Local 12-year-old earns buckles at national barrel horse races

It keeps getting better for 12-year-old Sophia Borden in the rodeo sport of barrel racing.

Barrel racing involves a horse and its rider running a pattern around barrels in the fastest possible time. It also includes pole bending in which horse and rider run a weaving path as fast as possible around six poles arranged in a line.

Borden - of Prince Township - recently returned from the National Barrel Horse Association finals held in Ancaster, Ontario last weekend with several awards.

Riding Cinnamon, her 11-year-old horse, Sophia won three buckles - one in pole bending, another in youth barrels and a third in open barrels (open barrels an event for all ages).

The buckles are worn proudly on the belts of winners.

“That’s the big prize,” said Amanda McGill-Borden, Sophia’s mother in an interview with SooToday.

“That’s what we aim to win. It’s the king of prizes and you wear it to horse shows. It’s the prize to show off for bragging rights.”

Sophia also won a cowhide bag for her success in open barrels and earned Super Horse status for racking up the most points in northern Ontario, known in the National Barrel Horse Association as District 3.

Progressing to the Canada finals, Sophia won in open poles with a time of 20.4 seconds and was awarded with a saddle and medal.

She also placed fourth in a youth barrel run, Cinnamon receiving a large yellow horse ribbon for that event.

“She rode against her own age group and adults, the best across Canada, and she cleaned up,” Amanda said.

“Every year she’s in several competitions and each of them last for two or three days. She did well last year and she’s gotten a lot quicker. She won quite a bit this year.” 

“It felt good. I feel happy and excited about it,” Sophia told SooToday.

The recent National Barrel Horse Association finals held in Ancaster was her most successful competition so far, having competed in 2022 and 2023.

Mother Amanda, as reported last year, is also a barrel racing competitor but sat this year out.

“Sometimes I’m a little nervous at first but then I just have fun. I love speed. I feel very proud of Cinnamon that she’s this fast,” Sophia said.

“I’m her coach, her trainer and her mom so I am beyond proud of what she accomplished. She keeps to her goal of riding six times a week and putting that time in. I’m very, very proud. I never thought that she and her horse would be running this quick. Words can't even describe how proud I am of Sophia. It feels like a dream,” Amanda said.

Sophia said she would like to follow in her mother’s footsteps and compete throughout her adulthood.

Both mom and daughter are excited about Sophia competing in the Worlds next year in Perry, Georgia.

There is a Worlds for youth in July 2025, an open Worlds for all ages in October 2025.

Amanda said she has yet to decide which level - youth or open - Sophia should compete at regarding the Worlds.

Amanda said there is a great deal of travelling involved in competing at barrel racing, the season beginning in May and ending in October. Events are held in northern Ontario communities such as Sudbury and Barrie in southern Ontario.

She credits Gadke Farrier Services and Ashlee Boychuk of Northern Valley Therapy with providing her family’s horses with the care they need to maintain their health and well-being.

“All this began as a mutual thing between Sophia and I. We just wanted to get out and try something for fun," Amanda said. 

That has changed after Sophia's success this year. 

“I see a lot more in Sophia’s future especially after this year with 20-second pole runs. It’s very rare to hear of a 19-second pole run anywhere but she’s running 20.4. Now it’s more than just fun. It’s more than a hobby," Amanda said.

Sophia is now being recognized.

“At our last horse show many people we did not know just came up and spoke to her and congratulated her. They know who she is now,” Amanda said with a chuckle.