HILLSBURGH – Ontario High School Rodeo Association (OHSRA), a division of National High School Rodeo Association (NHSRA), held its first event of the season in Clinton last weekend.
For some competitors, like Amber Gregson of Hillsburgh, the Clinton Spring Fling rodeo marks the beginning of their final season with OHSRA.
NHSRA was created in 1947, and is an international non-profit organization “dedicated to the development of sportsmanship, horsemanship and the sport of rodeo,” officials state. The association has members from 42 states, five provinces and from Australia.
OHSRA’s mission is to “promote the positive image of rodeo, preserve the western heritage and maintain the highest regard for livestock.”
Popular shows like Paramount Network’s Yellowstone have spiked interest in the competitive equestrian sport of rodeo, specifically rough stock and timed events. But for Amber Gregson and her mother Victoria Gregson it has been a way of life.
The Wellington Advertiser spent some time on the Gregson farm recently, where Amber said she has trained her horse Hoss “since he was a baby. This will be Hoss’s maturing year, his first year competing,” Amber said.
Goat tying – Amber Gregson competes at OHSRA’s Ancaster Fall Fair event in November of 2023. Submitted photos.
Victoria explained that horses can run as four of five year olds in their maturity year. “He’s big and to build his confidence more we held him back. So, he is running as a five,” she said.
Growing up in the renowned horse country of Erin, Victoria passes on her love of riding to her daughter. Victoria began barrel racing when she was 13, and still does today. At one time, she won the title of Ontario Rodeo Queen in a competition that involved a series of elements including horsemanship.
Amber, a 17-year-old Grade 12 student at Erin District High School, has been a rodeo competitor since she was five. Of the ten events available to compete in with OHSRA, Amber focuses on barrel racing, goat tying, pole bending and breakaway roping. Amber joined the Junior OHSRA when she was in Grade 6, and has continued on through to this, her final year.
In the past few years, OHSRA has introduced Lil Buckaroos for students in kindergarten through Grade 4 and adjusted their Junior High School Rodeo program to begin in Grade 5 rather than Grade 6, and run through to Grade 8.
The OHSRA is highly competitive, so much so that “girls from New York have come up to join us,” Gregson said. Amber has had measurable success as a competitor including winning the title of champion on her horse Big Chief at the National Barrel Horse Association (NBHA) championship in 2019.
“The sport has grown so much,” Gregson said from the stands at the Clinton Agricultural Arena on Sunday. “It never used to be this busy.”
The Advertiser took in the event on Sunday. The skill and control exhibited by even the youngest competitors as they worked with their horses was impressive. The friendship and respect amongst peers was evident.
OHSRA student board of directors president Olivia Jamieson said, “OHSRA is a place where anyone should feel at home. Absolutely anyone attending elementary or high school can be part of this amazing association.”
Jamieson added that she has made many friends through the association and has developed life skills like leadership, dedication and commitment “while focusing on the importance of education and sportsmanship.”
“It’s an amazing way to allow our next generation of cowboys and cowgirls to learn about rodeo, horsemanship and most importantly, having fun,” Jamieson said.
Amber confirms the value in building relationships that OHSRA provides. She said that one of things she likes most about competing is the “family it creates around you.”
She also values “the amount of knowledge you gain each and every day. With horses, you can never learn enough. There is always something to improve on.”
For Amber, Sunday’s Spring Fling in Clinton was a success. “Hoss did well in all events for his first rodeo. I was mostly impressed with his poles, as that is a harder event. He tried his heart out for me and that is all I wanted.”
Dismount – In goat tying events, contestants can dismount as their horses are sliding to a stop, or when they are still running. Amber Gregson makes the dismount from Bam at OHSRA’s Ancaster Fall Fair event, November 2023. Submitted photos
In the fall, Amber plans to take an online pre-health course and hopes to be able to “squeeze in riding when possible.” Her goal is to become a paramedic.
As for competing, Amber said she will most likely continue barrel racing with the National Barrel Horse Association (NBHA) and the Ontario Barrel Racing Association (OBRA), and maybe compete in a few Rawhide Rodeos that are sanctioned in Canada and the U.S. by the International Pro Rodeo Association (IPRA).
Barrel racing: three barrels are set in a triangular pattern and riders round each one. Lowest time wins. Knocking down or touching a barrel adds time penalties.
Breakaway roping: riders tie the end of rope to a thin string that is designed to break away from the saddle horn when the calf is roped, and the string becomes taut.
Goat tying: competitors dismount their horse when it is still running or sliding to a stop. They must flip the staked out goat on its side and tie together three of its legs, then signal with hands to indicate they have completed the run. The event is timed, and the goat must stay tied for six seconds or more.
Pole bending: this timed event tests the speed and agility as horse and rider weave twice through a course of six poles placed in a straight line, 21’ apart.
There are two opportunities to take in OHSRA events locally this May in Hillsburgh. Go to ohsra.ca for details.
