Pressley Green and Sissys Slick Design take home their second Teen 1D World Championship, Gracelee Breazeale and Holy Flitin Fireman claim the Youth 1D World Championship at the National Barrel Horse Association Youth and Teen World Championships in Perry, Georgia.
With more than $114,000 in added money, the 2025 National Barrel Horse Association Youth and Teen World Championships featured competitors from all over the world, including the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, Australia, France, United Kingdom, Italy, Mexico, Slovakia and New Zealand. A myriad of prizes and awards were presented from round winning and finalists buckles, saddles to the world champions, fast time award, huge payouts and more. Barrel racers let their inner champion roar as they competed for the coveted titles in their age class and enjoyed the fun Safari-themed event activities outside the arena.
Teen 1D Champion: Pressley Green and Sissys Slick Design
It was no shock to anyone when Pressley Green’s name was on top of the Round One leaderboard to kick off the 2025 show. The high school senior was the 2021 Youth 1D World Champion aboard Little Jetsablazin and the 2023 Teen 1D World Champion aboard Sissys Slick Design.
Green’s trend of winning a world title every other year is impressive, and now both “Slick” and Green are two-time NBHA Teen 1D World Champions.
With times of 15.004 and 15.297 in the qualifying rounds, Pressley and Slick came back in the Finals to run the fastest time of the event, a 14.568 and earn $5,001.
“He has such a goofy personality and is a very sweet horse,” Green said. “Coming into the finals I just wanted to go for it and if it was meant to be it would happen, so in my run I just went for it and I was so happy with it. I honestly didn’t think I was running the time that I did because I went by my first barrel but I am so blessed with my run and everything.”
Green was also the high money earner at this year’s event, earning nearly $13,600 and an array of awards aboard her four mounts, all out of Southern Rose Ranch’s Sissys Little Coin who has $620,713 in EquiStat reported progeny earnings.
Riding Lovininthefastlane, a 2018 stallion by The Goodbye Lane, Green stopped the clock with a 14.683 to win Round One of the Teen division and $3,352.
“I want to thank God for everything and just tell anyone struggling with nerves or really any problems that just reading a devotion a day and just reading scripture, talking to God, literally anything, it has helped me so much in and out of the arena and just give him all the glory,” she added.
Teen 2D Champion: Jaley Smith and JLS Slide By Design
After an impressive sub-15 second run in Round One of the Teen Championships, 18-year-old Jaley Smith and her 7-year-old gelding Jls Slide By Design were last out in the Finals.
“I had qualified three horses back to the finals in the 1D and the first two runs did not go as I hoped, so I was nervous for my last run,” Smith said. “Being the last one to run, you and your horse can feel the energy in the arena. When I turned him into the shoot and let him go I knew he was ready to work for me. He gave it his all and when the announcer called out our time and said that run just put me winning the 2D my heart dropped. A wave of excitement and pride went through me. All my friends came running out of the arena hugging me. That’s when it hit me that all my hard work has paid off.”
Smith and “Batman” ran a 15.075 to claim the 2D title and $4,424. This was Smith’s second time to claim a championship at this event, winning the Youth 2D title in 2019.
“Batman is my most consistent horse so that gave me the confidence to go in there and give it my all, and he really came through for me. It is really special to win on a horse that you have raised from a colt,” she added.
In 2023, Batman fell at an NBHA Super Show and broke his fibula, resulting in a change in running style and a switch to the left barrel first. Now more push style, Smith said he isn’t lacking in personality outside the arena.
The Cochran, Georgia barrel racer is working towards becoming a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist since graduating high school. After success in Perry, she sets her sights on the NBHA Georgia State Show.
“My goal is to continue to get better and go after the 1D title. I could not do any of this without my family that has supported me and pushed me to be the best I could be,” Smith said. “I give God all the glory and know that whatever is next for me, he will always be with me.”
Teen 3D Champion: Sarah Beth Boothe and Down To Roll One
During a trip to Texas to attend The American Rodeo, Sarah Beth Boothe tried a horse in Texas that her trainer found. Two years later they added a Teen 3D world title to their resume.
