A Platte County girl is making a name for herself in rodeo, with a handful of wins last week in Kansas.
Myla Bailey, a freshman at North Platte High School recently competed in the Kansas National Barrel Horse Association (NBHA) state finals, where she won Kansas NBHA youth pole bending champion, sweeping it with a 21.387 second run on her horse “Perksofbeinnonfamous.” Pole bending is a timed event where a horse and rider run in a weaving pattern around six poles arranged in a line. She also won the 3D teen short go round one, which qualified her for the championship run. She was named the State of Kansas NBHA 3D teen reserve champion, with a 16.9 second run on “Bar Wonders Prairie Fire,” a horse owned by Dean Rogers of Tonganoxie, Kan. Rogers, 82 years old, is Bailey’s coach and trainer.
Myla Bailey
Also that weekend, she won open and teen 2D short go round on her mare “Perksofbeinnonfamous” qualifying her for the championship run on this horse as well. She was 12th overall out of 244 contestants, riding against professionals barrel racers.
Overall, she came home with four belt buckles, multiple checks, and two state champion titles.
According to her mother, Valerie Bailey, Myla’s love for equestrian events began four years ago when she began horseback riding with friends for fun, in both western and English events. Her passion developed from there.
Since, she has enjoyed seeing how she can push herself to elevate her performance in competitive situations.
Myla competes in pole bending and barrel racing throughout the Midwest, traveling to Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa and other states.
Last year, she was the reserve 3D open champion at Bonus Race World Finals in Shawnee, Okla. and qualified for the World Championship NBHA finals held in Georgia.
Her goal is to make it to a professional level, and ultimately run in the NFR (National Finals Rodeo) when she finishes high school and college. Meanwhile, at North Platte, she maintains a 4.0 GPA and is a member of FFA and student council. Bailey is also a member of the school marching band and takes piano lessons with Harper Haus in Platte City. She is also a member of Twelve Apostle Holy Catholic Church in Platte City and Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Weston.
During the winter she stays busy on the Panthers JV basketball team and she also runs track and field.
Rodeo competition will continue over the winter as well, as she is set to compete at the ICRP $10,000 Madrinas Dueling Dragons 5D Contender Barrel Race in Carthage, Mo. and the NFR Pattern Race in Lincoln, Neb.
In the spring, she will begin preparation for the Bonus Race World Finals in Shawnee, Okla. Where she will then compete against over 3,000 competitors from all parts of the country.
She will also compete in Kansas City’s own American Royal in spring 2024.