You may remember Katie Marchetti’s article about Shaley Stickler’s father, Jimmy Stickler, the “jack of all trades”. As she explained, the Stickler family is involved in the equine industry quite a bit, and Jimmy’s daughter, 17 year old Shaley is proving to be no different. I spoke to her about her involvement with rodeo, her passion for horses, and her plans to excel within the equine industry.
Shaley has been rodeoing since she was about two years old. She says, “I loved it then, and still love it now.” Shaley competes in almost every event that CHSRA (California High School Rodeo Association) has to offer. She competes in barrel racing, pole bending, goat tying, breakaway roping, team roping, and cutting.
I can’t picture doing anything else. It’s my passion.
She says that no matter what she ends up doing with her life, on the weekends she will be at the rodeo until she isn’t able to do it anymore. Rodeo has introduced her to many people, and she feels like the friendships that she builds here will last a lifetime. Shaley says, “I love how it allows me to travel and meet new people that I can keep in touch with. I have learned so many things from my friends in CHSRA.” From what I gathered from Shaley, the professional opportunities that high school rodeo may present her in the future isn’t the only thing that she loves about it, the family environment helps to keep her going. “I know I can count on them to have my back with anything.”
Riding isn’t all business for her, Shaley also rides in her spare time. Her favorite place to ride is Greengate Ranch. “This facility is amazing,” Shaley says, “I am so lucky to live at such a great place.” She usually rides around the vineyard, and if she’s not there, she’s practicing with friends in the arena. She says, “We always have a blast here!”
I asked Shaley if she ever thought about following in her father’s footsteps. She told me that that has been one of her dreams ever since she was a little girl. He has taught her plenty of things to use with her horses, and she can’t wait to follow in his footsteps and be like the great horseman that he is. Stickler says that she is lucky to have the love and support her parents give her; “My parents have supported me in whatever I wanted to do and I am so grateful for that. I can look up to them and I hope to be like them.”
With the combination of passion and skill that Shaley possesses, I have no doubt that she will be successful in life and she will achieve her goals. Keep up all of the hard work Shaley!
For more information about Greengate Ranch and the facilities they have to offer, check out their website http://www.greengateranch.com/.
