time down to 14.5 seconds. Whether White races for money or for the love of it, she is just grateful to be riding a horse at all.

Four years ago, White underwent an operation to remove a benign brain tumor. Since the tumor grew in the vision center of her brain, doctors warned that loss of peripheral vision and motor skills were highly likely, she said.

To their amazement, White said, she put on a helmet two months later and rode horses again. By the fall of 2004, she had removed her helmet and resumed competetive racing.

"If you've got your health and you've recovered 100 percent, or maybe less, it's just good to get out and ride and compete," White said. Currently, she is pursuing a permit in the Women's Professional Rodeo Association.

Casey said she plans to become a professional rodeo competitor.

Her favorite thing about it: "Just that I get to ride horses and get to go to all different places."

jmetelski@semissourian.com