As long as she can remember, Rosena Crossman has been around horses.

That’s not too unusual for a Maine native, given the state’s agricultural history and longtime association with harness racing.

But this isn’t harness, or even horse racing. We’re talking about barrel racing.

“My mom bought me a Shetland pony when I was little and I’ve been doing equestrian since I was 5 or 6, but then around fourth or fifth grade I saw barrel racing at a local fair and I was like “I really want to do that!” the 20-year-old Robbinston native said.

And she has been doing just that ever since – with success.

“At first my mom was kind of scared to see me go fast, and I could tell my dad was a little worried, but they said to go for it as long as I had fun,” Crossman recalled. “I finally tried it and I really loved it. I think it was the speed of it.

“At first, I did it at local fairs with exhibitions and things and then I really got into it and we started traveling all over to compete.”

Almost 10 years later, the National Barrel Horse Association, Maine Barrel Racing Association, and National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association member is a veteran of numerous rodeo and fair competitions, a freshman at Oklahoma Panhandle State University, and a member of the Goodwell, Okla., school’s varsity rodeo team. The school also offers scholarships for members of the team.

The daughter of Elton and Mary Crossman hasn’t cracked her team’s “starting lineup” yet, but she’s already earned a partial scholarship and intends to earn herself a full one by next season.

“I’m like a rookie,” she said. “I’m not in the top five yet, but I’m competing.”

Barrel racing involved a timed race around each of three barrels arranged in a clover leaf pattern.

Crossman’s first varsity competition was Sept. 14 at Colby Community College in Colby, Kan. She missed qualifying for the finals, but said the experience was invaluable.

“We have three rodeos this semester,” she said, adding that the varsity “season” lasts the entire academic year, from September through May.

An equine business major, Crossman is enrolled in a four-year program and taking 18 credit hours (five classes) this semester. It’s a far cry from what she expected to be doing this fall.

“I was mainly going to stay home and hope to get a few colts to ride, or rent a place and find a ranch, or maybe stay in Alabama,” she said.

Crossman earned an associate’s degree in horse training and management at Lamar Community College in Lamar, Colo.

“My last semester there, I did in internship in Alabama as a trainer and exerciser for barrel racing horses,” she said. “I was still in Alabama when one of my friends at Lamar asked if I wanted to come down to Oklahoma and be her roommate.

“I went on to the internet and sent in my application and transcripts. They accepted me and we drove from Alabama to Lamar and then Oklahoma, she explained. “I enrolled in August and have been on the team since Aug. 15.”

Crossman has a partial scholarship, which she plans to turn into a full scholarship after improving he standing on the team.

“I’m in a four-year program but I might be able to do it in two,” said Crossman, who would eventually like to have her own ranch in the Southwest.

“I’d like to train and break barrel racing horses, and I’d definitely like to do it professionally,” she explained. “I also want to learn to do roping.”

Crossman’s horse is a quarterhorse mare named Sheza Ginger Jetstop, who she has owned for four years and raced for six.

“My horse and I are really close. People say girls are kind of weird and moody and I think we both are,” she said with a chuckle. “I have to keep her calm enough to pay attention so when we run through the chute to go to the first barrel, she hits it just right. With Ginger, I have to growl a lot while I’m talking to her, even in practice. She won’t pay attention to me otherwise.”

Sounds like a tough love approach.

“I really don’t know. I just know I’ve always loved to be around horses,” Crossman said. “To me, a horse is my best friend instead of dogs being man’s best friend.”

Crossman hopes to attract some sponsors to help defray equipment and transportation costs. Anyone interested in becoming a sponsor can contact her parents at 207-454-7613 or 228 Sherman Road, Robbinston, ME, 04671.