Nazareth Teen Finds Success in Barrel Racing

The word "rodeo" conjures up images of the Wild West and bucking broncos.  Nazareth, Pennsylvania, however, doesn't usually enter that scene. But for Shea Lieberman, it does.

The Nazareth resident and Northampton High School junior took fifth place in barrel racing at the Women's Professional Rodeo Association Junior World Finals in October.

At the age of three, Lieberman began riding at Nazareth's Edgewood Valley Farm, which her grandparents own. At age eight, the young girl started racing, but it wasn't until three years later that Lieberman found Dusty.

"Our personalities fit each other," said Lieberman of her trusty steed.  "She's a really hard worker and we both get along and respect each other."

The now 16-year-old participated in the Junior World Finals in Lincoln, Nebraska from Oct. 13 – 17.  Lieberman and Dusty competed in barrel racing, which involves a racer and a horse running in a cloverleaf pattern around several barrels.  Hitting a barrel results in a five-second penalty and the winner is whoever can complete the circuit in the fastest time.

"You have to be really competitive and have a clean run," said Lieberman.

Lieberman is no stranger to tournaments.  She took first place in the 2009 National Barrel Association Youth Division State Championship.  Though she had previously competed in Virginia, Delaware, and Shartlesville, Pa., Lincoln was the furthest she had ever traveled for a competition in her nine years of racing.

Heading into the competition, Lieberman was ranked 14th overall as best in the world at barrel racing. After her performance in Lincoln, she returned to Nazareth as the 11th best overall racer.

"I wanted to go further with barrel racing and I was ready for it," she said.

The adrenaline and the chance to improve her performance are two things she loves about barrel racing, but for Lieberman, racing is a family tradition.

Lieberman's mother is a former barrel racer, and her aunt and grandmother still compete in the National Barrel Horse Association.

"When I see her run, it's like it's natural for her," said Lieberman's mother, Sheila Lieberman. "It makes me proud to be her mother."

The girl's grandmother, Linda Brewer, who has been racing since she was 25 years old and at one time hosted rodeos on her farm, echoed Sheila's thoughts.

"I was just so excited and I knew she'd do well," she said.

According to Brewer, Shea's grandfather used to compete with Dusty in events.

"He didn't have her long," she said. "Maybe a year and then Shea took over … Her and that horse are a pair.  They belong to each other."

That bond paid off when the duo headed to Nebraska.

"I was beyond pleased," Shea said of her competition performance. "I improved every run that I ran and [Dusty] just did awesome. It was great."

College is now on Shea's mind.  She is looking into scholarships and schools in the western U.S. that have barrel racing teams. If that does not pan out, she plans to stay close to home so she and Dusty can keep racing.

"It's pretty much what I do," she said.  "It's in my blood."

To see Shea and Dusty ride at the WPRA World Finals, click here.