It isn’t exactly a sport for the fainthearted. Riding bucking broncs, that is. But then again, local lad Josh Barnett isn’t your average sportsman.
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Having grown up surrounded by horses, the Singleton rider knows a thing or two about the rodeo scene. So it’s no surprise that for his 21st birthday he decided to head to the States to compete in the International Professional Rodeo Association’s (IPRA) summer season. And as it turns out, he is proving himself to be a fierce contender on an international scale. Barnett has ridden horses from a young age, though he only began riding broncs around four years ago. Now, he says its all he wants to do.
“My family and I breed Australian stock horses so I’ve been riding since I could walk,” Barnett says.
“But I came over to the States to rodeo. I’ve ridden bulls and saddle broncs for four years at home and its always been a dream of mine to ride in the US. The sport is so much bigger and so much more professional.”
Since the end of May, the Singleton local has shot to the top of the IPRA ranks which he admits has been a pleasant surprise.
“I’m sitting ninth in the world at the moment,” he says. “The top 15 qualify for the IPRA world finals which will be held in Oklahoma in January 2018 so that is definitely a goal of mine and it’s looking fairly likely.”
Though qualifying for the world finals doesn’t happen without hard work, dedication and an absolute passion for the sport – three things Barnett encompasses if his travel schedule is anything to go by. Since his arrival in the States, the 21-year-old has racked up nearly 60,000km on the odometer. The fearless rider has already competed in 60 different rodeos, from Illinois to Quebec in Canada and everywhere in between.
But all the travelling is well worth it for the experience of a lifetime, and fortunately he has a good friend and his girlfriend to keep him company along the way. And if that wasn’t enough incentive, winning prize money is just another added bonus.
“I've won $7500 so far and am hoping to win a little more before I come home,” Barnett says.
For a first-time international competitor, Barnett has certainly taken the success in his stride and still remains incredibly humble. Though it’s clear this summer season has given him plenty of motivation.
“It’s a sport that takes years of experience to be at the top and I’m only really a rookie at the moment so I definitely want to be more involved and improve over the next couple of years,” he says.
“I might even come back to the States again.”
Barnett will return to Australia on August 23.