Sleeper and me

As barrel racers and their horses lined up to take their turn outside the rodeo arena in Shiprock, some spectators were quick to notice Jannon Hale.

The 10-year-old is often the youngest in the group of senior barrel racers preparing to make their run.

And it's her barrel racing skills that are to blame.

"Her first four rodeos she won them all and parents complained about her time so we moved her up," Hale's mother, Jolene Russell, said. "She had to move up to adult division ...now she races in adults."

But they're not complaining.

Russell, her husband Ray Russell, and Hale's grandparents Elenor Pete and Jerome Pete Sr., have witnessed the Beeshbitoh, Ariz., barrel racer become a success at a young age.

At the age of four Hale started competing in barrel races, pole bending and wooly riding.

"I guess that's what we first started her on," Jolene Russell said. "She had an automatic horse that took care of her."

According to the International Indian Finals Rodeo Web site, Hale qualified for the IIFR in 2006. She was also all-around champion at the Central Navajo Nation Fair Junior Rodeo in 2006. She has won numerous junior rodeos in 2006 and 2007 on the Navajo Nation.

Last weekend, Jolene Russell said the family traveled with Hale to five rodeos, including the Navajo Nation Cowboy Days rodeo, hosted by the Central Navajo Rodeo Association, in Shiprock.

Hale's mother knows that rodeo is expensive but she also knows that it's hard to stay away from, which is why they made the drive from their home in Beeshbitoh to Shiprock.

"We're all over," she said. "It's a lot of traveling, a lot of money but it's in the family. This morning we were just laughing about it, it's and addiction, we had to come out here today."

To the Russell's, seeing their little girl compete and having fun riding her horse is enough to keep them going.

Hale said out of all her events she enjoys barrel racing the most.

"I like going around barrels," she said. "I like to go fast."

But what she's proud of most has nothing to do with winning or competing against those older than her - her horse Sleeper.

As the rodeo came to an end on Sunday, Hale walked Sleeper back to her trailer carrying a pail of water, all by herself.

Small and meek, Hale made her way past horses, people trucks and trailers that were bigger than her.

Her stepfather, Ray Russell, said perhaps his daughter doesn't seem intimidated because of the relationship she has with her fairly new horse.

Russell said when Hale started rodeoing she had a horse that treated her well but it went under new ownership and Hale was left to find another.

"It's been difficult to find another barrel-racing horse," he said. "We believe that Sleeper is the horse that will take her to the finals."

Jolene Russell said her daughter's horse's name is somewhat deceiving because it isn't a lazy horse but the complete opposite.

"Her horse is laid back, sleepy looking, but once he gets to the gate he knows what to do," she said.

Russell said it was Hale's grandparents who influenced and encouraged her the most. Her grandfather, Jerome Pete Sr., was a roper himself years ago.

"It has a lot of meaning behind the grandparents that has steered her in the right path, this is the result of all the teachings they taught her," Ray Russell said. "We're happy for this year and we know we'll win some exciting rodeos across the country and in Navajo land.

"We're just happy when fall comes around we'll be at the next level," he added.

As for now, Jannon and Sleeper will remain laid back until another rodeo gate opens.

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