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A winner in rodeo and lifeCHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP)--What began as one of the happiest days of a 7-year-old's life ended as the worst. Young Josie Hardy, who had been riding a horse since she was 2, was finally ready to learn how to race. And her father, Casey, was more than happy to teach her. On the morning of Aug. 3, 2002, Casey began giving his daughter lessons, but it would be the last time the two rode horses together. Casey, 31, suffered a heart attack and died later that afternoon. His daughter didn't quit, though. Josie began rodeo training with a coach and entered competition at the age of 9. Just when she was becoming competitively successful, tragedy struck again. Her coach, Kathy Massie, died of a blood clot in September 2005. It seemed like a lot to handle for a 10-year-old girl, but with the help of her family, Josie still didn't give in. She and her grandmother, Joyce Bay, heard that someone wanted to sell a horse. Bay called the owner and was given little hope that the horse was right for her granddaughter. "He said, 'Don't waste my time or yours by bringing a 10-year-old girl out here to see this horse,"' Bay said. "But I took Josie out there anyway. The horse bowed to her, and they've been best friends ever since." Little did the owner know that Josie would ride the horse while becoming a rodeo champion. Josie--now 12 and a rising seventh-grade student at Eastern Greenbrier Middle School--soon will become the first female rodeo rider to represent West Virginia at the national level. She will compete at the Third Annual Wrangler Junior High Finals Rodeo beginning July 2. The competition, held in Gallup, N.M., is the world's largest junior high rodeo and will last six days. Hardy will be one of 900 contestants from 44 states, Canadian provinces and Australia. The contestants will compete for more than $75,000 in prizes and $50,000 in college scholarships in addition to the national title. Josie earned her spot after sweeping the competition at the state finals on June 10. She walked away with five buckles--including Rookie of the Year, Pole Bending Champion, Barrel Racing Champion, Goat Tying Champion and, most importantly, All Around Cowgirl. She will compete in the pole bending and barrel racing events at nationals. She aims to complete the barrel race in 16 seconds and the poles in a maximum of 24 seconds. Josie trains her horse, Shotgun Prince, by riding him through the landscape surrounding her grandparents' Gap Mills home three or four times a week for six hours at a time. Prince, a 14-year-old registered quarter horse, has been a faithful companion to her. She said, however, that he's not always as kind to everyone else. "Prince throws everybody but me," Josie said. "It's kind of funny." Prince's trailer bears the images of two angels--one representing Josie's father and one her coach. Her grandmother feels that Josie is never alone. "(Her father) is always riding in the back of the saddle with her," Bay said. "That might sound crazy, but I really feel that he's with her." Before advancing to the final championship performance in New Mexico, Josie must finish in the top 15 in her categories after two intense rounds of competition, a feat small in comparison to what she has already overcome in her 12 years. Bay and Josie have been busy getting sponsors for the competition. She'll need at least $3,000 for travel expenses, and so far, they've raised almost half of that. They also traveled to Charleston recently to receive a state flag from Gov. Joe Manchin. Josie will fly the flag during the grand entry at the national competition. Her busy schedule has left little time for Josie to reflect on her emotions. She admits, however, that she's got some pre-competition jitters. "I'm kind of nervous, but I'm excited," she said. The governor gave her some encouraging advice. "Do your best, and don't worry about the rest," Manchin said. 10/8/07 Date: 10/2/07 Advertisement
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