Breakaway roper looking forward to finals in Ponoka

Shylo Boucher prepares to rope a calf during the breakaway roping event at a Alberta High School Rodeo Association event in High Prairie Sept. 15, 2007. Boucher is on her horse, Dunny.

Chris Clegg
South Peace News

A High Prairie teenager is ready to challenge the cream of the crop in high school rodeo as she begins preparations for finals June 14-15 in Ponoka. Shylo Boucher, 16, qualified for the finals after placing sixth in breakaway roping during the long and arduous Alberta High School Rodeo Association season just completed. Boucher says the season starts in September until the end of October, then begins in April and runs until June. She attends rodeos each weekend because it’s critical to gain every point possible to qualify for finals. “The only one I missed was the Pratt grad,” says Boucher. The competition is very tough. Boucher competes in pole bending, barrel racing and breakaway roping. “There are about 34 pole benders, 40 barrel racers and 16 ropers,” says Boucher. Boucher’s 33 points placed her sixth in breakaway roping and qualified her for finals. Nikki Walker placed first with 101 points so Boucher is in tough. She placed 22nd in both barrels with 11.5 points and pole bending with 13 points. “The top eight in each district advance to provincials,” says Boucher. “There are three districts in Alberta.” Therefore, 24 riders will compete in each event at finals. Boucher uses her horse, Rolo, in pole bending and barrel racing and Dunny in breakaway roping. As any avid rodeo fan knows, the relationship between rider and horse is crucial. To improve her game, Boucher decided to take home schooling in Grade 11 this year to spend more time with her horses. Boucher has to work extra hours to compete with other riders who are able to purchase horses worth up to $15,000. Her horses are cheaper but the dedication and time she spends with them is paying off. And, time is on her side. “My pole bending horse just turned six years old,” she says. “I’ve had him since he was three. I trained him myself. He has lots of prime time left.” ‘Prime time’ for horses means they will run hard until they are about 15 years old, says Boucher. Her roping horse is only nine years old. Boucher loves rodeo like nothing else and wants to continue to explore opportunities after graduation. “I will definitely keep it up as a hobby,” she says, adding she hopes to attend college and compete on the College Rodeo Circuit. Boucher is sponsored this year by Attack Steaming, Hydrodig, Stewart Horse Company and Third Generation Logging from High Prairie and Scott Safety and Service from Whitecourt.

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