Brittany Pozzi has saddled up for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo since age 19, a year after she graduated from Memorial High School in 2002.
Six years and two world barrel racing titles later, Pozzi said Monday that she no longer feels young.
“I feel like a very old 25,” she said. “I’ve seen more things and been more places than most grown adults have in their entire lives.”
In Las Vegas this weekend, Pozzi claimed her second national title in three years. The acclaimed 10-day event, held at the Thomas & Mack Center, also marked her second championship with as many horses.
Pozzi competed with 10-year-old Stitch in 2007. This year she decided to ride a younger horse: Duke. She felt riding Duke would give her an edge.
The 6-year-old horse came through for Pozzi, albeit with a few major hurdles along the way.
When Duke became sore after the sixth go-round, Pozzi turned to her old title-winning horse, Stitch. She had less confidence in Stitch, though, considering the venue. Stitch performs better in larger, outdoor settings; Duke thrives in smaller arenas.
Pozzi jumped on Stitch in the seventh go-round and hit a barrel, which cost her a time penalty and made the prospects of winning a second championship appear bleak.
She wasn’t fazed, though. She competes as far east as Florida and as far west as California. This year, she competed often in Canada. (read more)
