GHS Graduate Competes in National Teen Rodeo

In July, Reese Noble competed with her horse Opal in the National High School Finals Rodeo (NHSFR) held in Lincoln, Nebraska. Noble graduated from Glennallen High School in May and earned a qualifying spot in NHSFR, the largest teen rodeo in the world with over 1,700 contestants.

Noble began raising livestock during her freshman year of high school, where she was part of GHS’s newly formed 4-H club, but a love for rodeo competitions seems to be in her blood. Noble’s mother also rode and competed as a teen and young adult and told her daughter that if she wanted a horse of her own, she would have to finance it. Noble’s 4-H career began with raising and selling a dairy calf so she could purchase her own horse, Opal.

Noble calls Opal her “big, fat palomino pony.” Opal is a 12-year-old registered Quarter Horse and Noble’s only traveling companion during the week-long drive to the national competition in Nebraska this past July.

Noble said the NHSFR was an “amazing experience” and “so much fun.” She and Opal competed over four different days and got to run flags during one of the opening ceremonies. 

“I was so proud of her cow work,” Noble said and described how in her best event, she would ride Opal and the pair would have to direct a cow in various maneuvers including a figure eight pattern.

Noble and Opal’s journey to the national competition was not without its hiccups. Last summer, when Noble was competing at the state level so she could qualify for NHSFR, Opal had a foot injury and was lame for a portion of the rodeo season. Noble had to borrow a horse she’d never ridden before for several events, but thankfully Opal was well enough to ride by the time state finals started. 

Even after Noble and Opal qualified for NHSFR, traveling home from the national competition was an ordeal, with the pair getting stopped at both borders. Before entering Alaska, Noble was even told by one officer that she might have to leave Opal behind in Canada.

Thankfully, both Noble and her horse returned home to Alaska safely, although not without extra stress, vet visits, and paperwork.

Noble and Opal will compete next at the Alaska State Fair. After that, Noble will begin the pre-vet program at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. She will move there this fall and board Opal nearby. Her future goals include participating in more rodeos and becoming a traveling large-animal veterinarian.