Hollister - When most 6-year-olds were busy learning to read, Claire Neubauer was busy learning to ride.
The San Juan Bautista resident, 13, has been riding horses since she was age 6 and competing in rodeos since she was 7.
But for Claire, the rodeo isn't about applauding crowds or winning the prized belt buckle. It's about interacting with the horse.
"I love just being around them and just being able to work with them. They're such glorious animals," she said.
Claire started lessons after showing interest in the large-hoofed animals as a young girl. Both her parents rode horses as children and her father had worked as a cowboy in Nevada in his 20s.
Although both parents gave up riding before her birth, Claire found herself drawn to it.
"I'd always wanted to be around horses," Neubauer said.
On Wednesday afternoon, she stood combing the tawny-colored coat of Pocket O' Smoke, or Smokey, as Claire calls her.
Her parents gave Smokey to her as a Christmas present in 2005, after she had been riding the mare for several years.
Smokey's mane had been braided in preparation for the weekend event, and Claire spent all morning carefully polishing her saddle. She already has spent many hours preparing for the rodeo, but said she isn't nervous about it.
Claire estimates she has competed in more than 20 rodeos. Though she has learned to stay relaxed, her first competition wasn't so smooth on the nerves.
"It was scary because I had never been around that many horses, but then I started warming up to it," Claire said.
She believes that ability to stay calm is key to performing well.
"It's important to stay relaxed because Smokey is really sensitive. If you tense up, then she'll tense up," she said.
This year, Claire will compete in six categories, such as the cow-work competition, in which she will use her horse to guide a cow, and pleasure competitions, in which she and her horse will be judged for their poise and general look.
Claire said the event is much easier now because she and her horse work well together and have known each other for a long time.
"We trust each other," she said. "You have to be on the same wavelength with (your horse). Otherwise they'll go crazy at the competitions."
Her mother, Peggy Neubauer, agreed the relationship between her daughter and Smokey has been crucial toward her ability to compete well. But she added that sometimes the horse and girl would get into fights, not atypical of two teenage friends.
"They're still both females and when they don't get along, stand back," Neubauer said, laughing. "But they're good friends and they always work it out."
The San Benito County Saddle Horse Show & Rodeo is one of Claire's favorite shows, she said, because it is so traditional and everybody knows everybody.
Her mom agreed. She said she would spend the weekend at Bolado Park even if her daughter wasn't set to compete.
"It's a special thing in this small county of ours. It's like stepping back in time," she said.
Alice Joy Alice Joy covers education for the Free Lance. She can be reached at ajoy@freelancenews.com or 831-637-5566 ext. 336.
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