BY RENNE ESTRADA
STAR INTERN
Kyra Still now can add being a Texas High School Rodeo Association state finalist to her list of accomplishments.
The skilled teen, an honor student at Boerne High School and an officer for the Kendall County 4-H Horse Club, qualified for a spot in the rodeo state finals June 6-15 in Abilene, Texas.
Still will compete in barrel-racing events on Tuesday and Thursday aboard her 12-year-old horse Georgia, who she has had since October 2023.
“Riding is all about having trust with your horse,” Still said. “You just have to have that connection and bond, it's like a partnership and if you don't agree on things then going that fast can really mess things up.”
The Texas High School State Rodeo is an annual week-long event where qualifying students across Texas and surrounding states compete for numerous awards, scholarships and the opportunity to represent Texas at the national level.
“The feeling of riding and being able to qualify, I can say is fulfilling, exciting and just being proud of all of my hard work,” Still said.
To qualify for the state finals, contestants must compete in rodeos throughout the year in one of 10 regions across the state. Still represents and competes in Region 8.
In preparation for the state finals, Still spends hours stretching, riding and working out with Georgia at least four to five times a week.
“When we’re getting ready for races, we get them (the horses) all stretched out and conditioned. We’ll stretch them by pulling on their legs and getting them to move in different ways,” the young barrel-racer said.
“And when conditioning, I'll ride them for a certain amount of time and have them work different muscles. It’s almost the same thing as us humans, they mainly need to get out and move,” she added.
The Region 8 state qualifier currently holds a personal best time of 14.5 seconds. She hopes to maintain or break that record during her barrel run in Abilene.
This will be Still’s second time competing at the state level. The first time this high school senior qualified, she was in middle school.
“I competed at state my eighth-grade year, so it's been about three years since the last time I qualified,” she said.
“I've been working really hard to make it back. I’ve always been one spot out of making it, and now I finally get to go,” she said, adding, “It's been really rewarding, we've been working all year.”
Still has a strong support system and credits her parents and family as part of why she has successfully secured a spot in the state rodeo.
“My parents are a huge support — my whole family is, but mainly my parents,” she said. “My dad was the one who got me into riding. Both my parents have been able to buy me my horses and drive me to my races. It’s been amazing.
“Riding is a huge mental game, so their support has also been talking me through things,” Still said.
Like all competitors, Still hopes to not only win her event, but to secure scholarships to attend college.
“I want to go to veterinary school. I want to stay in Texas and would love to attend Texas A&M or Texas Tech,” she said. “They have vet schools and rodeo teams. I’ve always wanted to go there.’-”
This horse-loving cowgirl wants to work alongside horses and other larger farm animals.
“I would love to keep horses and barrel racing in my future, so working with larger animals is something I would love to do,” she said.
Those interested in watching Still compete can tune in to live coverage on the Cowboy Channel.
For additional information on the Texas High School Rodeo Association and where to watch the rodeo live, visit www.thsra.org.
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