The pair ran a 16.662 in Round One and a 15.827 in Round Two. Keeping up with their trend of improvement each run, they stopped the clock with a 15.575 in the Finals to win the 3D title and $3,847.
“I really couldn’t believe it when my trainer, Mr. Chuck, told me as I was in the barn unsaddling my last horse,” Boothe said. “Yolo and I didn’t have the best run but when the leaderboard changed, it set us just right.”
Boothe said “Yolo” is a big softy and is the horse she’s been riding the longest. She’s looking forward to the high stakes races he has qualified them for and the Bayou Gold race in Jackson, Mississippi.
“He came in hustling to the first and turned really nice. He was trying the whole time which means a lot and he still has room to improve. He’s a lot of fun,” she added.
Now a senior in high school, Boothe started barrel racing when her older sister became interested in the sport.
“My mom went asking around and we found a trainer that was close to us and from there we just fell in love with the sport,” the Alabama barrel racer said. “My mom came with me to my first NBHA World in 2021. I’ve always dreamed of getting a title but really didn’t think that was in my future.”
Teen 4D Champion: Jaylen Wilkerson and Pep Lee Smart
No time in Round One. No time in Round Two. Jaylen Wilkerson and Pep Lee Smart had a rough go to kick off their last NBHA Youth and Teen World Championship, an event Wilkerson has attended for nine years.
She entered the Mil+Spec Teen Redemption Round in an effort to make a comeback, and won the 4D with a 16.290, earning $1,674 and a spot in the finals. As fate would have it, Wilkerson and “Oakley” ran a 16.071 in the finals to win the Teen 4D world title and $3,270.
“It was very shocking to say the least, I had a couple of rough runs in round one and two with her. I never expected her to win the 4D of the redemption race or the 4D of the finals. But, at the end of the day I was super proud and grateful for her,” Wilkerson said.
Wilkerson has ran Oakley for about three years. The Glasgow, Kentucky barrel racer says her and Oakley have had their ups and downs but she has started to come around.
“She’s one of those horses who knows who her person is and never really tolerates anyone else. She’s filled with so many different quirks and I think that makes her pretty special,” she explained. “My next goal with Oakley is just to keep trying to repeat the finals run we had. I feel like it really built up both mine and her confidence with our partnership.”
Teen 5D Champion: Addi Page and Unplanned Conception
The 15-year-old barrel racer and 5-year-old mare made a dynamic duo at the NBHA Youth and Teen World Championships. Addi Page of China Grove, North Carolina and her mare Unplanned Conception have consistently added to their winnings after joining forces a few months ago.
They clocked a time of 16.076 in Round One, and in Round Two a 16.291 which qualified the pair for the Finals and earned $619.
“She’s a little bit goofy on the ground sometimes but straight to business once you’re in the arena,” Page said.
In the Finals, they ran a 16.572. Sitting bottom of the 4D for a majority of the round until the last drag when the leaderboard changed, moving Page and “Millie’s” time to first in the 5D. After a long day of waiting, they walked away with the Teen 5D world title and $2,693.
“It was very crazy winning the 5D, I was setting bottom of the 4D until the next to last drag, when a smoking 14.5 was ran. I am beyond thankful and blessed to win the 5D. This was my very first NBHA Youth and Teen World,” Page explained. “I know that Millie has amazing potential, and I knew that she could take me places, but I did not expect to win anything.”
After their finals run, Page was disappointed after they ran their slowest time of the week, knowing Millie could be much faster.
“I knew that it was in God’s hands, and he knew what he was doing,” she said. “My next goal is to consistently place in the 1D at smaller shows and work my way up to placing there in the bigger show as well. Millie has amazing papers and has clocked 1D many, many times, but I’m still learning her so I am taking my time. I want to thank God for this horse, these opportunities, and keeping me safe, my family for working so hard and sacrificing so much for me to be able to do this, my trainer for always pushing me to be the best I can, and giving the best pep talks and my friends for supporting me even at home!”
