TEXARKANA MAGAZINE
S omeone once said, “The world is best viewed through the ears of a horse.” That may very well be true, but from the perspective of the sibling trick riding team of Claira (13), Wyatt (12), and Allie (10) Morris, the second best view comes from hanging upside down off the side of a horse running around a rodeo arena. There is not a lot of mainstream attention paid to the sport of trick riding, but because of the glitz, high-adrenaline stunts, and, of course, danger to the rodeo crowd, it is a fan favorite. This sport is
off the side of her horse and saying, ‘Look at me! Look at me!’” Discouragement did little to curb the four-year-old’s ambition. Casey and Jimmy decided if they could not get Claira to stop attempting her own made-up stunts, at least they could provide her with lessons on how to perform the tricks correctly. After researching experts in the field, Claira’s nervous parents hired an award-winning trick rider from Stephenville, Texas to train her on beginner stunts she could practice, along with safer methods for performing them. As expected, Claira’s love for the
one of constant practice, creativity, complete trust in a one-thousand- pound animal, and a serious risk of injury. Being young and fearless plays to the Morrises’ advantage, but their natural athleticism and rare talent in the world of trick riding are truly a sight to behold. Growing up around horses, Claira Morris began attempting tricks on her horse at the age of four. Her parents, Casey and Jimmy, were terrified of their young daughter getting hurt and tried to discourage her from such danger. “At age four, Claira did not even know the term ‘trick riding.’ She just started leaning
sport only grew. By the time Claira was six, she was officially trick riding in rodeos and specialty shows near her hometown in Southwest Arkansas. The Morris family was knee-deep in Claira’s obsession, including a younger brother and sister who were watching her every move. In the summer of 2022, Claira and her sister, Allie, performed together for a crowd and attempted a stunt requiring Claira to release her hands and arms downward while hanging off the horse’s back end, bringing her head near the running horse’s tail and hooves. She had practiced this trick many times
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SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT
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