Trick Rider Dana Jenkins at the Pincher Creek Pro Rodeo

Dana Jenkins
Pauline Breeze photos

Toni Lucas

Dana Jenkins is no stranger to riding.  She's been doing it for as long as she can remember.  Nor is she unfamiliar to the rodeo ring.  She has competed in cutting from the time that she was twelve years old in High School Rodeo.  In 2008, she and her partner won team roping in Ponoka for Alberta Finals, climbing the charts in Gillette, New Mexico till their standing was 22 in the world.  She as held titles in a number of categories in Alberta and Canada.


This past weekend at the Pincher Creek Pro Rodeo was a new experience for the 21 year-old.  It was the inaugural performance of Jenkins as a trick rider.  "I was a little nervous.  I knew a lot of the crowd,  as this is my home town."

This young lady had every right to be nervous, as she has only started trick riding in January.  "I have wanted to do it all my life."  Jenkins related.  According to Jenkins,  Nikki Flundra as her teacher has been wonderful.  "She is great.  She can be a friend and your instructor. "I have gotten to work with her for hours each week, and as we have a ring at the (Jenkins Lazy U) Ranch, I got to put in a lot of practice time."

A lot of practice time was needed.  To start training, Jenkins choose 9 year old Banker, a roper horse that she already owned.  These two learned the new skills of trick riding together.  "It's a strain on both the horse and the rider.  It's a different discipline.  It took a lot of practicing together to gain that two way trust. The horse and the rider have to be able to trust each other."  Jenkins said.  "Gaining that trust with Banker has been such a rewarding experience.  It may be what I enjoy the most about trick riding." These two have learned such tricks as the Backwards Fender and the Hippodrome. The Side-Back Bend is Jenkins' favorite trick so far. Jenkins intends to pursue trick riding as an act that demonstrates her skill.  "It is a large time investment, but I see myself doing more shows in the future.  I was nervous to start, but I was sad when it was over."

 

 Pauline Breeze photos

Trick Riders Marley, Dana, Avery, Emily, and Shannon