Staff writer

Every little girl loves horses, but not every little girl can make a horse gallop at high speeds around three barrels - that's where Chris Herron, of Johnson, comes in.

&#8220Whenever I'm running, my whole world shuts down, and the only voice I can hear is Chris'," said Herron's student Natalie Ingram, 17.

Herron and her husband, Jackie, have taught children of all ages how to barrel race for the last six years on their Gibson County farm.

Herron said she gives lessons to about 25 students ranging in age from 7 to 49 in the summer, but during the winter she only has about 10-12 students, who practice year round.

Before moving to Johnson, the Herron's had a farm in Evansville, but moved to Gibson County to escape the expansion of the city.

&#8220The ground here is wonderful for barrel racing," Herron said. &#8220We love the sand."

A barrel racer for the majority of her life, Herron started riding a horse when she was 3-years-old.

&#8220From what my family has told me, I've always wanted to go fast," Herron said as she watched her students make left turns around the barrel.

Like Herron, several of her students started at a young age. Ingram has been taking lessons from Herron since she was about 9-years-old. Herron said she is one of the top rider's in the area's youth class.

&#8220My mom barrel raced when she was younger so I guess I was born into it," Young said. &#8220It's more exciting than pleasure riding.

Tiffany Wineinger, 12, of Cuzco, said she's been riding horses since she was 3.

&#8220We had horses on our farm, and dad used to race," Wineinger said. &#8220I thought it was fun."

During major breaks from school, Herron invites her year-round students out to her farm for intensive training.

She teaches her students the basic skills for barrel racing including sits, leads, stops and side paths.

&#8220There's a lot more maneuvering than running and turning three barrels," she said.

How fast a student picks up on the basic skills depends on the individual, Herron said.

&#8220Some catch on really quick, and some struggle their whole lives. They get faster but never quite master it," Herron said.

Not only do the students ride horses, but Herron's students also learn to care for their horses.

Students feed, clean stalls and sweep the halls. They also learn how to prepare a horse for a ride.

Herron said there is no specific breed to barrel horses.

&#8220Usually you look for the horses that are bred to run, but that doesn't mean one that wasn't bred to run won't do the job," she said.

Student Priscilla Magee said barrel racers are a close-knit group.

&#8220It's competitive, but it's not cut throat," she said.

&#8220If a someone's horse gets hurt before a competition, other students are really good about lending a horse to person to use during the competition," Herron said.

Magee said the Tri-state horsemen organization has shows almost every weekend and there are other horse organizations that have shows around the state.

This year five girls and six horses have qualified for the Youth World in Jackson, Miss. She said this will be two of the girls first times competing in the event.

The barrel racers will compete this weekend at Tennessee Miller Coliseum on the campus of Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tenn.