<p>CHURCHLAND | Emma Snyder, about to turn 4, decided she wanted something a little out of the ordinary — a horse birthday party. She got it and the rest, they say, is history.</p><p>That was six years ago and Snyder, 10, has been a regular in the saddle since then. And not just in the saddle. She's a champion barrel racer who will be participating in the World Barrel Racing Challenge next month in Karnak, Texas as part of Team USA East. Emma will be vying for a spot on the World Barrel Racing team.</p><p>The roots of all that came at that birthday party and it was a life changer for the Snyder family. Emma took an instant liking to the horses, which were brought to the party by Katie Lanier.</p><p>"I thought it was a long way down and I didn't want to fall and it was cool to be actually riding something that can go way faster than you," Emma said.</p><p>Naturally, she wanted a horse.</p><p>"Her birthday was in October and she got a horse for Christmas," said Stephen Snyder, Emma's father.</p><p>And so it began.</p><p>Not just for Emma either. Stephen and Emma's mother, Ashley, were not previously horse owners. They had to start from scratch.</p><p>"We found out real quick that when you've got a 4-year-old riding that you've got to get a couple more horses because you've got to have somebody riding with her," Stephen said.</p><p>An advantage the Snyders had was an infastructure for horses. Their home out in the country on Simerson Road already had a barn and plenty of land. Stephen later built another barn for the barrel horses.</p><p>The Snyders began going up to Love Valley, a famous spot near Statesville for horse enthusiasts, to do trail rides. They happened to be up there one time when a rodeo was taking place and Emma got to watch.</p><p>"She says, 'daddy, I want to do that.' It's been rodeos ever since," Stephen said.</p><p>Emma quickly learned to be comfortable around horses.</p><p>"After I started riding them on trails and all, just walking around and I felt like I could trust them," Emma said.</p><p>By the time she was 6, Emma was galloping and entering rodeos. And winning.</p><p>"It's fun," Emma said. "You can hang out with your friends when you're doing it. It's fun when you're going really, really fast on a horse and knowing you can do it. And knowing you can go fast and make your horse turn and stop."</p><p>The Snyders have a practice arena on their property where Emma works out almost daily under the watchful eye of Stephen, who serves as her coach. Stephen sets up three barrels on the course for Emma to ride around. Barrel racing involves riding very fast and taking very sharp turns around the barrels without falling.</p><p>Emma was already winning rodeos when the Snyders went to Lindale, Texas for advanced instruction from barrel racing expert Lynn McKenzie. They found there was still a lot to learn.</p><p>"She wanted us to be riding right," Stephen said. "She told us you're only as good as you practice. If you practice wrong, you're going to ride wrong. If you practice right, you ride right."</p><p>And Emma was already good.</p><p>"She had enough natural ability," Stephen said. "This is what made her compete at the next level."</p><p>Emma graduated from the Tennessee Walker she initially rode to the 12-year-old quarterhorse-thoroughbred mix, Tate, that she rides now in competition. Actually entering the ring to compete is exhilarating for her and there's some nervous tension. A horse is a very powerful animal.</p><p>"If you're nervous, your horse is nervous and he's going to rear up," Emma said. "Once you get through the alley gate and you're actually running him, you're pretty much flying. When you do a good time and they call your name out as a winning time, you know you're the best out there."</p><p>Emma regularly turns in times of about 15 seconds. She competed in Statesville on Wednesday, riding both Tate and another horse, Solo.</p><p>On a mild, sunny Thursday afternoon, Emma effortlessly hopped up on Tate, who is still significantly taller than her. She walked her horse over to the practice arena and performed a series of maneuvers around the barrels at a trot and sometimes at a canter. The barrels can be a real challenge because the horse is doing close to a 360-degree turn in a very tight arc.</p><p>"You have to kind of check him up when you get to the barrel," Emma said. "It's kind of hard. But at the same time, it's fun."</p><p>Practice is an ongoing ritual.</p><p>"She even pretends like she's running around barrels in the living room," Stephen said.</p><p>Emma qualified for the World Barrel Racing Challenge because of her success and now she'll be trying to further that May 10-12 in Texas. The 60 riders — 30 from the East and 30 from the West — will race. The top 10 from each team will race again in the finals. Then a World Barrel Racing Team will be named. The competition is being conducted during the Josey Junior World Barrel Race, in which Emma is also participating.</p><p>Flashing back to that birthday party, Stephen couldn't have forecasted it would come to this.</p><p>"No sir," he said. "I had no idea it would turn out to be this big. She loved it so much. She picked it up real quick."</p><p>When she was done practicing Thursday, Emma dismounted just as easily as she got on the horse — with a smile. And much to look forward to.</p><p>Mike Duprez can be reached at 249-3981, ext. 218 or mike.duprez@the-dispatch.com.</p>
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