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BRAINERD — A bond between a pet and their owner is something indescribable, especially when they’ve been together for over a decade.
Before she could even walk, Brooke Schubert was learning to ride a horse. Her parents used to stick her on a little pony and walk around with her long before she could walk on her own.
Schubert comes from a family of horse trainers and showers. Showing horses created a strong bond for Schubert and her family. She grew up around horses since her dad and brother show draft horses. However, Schubert and her mom prefer show horses.
“My dad used to show draft horses,” Schubert said. “He used to do that and I used to do that a little bit, but I liked these ones better. So I stuck to these. My dad and my brother keep going out around the states and everything and my mom and I go out on the road with these (horses) and go to barrel races.”
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Schubert will compete in eight events including barrel, pole, keyhole, flying W, Australian pursuit, egg and spoon, jumping figure eight and the relay event. She will be riding her horse, Skip, an 18-year-old quarter horse that has been in Schubert’s care since they were both 8. They have spent the last decade growing up together.
Skip was Schubert’s first horse under her own name and he was the one who got Schubert into competing at a young age. Skip is semi-retired now and has only been out two times this summer. In his retired life, he often spends time helping to teach younger kids to ride.
“I still ride him at home,” Schubert said. “I just haven't competed with him. But this is his second time off the farm this year. He’s in retirement teaching little girls how to ride. He’s a good boy. He likes to help teach.”
Skip isn’t Schubert’s only horse though. She has trained another young horse to compete. They’ve participated in many rodeos and competitions. Most recently, they were down in Georgia for the National Barrel Horse Association’s 2022 Youth and Teen World Championship.
Schubert and her horse, Santana’s Magic Glo, returned home Monday, Aug. 1, and the next morning she was down at the fairgrounds in preparation for the show.
“I did really well,” Schubert said. “I was happy. My horse has never been down there. She's never been hauled a lot. She did very well and I was very happy with how she handled everything. She's only been to Verndale, that's like an hour away from here and that's as long as she's been hauled. So for her making the 30-hour trip with 106 degree weather, she handled it really well. And it was a fun experience.”
In addition to barrel racing, Schubert likes to partake in games and rodeos.
Since Schubert is 18 and just graduated from Brainerd High School, this summer marks her last year as a 4-Her. She is a part of the Daggett Brook 4-H Club and has been since she was a cloverbud.
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“I think I learned a lot through the 4-H community,” Schubert said. “They're really helpful with teaching safety and sportsmanship and everything. 4-H has just taught me a lot about how to handle things and how to care for others and they're really good that way.”
Schubert will be attending the University of Minnesota, Crookston, in the fall and will be pursuing a major in agricultural business. She looks forward to continuing to ride and compete when she has the time.
SARA GUYMON, Brainerd Dispatch, staff writer, may be reached at 218-855-5851 or
sara.guymon@brainerddispatch.com.
