The rodeo community praised Dona Kay Rule for gracefully handling her horse, Birdie, and avoiding the track accident, which could’ve been much worse.
Professional barrel racer Dona Kay Rule entered the tracks for the 5th Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR), determined to win the best score. She shared her training journey on Instagram.
Soon after the rails opened, her horse, Birdie, faced difficulties. The horse tripped, stuck her leg through the reins, and broke them before returning to the stable.
Moreover, Rule didn’t have any equipment to guide her horse and could barely move during the intense action. Fortunately, the rider guided her horse through her legs and exited the arena.
The racer revealed that her horse had suffered from a sore mouth and body due to the harrowing accident. The incident happened too quickly, and viewers were confused as to why Rule had left the arena without performing.
Previously, Birdie had left the race for over two years, and we were looking forward to seeing her back in action after such a long time.
Similarly, the horse had performed with several other riders, including Brittany Pozzi Tonozzzi. The duo were able to keep up their record in the championship and clocked in 14.89 seconds during the final round.
Dona Kay Rule learned the way of the rodeo tracks from her husband, John Rule!
Rule has been a prominent name in the barrel rodeo for over two decades. Throughout the course, she crossed paths with her husband, John Rule, at the National Saddlery shop in Oklahoma City.
Soon later, the pair bought and ran the business from 1980 to 2008. They were recognized for making the world champion saddles for the PRCA during their 1988 season.
Further, two years into their marriage, they welcomed their two children, Marshall and Kayla. Apart from her husband, Rule’s father encouraged her to participate in competitive rodeo.
Despite training and nurturing horses for several years, Rule’s win in the NFR didn’t come until she participated with her horse, High Valor. Their coordination and understanding made headlines.
However, in 2017, Rule and her horse, A Juicy Adventure, were injured at the Springville, Missouri Rodeo. The accident forced Dona Kay Rule to return to Valor, as she had cared for the horse since it was four years old.
After her father passed away in 2019, Rule wore his saddle to ride during the grand entry abroad. She claimed the event came as a full circle moment as she honored her parents.
Now at 66, Rule has been breaking barriers in the sport as one of the oldest participants in barrel racing. Many have praised her determination to break her records each year.
Additional Information
- Dona Kay Rule has the overall 10th standing at the Women’s World Standings at Barrel Rodeo. As of 2024, she has earned over $871,570 from race participation, betting fees, and horse sales.
- The racer joined the World Championship Barrel Racing in 2016 and recently finished the 2023 year ranked 20th at the Missoula, Montana event.
