Applegate teenager in the saddle for top races

“No hour of life spent in the saddle is wasted. »

-Winston Churchill

Hailey Carter of Applegate has spent countless hours of her life in the saddle, since she was around eight years old.

Hailey is a 2024 graduate of Carsonville-Port Sanilac Schools and has been competing in rodeos for nearly a decade. Last year, she placed first in the barrel racing category and fifth in pole bending, earning her a spot at the National Barrel Racing Association national competition in Perry, Ga., this summer.

It's safe to say she has no plans to give up her hours in the saddle anytime soon.

Hailey also won two Belt Buckles trophies during her career – the “best of the best” award – and qualified for nationals in 2020, but the competition was canceled due to COVID-19.

For Hailey, however, the passion for riding is more about connection than competition.

“I love making a connection with horses,” she said. “Your horse feels you… it’s being of one mind that brings calm. »

Hailey competed in 36 rodeos last year, most with Chic, the family's 19-year-old quarter horse.

“She’s a beast,” Hailey said with a laugh.

Chic was born blind in her right eye, seeing only a few shadows – but together the two become one.

Hailey trains in the “ring” at the family's Applegate property, where they have three horses, a miniature horse and a donkey.

Hailey barely uses the reins with Chic, communicating commands through a light touch of her heel, tilting her body, and sometimes a slight movement of her head.

“I’m not a fan of pulling on (the horse’s) head,” Hailey said. “I try to use my legs, kissing sounds, etc. to communicate that they need to turn around.”

Barrel racing and pole bending are speed competitions that require braiding, sprinting, agility, strength and harmony between rider and mount.

“When you’re riding, it’s the biggest adrenaline rush,” Hailey said. “Everything else fades and falls aside, and you do what you have to do.”

Confidence, Hailey said, is everything.

“I trust (Chic) completely,” Hailey said. And Hailey said she teaches her horses that they have to “take care of myself before I do good in a race.”

Haily and her older sister, Madison, a 2020 CPS graduate, began competing in rodeos when they were in elementary school.

Hailey said their 4-H teacher, Jamie Frizzle, was the one who first encouraged them to take up the sport.

“I have had the privilege of knowing Hailey since she was in elementary school,” said Frizzle, who previously taught at CPS and is now an instructor at Sanilac Intermediate School District.

When the Carter girls began showing “their need for speed,” Frizzle said, she told the family about the many barrel racing opportunities in Michigan “and beyond.”

“Hailey has the courage and determination to accomplish anything, and those are two important attributes for success in barrel racing,” Frizzle said. “Barrel racing is not for the faint of heart, and Hailey definitely has a brave heart… One of my favorite sights to see is that big, beautiful smile on her face right after she's done an awesome race.”

Frizzle continued, “His kind soul and determination will give him a lasting career in barrel racing. It has been such a pleasure to watch her learn and excel in this sport. I will always be one of his biggest fans.

Frizzle's sentiments are echoed by most who know Hailey.

Outside of her successful rodeo career, Hailey was a student in the Sanilac Career Center's Bio-Tech program, played volleyball, and was voted fall homecoming queen. She also played basketball this year for the first time in her high school career.

“Hailey is an equestrian rockstar, homecoming queen, a great volleyball player, but humble enough to step out of her comfort zone and play basketball as a senior,” said CPS Superintendent Doug Muxlow. “Always a smile, always no drama, I will choose Hailey Carter to be on my team every time.”

In an interview with the News before graduation, Hailey said she was determined to finish the basketball season. And, she said, she loved it but was “not very good at it.”

His coach would not agree.

“This year I had the privilege of having Hailey on the women's varsity basketball team and was very impressed with her character and work ethic,” said Jennifer Richmond, varsity women's basketball coach and director of the CPS primary school. “His leadership was reflected in his work ethic and calm manner. She was never too exhausted on the field and always did her best. She is a fierce competitor and played hard in every match.

Hailey exhibits the same level of resilience in horseback riding.

Although rodeos are all about speed, Hailey said, knocking over a barrel or pole during a race is an automatic disqualification.

“Even though I know I’m (disqualified), I’m still going,” Hailey said. “That way my horse knows that if you hit something, you keep going and you don't slow down…it conditions the horse to know that no matter what, you keep going.”

Hailey said horseback riding prepared her, in many ways, for adulthood.

“(Riding) made me very independent and mature,” she said. “I take care of this animal, I protect it, I take care of it.”

“Between training, riding and chores, Hailey can easily spend four or more hours a day with the horses.

“It’s something if you want to do it, you have to be disciplined,” she said.

Last year she purchased a 4-year-old stallion, Reo, who she currently trains for competition.

If he's ready, Reo will likely accompany Hailey to Georgia for the national championships.

As for college plans, Hailey plans to attend St. Clair County Community College for two years and begin studying to become a dietitian.

For now, she said, she plans to stay with her parents, Lindsey and Larry Carter of Applegate, and continue her rodeo career.

“I plan on doing this for a very long time, it’s my passion,” Hailey said. “When you’re good at something, you want to keep doing it.”