Shining star in the rodeo scene out of Killarney, 16-year-old Preslie Wiebe is thrilled with how things have gone to this point and couldn't be more excited for what the future holds.
Wiebe details what she does competition wise and says she's absolutely loved every minute of it. "For my events, I do barrels, poles and a little bit of breakaway roping," she says proudly. "It's a lot, there's a lot of adrenaline and it's super exciting, but there's a lot of outside things, too. Lots of taking care of your horse, lots of slow work, lots of stretching your horse. It's so much fun being able to do this and experience a lot of the things I'm lucky to experience."
Developing a rodeo skillset is one thing, but Wiebe believes the most important part of success comes from the trust and bond formed with her horse, Cinch. "It's been a journey, for sure," she says with a big smile and little laugh. "We've worked very hard. Lots of ups and downs, lots of struggles but also lots of really good times. It's been a lot of fun and I've enjoyed being able to make such a strong connection with Cinch and make every run be a fun time no matter how good or bad it goes. It's definitely been a journey."
How Wiebe got into the rodeo scene is a little unique. "I've always loved horses," the teenage star explains. "I loved watching rodeos, but I didn't really grow up around horses. My family farmed cattle and had the odd horse, but one day I told her I wanted to ride horses. She booked lessons and eventually, I think it was around 2022, I got my first horse. I trained her, then got my start in the Manitoba Barrel Racing Association, and then in 2024, I joined MHSRA. I knew some people that were in it and they said they enjoyed it, so I thought I'd give it a shot. So, I never really grew up around it but I'm very excited that I have the opportunity to do it."
Growing up in the rodeo community, Wiebe says watching others compete and learning from some amazing people has meant the world to her. "It's been such a great experience, I've really enjoyed it. I've analyzed our runs and everyone else's runs, I've figured out where to tweak things and what other people are doing to solve problems. I've asked a lot of questions and people have been very supportive of that, so I'm very lucky to have that support from the rodeo people."
There have been a few highlights that jump out for the 16-year-old sensation and Wiebe could barely contain her excitement when thinking back to the events that she's done well at. "The first time that I made it to MBRA Finals, I actually made it to the short-go and did very well, which I'm super happy about. I've competed at winter fair a few times, I won 5th at barrels and poles at the winter fair. Just the training and how far we've come is a huge accomplishment for me and I'm so proud that we've gotten this far."
At the core of Wiebe's love for rodeo is the love and support she gets from her family, the people she says make her dreams come true. "I love it," she says beaming with happiness. "I have a bunch of little cousins cheering me on, even if they can't make it, they watch the videos, I always hear they're cheering me on from home. My mom hauls me everywhere, so I'm super grateful for that. Family and friends are always cheering and telling me how good I'm doing. The love of those people make the whole experience just that much better, I love it."
When it comes to the future, Wiebe says she's ready to put in the work and is looking forward to some big events coming up. "My summer includes a lot of slow work, tweaking things and getting ready for the next MHSRA season. I really hope to make it to MBRA Finals again and hopefully in the next MHSRA season, I can make it to Canadians or maybe even nationals"
Preslie Wiebe will be competing in Souris Peacock Days for MBRA on July 12th and 13th.