A couple of Statesboro girls took over the top four of the 2D National Barrel Horse Association's Youth & Teen World Championship in Perry, Georgia last week, bringing home over $2500 in cash between them and goodies for their horses.
Sisters Caroline and Marybeth Mathis took home the 2nd and 4th 2D places with times of 15.068 and 15.091, respectively. "It's pretty fun," said their mother Nikkia. "It's fast, it's fun and it's interesting."
The Mathises have 4 racing horses at home, and the girls have been racing horses for around 8 years, Nikkia said. Caroline is 13 and races on a young horse named Ima Epic Hottie who they just call 'Audi'.
"I don't let her brag," said Nikkia. "You can brag to me, I said, but you've got to stay humble about it... But she is on a very young horse, and it is a challenge to be able to compete at this level, at this age, so I will brag as a mom."
Marybeth is 11 and races on her horse Dinah. Her favorite part about barrel racing is the competition, she said. "I like seeing what my time is." Her fastest time so far is 14.9 seconds which got her 20th place out of over 750 entries in the first round of the youth qualifier.
Along with their winnings the girls brought home belt buckles, saddle pads, boots and halters.
They go to shows almost every weekend, but are looking forward to state finals in September, Nikkia said.
Caroline and Marybeth's parents are Nikkia and Russell Mathis of Statesboro.
