Karen Webb considers herself an outback Uber driver.
Key points:
- Adanni Walker is making waves in barrel racing
- She travels the country with her mum, Karen Webb, on the rodeo circuit
- The national rodeo finals bring the best cowboys and cowgirls together
But that’s life on the rodeo circuit for the proud country mum and her daughter, riding sensation Adanni Walker.
“Uber, ironing, all the typical mum kind of jobs that go on,” Ms Webb said.
“It’s a win if there’s a good laundromat locally … otherwise you’re in the handwashing bucket.”
The pair understand what it’s like living on the road most of the year.
They’ve made the long trip from their farm in north-east rural Victoria to Gracemere in central Queensland for a national rodeo final.
“I’ve travelled a lot this year with Mum … she does the driving,” Ms Walker said.
“I pretty much did a rodeo, multiple rodeos, every weekend … South Australia, Queensland, and all around home in Victoria.”
Riding high for glory
At just 19, Ms Walker is one of the country’s up-and-coming cowgirls and is destined for the bright lights of America.
This weekend, she is competing at the Australian Professional Rodeo Association’s national finals in the ladies’ barrel racing.
The event brings the country’s best cowboys and cowgirls together to compete across eight events.
Ms Walker said she was “super excited” to saddle up in the finals.
“They’re a great bunch of women that I’m competing with,” she said.
“It’s been a long trip up here and a lot of kilometres, but it’s worth it.”
The young barrel racer will team up with her trusty companion — Doctor.
“Doctor is my very special baby and he just loves it,” she said.
“He gets in the arena and just runs his heart out and I wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for him.”
Ms Webb said she’s looking forward to watching Adanni and Doctor battle it out against the nation’s best.
“It’s a real privilege to be doing this with Adanni and there are sacrifices … my other two daughters and partner have to stay home [on the farm], but that’s the compromise we make,” she said.
“To be able to look back and think at this point in our life as a young cowgirl, we were able to support that.”
Back on the road
When the dust settles at the national rodeo finals, they’ll pack up and hit the road again.
“We put the clock on for our last Queensland trip and it was 11,000km for 13 weeks,” Ms Webb said.
“We’re at 2,500km for half this trip alone, so it’ll be about 5,000 when we get home.”
But it’s just the start of Ms Walker’s rodeo journey.
“She has mentioned America, which seems to be the general way these young people want to go,” Ms Webb said.
“So we’ll just see, there’s no pressure from us. While you’re loving it, go for it, and when and if that changes then that’s up to her.”
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