One of barrel racing’s brightest young stars is just getting started. With a stacked resume in the arena, Rylee Jo Maryman and her team of exceptional horses have taken on nearly every stage of youth rodeo and barrel racing.
It’s likely if you follow barrel racing event results you’ve seen the name Rylee Jo Maryman on top more than once. The 17-year-old from Francisville, Louisiana lives and breathes barrel racing and has found success in almost every arena.
The young star has quite the list of accolades — she’s been the Louisiana High School Rodeo Barrel Racing Champion for three years in a row and was the Short Round champion at last year’s National High School Finals Rodeo, leaving Rock Springs, Wyoming top four in the world.
She’s won the All American Youth race the last two years in a row as well as the Josey Junior World. She qualified for The American Rodeo in 2024 in Globe Life Field where she was third in the long round and third in the final four. She qualified again in 2025 after placing third at the East Regional Finals.
She also won the Hooey Junior Patriot 19 and Under barrel racing worth a $40,000 check in March.
Three great horses have been the driving force behind countless wins — One Cupa Tees Sis known as “Ruby,” WYO Starlightspecial, known as “Starlight,” and Heaven Help Me Fly, aka “Fly” owned by Lindsey Netterville.
“I got Ruby as a 2-year-old,” Maryman explained. “Ruby has her own personality, and she knows around my house she is queen. She takes full advantage of it and loves her people.”
Maryman has more than $300,000 in EquiStat reported lifetime earnings, with Ruby earning $125,000 of that. Quite unique to the roan mare, she prefers not to run with leg protection.
“Ruby doesn’t like leg boots if you put them on her she doesn’t run. This has been trial and error to figure out but it is like she is scared of them so she doesn’t run,” Maryman said. “Knowing her quirks has helped me succeed with her, she has a big personality and she runs good when you give her all your attention.”
Though quirky, Ruby has helped Maryman accomplish goals that most barrel racers dream about, like running inside Globe Life Field. Not only has Maryman qualified for The American Rodeo finals once, but two years in a row through an intense tournament advancement process proving the team’s consistent talent.
“One of my most memorable accomplishments was on Ruby at the 2024 The American Rodeo which was running in the final round,” she said. “It was memorable since I trained Ruby myself and has been a dream of mine since the first time the American was held.”
Even after competing at The American, Maryman said her favorite race is the Josey Junior World.
“It is more than running barrels. We have a ton of fun during the week with all our friends,” she added.
She’s been on alomst every big stage with her equine partners and now sets her sights on running at AT&T stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys.
“One of my goals is to run at AT&T stadium for the WCRA. My future barrel racing goals is to qualify for the National Finals Rodeo and to be able to make a living training futurity horses,” she said.
Get to Know Rylee Jo Maryman:
Barrel Horse News: Who is your mentor?
Rylee Jo Maryman: My mentors are my parents since they have helped me from the beginning to achieve my goals.
BHN: If you could run any barrel horse, who would you want to run?
Maryman: One barrel horse I would love to run is Fame Fling N Bling. She looked so fun to ride and she was push style like my horses.
BHN: Do you have any pre-competition superstitions?
Maryman: I don’t have any superstitions.
BHN: Favorite snack on the road between rodeos and barrel races?
Maryman: My favorite snack on the road is chocolate covered pretzels.
BHN: Do you prefer music or podcasts when traveling?
Maryman: I prefer a podcast since they have really good information to learn while riding my horses.
BHN: If you didn’t barrel race, what would you do?
Maryman: I’m not sure what hobbies I would have since I eat, sleep and breath riding barrel horses. It would have to be something going fast.
