From an early age, Laramie Lockie has been around rodeo, and her love of horses as well as support from family has boosted her into a barrel racing star.
"My dad was a bull rider, so I was kind of set up right from the start" Lockie says with a smile. "My grandparents on both sides have horses as well, so it was kind of just meant to be, I think."
Growing up around horses has been the ultimate joy for Lockie. "It's been amazing. They are such amazing animals. It's so neat to be with them, they all have different personalities, and working with different ones, they're all just so cool. They're awesome to grow up with. It teaches you, you go out to do chores, you do that every day, and you hang out with them, get to know them, and it helps shape you as a person. I feel like, if you're having a hard time, you can reflect on yourself and realize something is bugging me, so that's why my horse is bugging out. They teach you a lot."
When it comes to how Lockie got into the competition side of things, it started with a push from a family member. "I think I was around ten, and my younger sister Melayna was more into it than I was. We always grew up riding, but it was Melayna that was hardcore and like 'I want to go to jackpots' and stuff. She was such a cool little kid. When she started, I thought that it was cool and figured I'd start, too. I was only a couple years older than her, so I wasn't too, too much older, so I'd say ten or eleven is when I got started."
Looking back at those first competitions, a few things jump out to Lockie. "I think one of my first bigger ones, I was in North Dakota, and I remember sitting there just shaking. I was so nervous, but also excited. It's just such a cool feeling, once you get going, you kind of forget everything. You're just running. It's such an adrenaline kick. I feel you can get addicted, you start chasing that."
Barrel racing isn't just a person sport, it takes a strong, trusting relationship with a horse to be really good. "I actually have a younger one that I'm working with right now," Lockie explains. "I got her last year, and it's been a ride, let's say. We had a great year last year, and kind of this spring, we've been having a moment. It's just like, she's growing up, I'm growing up, we're just trying to figure each other out. You have to learn like a bit about them as much as they have to learn about you. You just go out there every day, you spend time with them, not riding, just learning them. You learn what they are and what they enjoy, as well."
Rodeo is unique in often times, the ones competing end up being the loudest cheering section for the other riders, a family-like atmosphere that Lockie cherishes. "It's special. Lots of my best friends have come through rodeo. I'm actually heading out to Nebraska this fall because one of my friends is getting married, we used to rodeo. These are life long friendships that we have. I have this couple that came from Australia, and I go out to Airdrie, Alberta, to see them a couple times a year. We're a different breed, we just kind of find our people."
Laramie Lockie is the oldest to a pair of siblings, Melayna and Jett, both also involved in rodeo, she says out of the three, there is one that has elevated themselves, at least in the eyes of a few. "Oh, it's got to be Jett, he's the golden child," she says with a laugh. "He's everyone's favourite. We all just love Jett. He is amazing at what he does, sure sometimes he get's a big head, but the kid is pretty humble. It's fun hanging out with him."
Coming up, the eldest Lockie is looking to make some noise at some big events, but she could use a little help from her younger sister. "I'm going to try and hit up some jackpots, just do whatever I can get to, life can be so busy. If I can get my sister to pick me up and take me to something, I'll go," she again lets her trademark laugh ring out. "I just love being around family and living this life."