[July 14, 2011] Apprenticeship spurs young cowgirl's success Tweet FARMINGTON, Jul 14, 2011 (The Daily Times - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- Jami Telford owns two horses, a cat and a schnauzer that follows her everywhere she goes. Even when the 6-year-old's on her horse. "I got her a Wii, she doesn't ever play it," said Cami Telford, Jami's mother. "That was a waste of money." Video games don't pique Jami's interest. She's a cowgirl, and part of a unique teaching apprenticeship often on display during public riding time at McGee Park. Nancy Summers, a jockey at SunRay Park and Casino during the racing season, is training Jami in rodeo and horse racing. The two practiced barrel racing Wednesday at McGee Park. They started in the stables at 4:30 a.m., grooming, feeding and preparing the horses. About six hours later they brought the horses to the cool arena for practice. Jami was riding a white horse named Little Paint, who is also 6. "Turn sharp, kick, kick. Kick low, harder, that-a girl," Summers shouted to Jami as she weaved Little Paint through barrels in a triangle path. "She's like I was when I was a little girl," Summers said. "All I wanted to do was ride horses." Jami's training is already paying off. Last winter she won "four big buckles and the championship stirrups" at the Wee Waddie Rodeo. She took first place in the barrels, polls, flags, goats events and the all-around competition the best finisher across all of the events, Cami Telford said. Jami started riding horses at age 3. "She was so little I would lead her around on the horse," Cami said. "Now she does everything all by herself." Cami said it was an easy choice to saddle up her toddler. "I think the younger you start them the faster they learn," she said. "There are some kids that are older than her who can't ride because they are scared of the horses. She's not scared of them at all." There can be good money and opportunities for talented rodeo riders. "They can win scholarships," Cami said. "If you're good and you have good stock you can go a long ways." The practice opportunities are critical and not common at many rodeo arenas, Summers said. In Albuquerque, it costs $15 for every horse a rider brings into the arena during public riding time. McGee Park opens a riding area to the public Monday through Thursday, from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. The only exceptions are when promoters rent the arenas for other events. The riding area is most often used in the evenings and in the winter. "Isn't this a nice arena. You can't beat this, it's cool, it has good ground," Summers said. "Good ground is hard to come by." Though she may have a promising future riding horses, Jami doesn't ride for scholarships, money or other lavish prizes. "She just thinks it's fun," Cami said. "I don't think she knows what goals are yet." Ryan Boetel: [email protected] To see more of The Daily Times, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.daily-times.com. Copyright (c) 2011, The Daily Times, Farmington, N.M. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For more information about the content services offered by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services (MCT), visit www.mctinfoservices.com. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]