AustrAliAn PerformAnce 32. AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2013

It has nothing to do with an infamous sixties rocker or what she wears to bed. What those initials really stand for is something known only to her closest friends and family.

article: Suzy Jarrattaphadvertorial

Everyone calls young mrs Hanrahan ‘P.J.’ and that’s the way this 24-year-old barrel racer likes it. PJ began competing about ten years ago although she was five when she first rode a horse. these days she lives with bullriding husband, lee, outside of a small town called Gogango 70kms from rockhampton. With them are their three little boys with

unusual names chosen by their Dad - Kardah 6, Garrett 4 and Wyatt 2.“Kardah’s named after a friend lee used to bullride with,” she explained. “We spelt it differently so it would be unique. Garrett is after a world champion bareback rider in the states and our youngest after Wyatt earp from the westerns.“Having three boys under the age of six in the house sounds like it would be a pretty crazy place but it’s not too bad. they’re outdoor kids and rarely sit in front of the tV, and when i go out to muck around with the horses they ride their bikes around where i’m riding.”P.J’s main horse is Diamond montana rocket a 10-year-old palomino.“i bought him as a three-year-old from roma, Queensland and i taught him to barrel race. together in 2010 we won the crcA open & rookie barrel racing which was our first title. our latest success was making the national finals rodeo on the Gold coast.“i also have a 4-year-old, well-mannered bay stallion, lazy D Designa Acres a.k.a. Patron. i bought him off mark and Jill lyons from Gracemere last year. i started him on drums five months ago. He won the third division title in the cQ AtrA finals and i can’t wait until he’s ready to take to rodeos.”Horses from sprint quarterhorse lines are very popular in barrel racing.“But you don’t need a certain breed or line to have a go,” she said. “Kardah and Garrett both ride at home playing around and mustering and they compete in local sporting days and occasional jackpots. Wyatt’s still a bit too small. When we muster, if my parents aren’t there, i’ll strap his booster seat to the 4-wheeler or the mule and i’ll just drive around opening gates, etc.” it is quite apparent that having three young children hasn’t slowed her down. “in 2010 at the crcA finals i was six months pregnant with Wyatt. i’d spoken to my doctor when i realised i was having another baby and he said it was fine to still work the horses because i was used to riding all the time. i trotted 3 or 4 a day and did push ups and sit ups to keep my muscles tight so i could compete at these finals. then after they were over i quit until after he was born.”she likes to work her horses 3-4 days a week, more if they’re competing.

When training the young ones she waits until lee has a day off; he works in the mines as a shot firer at Blackwater. “it’s good to have him at home in case something happens. And when he’s at work we have a system whereby i’ll ring him before i get on and tell him which one i’m riding, what i’ll be doing and for how long. then he’ll ring after that time to see if everything’s o.K. if i don’t answer he calls a neighbour to check on me.“i do heaps of different things depending on which one i’m riding. i work them with cattle, do flat work in the paddock, take them for long trots or just a big walk. i hardly touch drums or do much riding in an arena. touch wood i haven’t had any bad accidents either when training or competing.”And they have competed both here and in the states.“Back in 2006 lee competed in the bullriding and i was lucky enough to have a go at one jackpot which was a tonne of fun.“We were based in mineral Wells, texas but travelled as far north as saskatoon in canada.”(for trivia buffs mineral Wells is the birthplace of astronaut millie Hughes-fulford who obviously chose not to go rodeoing but to orbit the earth instead).“And we went as far south as mercedes near the mexican border. in six months we travelled 90,000 miles. lee made the texas circuit finals but he didn’t go back as i was too far along with Kardah.“it’s a beautiful country and there are so many more opportunities in rodeo over there. You can make a living from it if you’re good enough.”no matter where she is PJ is very conscientious about the welfare and comfort of her horses and for the last two years has been using technyflex which she first used on her palomino.“Before i started rocket on this product, which is one hundred percent natural, his front knees would swell with fluid after hard work. Within four days i saw a difference. the fluid in rocket’s knees disappeared and both his coat and his movement improved.”the year before she had tried mobicosa, the human version of technyflex.“lee broke his leg on a bull and he was out for over 12 weeks. i decided to try him on mobicosa and within a week he was back walking without feeling sore and working horses. i tell everyone i meet in rodeo just how good it is.” there’s no doubt the Hanrahans have many years of riding and competing ahead of them. “What i like most about rodeoing and barrel racing is that the whole family can go to a jackpot and all have a go. Age doesn’t matter. mostly i love to see my kids’ faces when they compete they get so excited and have the biggest smiles!”

P.J. HANRAHAN Barrel RacerPJ’s three sons - L-R Wyatt, Garrett and Kardah

Lazy D Designa Acres a.k.a. Patron

PJ Hanrahan and Diamond Montana Rocket- winning first round at Mt Isa Rodeo 2012. Photo by: KIRA COLLECTIONS PHOTOGRAPHY