Before Bree Roark and Sierra Holder even entered elementary school, they dreamed of competing in a national rodeo. Now, the cousins can not only say they competed in the world's largest national junior high rodeo, but that they both placed in the top 25 out of hundreds of elite competitors from across North America.
The Hunter Middle School students, who spent their days learning to ride horses with their fathers, started roping at about age 4 and learned to train horses around the time they entered the second and third grade.
"That was the big goal for this year, to make it to nationals. And it was exciting and intense and just a proud moment," said Bree's mother, Terri Roark.
Last year, the Roarks and Holders took the girls to Lebanon, Tenn., to get a preview of the National Junior High Finals Rodeo and see what was necessary for them to reach their goals.
At this year's competition, where they represented the state of Georgia, Bree placed 23rd in pole bending, an agility-based competition involving the rider and horse making it through a series of poles. Sierra placed 24th in pole bending and 16th in barrels, a challenge where a horse and rider have to complete a specific pattern around large barrels in the shortest possible time.
The two girls credit much of their success to their horses, Cattin and Jolene.
"Me and her are a good team. She's taught me a lot," Sierra said of Jolene, whom she only got and began training a year ago.
For Bree and Cattin, the challenge was initially trust-building. However, to make it to nationals, she and Cattin ranked first for the state of Georgia in pole bending.
"Anything I ask of her, she'll give," Bree said of Cattin. "Horses are different from other animals. You never know what they're going to do but you still have to trust them."
The girls' passion for their work and their horses comes from their fathers, who formerly competed in rodeos and have worked with the girls their entire lives.
"My favorite thing is I get to train with my dad," Bree said. "He tells me to be humble with myself and to work hard."
This fall, as she enters seventh grade and Sierra enters eighth grade, they have no plans to stop - or to let initial success get to their heads.
"I don't think about beating anybody," Sierra said. "I just always try to to better than myself last time, to be better than I was. I practice every day. I'm always on my horse."
"If I'm not rodeoing, I'm in the practice pen or cleaning and caring for the horses," Bree agreed. "It's what I love to do."