In 2021, we decided to take a barrel racing journey together. Both of our nicknames make up “Blue Bird Riders.”
We are sisters and best friends who often have friendly competition between ourselves. There are not many African American barrel racers in California. Most of the time, we are the only African Americans at barrel races and rodeos.
We have experienced racism at a barrel race, where people vandalized our truck and stole our helmets out of the trailer. That was very upsetting because we were raised to value and respect everyone.
We have been blessed to meet a lot of great people who have been guiding and helping us through this journey. We’ve been featured on the Good Day Sacramento news twice, and we have a lot of support in our community.
We are staring a non-profit to help anyone who would like to learn about horses and the healing powers they promote. Horses have a special way to help you heal mentally and physically.
Jaelah “Bird” Knapper
Hello! My name is Jaelah “Bird” Knapper, and I am 13 years old. My love for horses started when I was 8 years old and my mom surprised me with a riding lesson. I knew at that moment I had a love for horses.
I was so free when I rode. I started doing local gymkhanas and quickly excelled to winning those competitions. After a year of doing gymkhanas, I realized barrel racing was my favorite event to compete in. And that’s where my career took off.
I have three horses: a perlino named Honey, a pony named Koko Bean, and my performance horse, Lucy. My bond with each of my horses is so different. Honey is my trail horse, and we ride for hours. She is 23 years old, and she is my comforter when I am having a bad day.
Koko Bean is my project pony. She was a rescue horse and I trained her myself. Lucy is my everything! She is my partner, and my life is in her hands every race. She gives me her all to make sure I get a win.
My first setback was when my sister got seriously hurt with her horse. I was so scared to ride and lost my passion for barrel racing and just being around horses. It took some time for me to get back my focus and passion. I really had to work hard and pray.
Last year I start traveling to rodeos across the country. Rodeo life is totally different from barrel racing life! It was very overwhelming because I am a first-generation cowgirl from California. I was told people from California can’t ride that well. I had to get some thicker skin and prove them wrong!
Then the transmission in our truck went out twice, and we were stranded in Texas for a month. My parents have invested all their money into my dreams, and it’s been hard for us financially.
I have learned so much this past year. I’m grateful for every challenge I have and will have. I have been blessed to travel to different states, see amazing things, and meet so many people.
Some of my accomplishments in 2023 included 2nd place youth Bill Pickett Rodeo Finals, 1st place youth Arizona Black Rodeo, 1st place youth Tennessee Rodeo, 2nd place adult/1st place youth Las Vegas Black Rodeo, and 5th place adult/3rd place youth National Finals Race.
Jiyah “Blue” Knapper
My name is Jiyah “Blue” Knapper and I am 15 years old. My love for horses started when I was 1 year old. My parents bought me a palomino rocking horse that made noises, and I rode it all day long.
When I was 2 years old, I rode my first horse at the Alameda County Fair, and I didn’t want to get off. I started riding lessons when I was 10 years old, and that’s when I knew riding horses was my life’s calling.
My discipline is western and I am a barrel racer. There is nothing more exciting than racing my horse at top speeds around a barrel!
When I was 11 years old, my parents bought me my dream horse, a solid black Paint Horse named Nakiah. A week later in a terrible accident, Nakiah severed my thumb and I was in the hospital’s intensive care unit for a week. After a 10-hour surgery, leech therapy, blood transfusions, and many prayers from around the world, my thumb was successfully saved.
I never gave up my dreams of becoming a barrel racer. I had to endure a lot of painful days and hard work in physical therapy, as well as taking care of my mental health. After my accident, it was really hard mentally to have a relationship with Nakiah. I had so many emotions to deal with, such as anger, anxiety, depression, frustration, and lack of understanding.
I had to re-learn how to use my thumb and give myself grace for failing at times. My thumb will never be the same, but I thank God every day I still have my thumb. Without God, my family, and my friends’ support, I don’t know if I would have made such a fast recovery.
I was back in the saddle in two months and started competing in gymkhanas. I competed in my first barrel race when I was 12 and my first rodeo at 13 years old.
I have accomplished many of my goals, winning 1st place in Arizona Black Rodeo, Las Vegas Rodeo, 4th place in Bill Pickett Finals Rodeo, 1st Place in National Fantasy Finals Barrel Race, and many more barrel races across the country.
My main goal now is to qualify for and win at the National Finals Rodeo. As of now, there has never been an African American female to complete in the NFR. I know I can accomplish any goals I set for myself with hard work and dedication.
To learn more about Blue Bird Riders, visit Instagram @bluebirdriders, Facebook @bluebirdriders2019, or the Blue Bird Riders website. We are also looking for sponsors to help our dreams come true!
This article about the Blue Bird Riders appeared in the September/October 2024 issue of Young Rider magazine. Click here to subscribe!
