Jenna Turner of Gulf Breeze competed this summer at the 2014 NBHA Youth World Championships held in Perry, Georgia. This invitation only event is the largest youth barrel race in the world.
The NBHA Youth World participants numbered over 1100 in the Teen Division (13 and over) and over 800 in the Youth Division (12 and under). The contestants ran for over $300,000 in cash and prizes. Contestants came from over 36 states, Canada, Italy, Panama, France, and Australia. Jenna qualified in her FL07 District on two horses in three places allowing her to compete on three horses at Youth World.
Jenna’s hard work and dedication to her sport was witnessed by many. The final race only returns the top 15 riders from each division from two separate qualifying races totaling about 135 riders competing for the Youth World title. Jenna was able to return to that final race with two horses, JAF Bill’s Monarch aka “Wing” and JAF Mico Sky Bar aka “Mico”. Both horses were born and raised in Santa Rosa County on Jeff Ates Farm. Jenna and Wing finished 9th in the 4D and Mico finished 5th in the 5D with winnings in cash and prizes totaling $2000.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Local Jenna Turner makes world finals for barrel racing