Youth 1D Champion: Gracelee Breazeale and Holy Flitin Fireman
Gracelee Breazeale and Holy Flitin Fireman, owned by Lindsey Netterville had only ever made one run together before the NBHA Youth and Teen World Championships. After their fourth-place finish in Round One with a 14.954, worth $1,266, Breazeale knew she had a shot at doing well in the finals aboard “Junior.” In Round Two they ran past the barrels to stop the clock with a time of 15.308.
“Then we had to regroup. We spent the next two days walking and setting him, even made a bit change for the finals to fit me,” Breazeale explained.
With Netterville’s help and encouragement, Breazeale went into the finals with a game plan despite battling a sinus infection.
“I was focused on getting a good first and finishing the third. I had stepped off the third a touch every run I made on him. At the end of the run the stars aligned and we got our first and finished our third,” she added.
The new pair won the Youth 1D World Championship with a time of 14.669, worth $3,293.
“I will never be able to thank Lindsey for the opportunity she has given me to ride such an amazing horse,” Breazeale added.
She also thanks Elle Sullivan, Paris Jean and Miss Angie for always keeping her looking sharp.
“My mom is my number one fan although she gets nervous when I ride a new horse,” she added. “My next run on Junior will be at The Run For The Pearl. After that Miss Lindsey will be running him at the Breeders Challenge. Best of luck to her and all her boys.”
Youth 2D Champion: Kinlee Reagan and Letta Me Be Country
North Carolina barrel racer Kinlee Reagan has been running her mare Letta Me Be Country for three years. This was Reagan’s second NBHA Youth World Championships and one she will forever remember.
Reagan and “Frankie” ran a 16.243 in Round One to place in the 4D and earn $235. Nearly a second faster in Round Two, they ran a 15.302. In the Finals, the pair ran a time of 15.234 to win the Youth 2D world title and $2,912.
“Frankie is very laid back till it’s time to go in the alley way then she gets very excited,” the 10 year old said. “I knew my (finals) run on Frankie was a good spot to be in after my run. I didn’t plan on winning the 2D championship, but it was a good surprise. I’m very excited to know all my hard work is paying off.”
Reagan continues to set goals to improve each time with hopes of winning the Youth 1D world t itle someday.
“I got into barrel racing because my grandfather D thought we should try it. That sure was a great idea,” she added. “Frankie is my true unicorn and I love racing her.”
Youth 3D Champion: Raelinn Echeverri and Coronas At The Bar
Nine-year-old Raelinn Echeverri and the 15 year old gelding Coronas At The Bar teamed up in May. After running a 15.495 in Round One and a 15.718 in Round Two, they topped the 3D in the finals with a 15.695 to claim $2,533 and the Youth 3D world t itle.
“This was my third world show and second time running in the finals. Winning a world title was the best feeling considering I’ve only had him for three months,” Echeverri said.
“Gambler” was bred by Jud Little and found success with Merrill Hodges aboard before making his way to Echeverri. Since then, they took the NBHA Florida State Youth 1D Reserve title and now a national title.
“Gambler is a layed back loving horse that loves his job he’s always ready to give me 100% when our names are called. We have so much more we are ready to accomplish together, and I know he is going to take me to the top,” she added.
Youth 4D Champion: Raelyn Hamilton and Bella
At her very first NBHA Youth World Championships, 10-year-old Raelyn Hamilton and her mare Bella were consistent in the qualifying rounds. They stopped the clock with a 16.618 in Round One and a 16.679 in Round Two.
“Bella is one of them horses you only get to own once, she gives all the heart every time I get on her,” Hamilton said. “She does amazing at three days shows, she gets faster every run and she never gives up.”
Hamilton and Bella have only been a team for three months and already have added to their accolades, stopping the clock with a 16.196 in the Finals to earn the 4D title and $2,153.
“To win the 4D was amazing. I just set the goal to make it back to the finals and that would be a win for my first year attending,” she said. “I did not expect my first year attending I would claim a world title. My winning run I tried to not get to nervous, I new Bella would go in and give her all so I treated it like any other run.”
With a goal of one day being a veterinarian, Hamilton is enjoying raising horses alongside her family with hopes that they turn out like Bella. She also enjoys working on their family farm where they also raise cattle and pigs.
“I want to thank the Lord for letting me ride these amazing horses, my parents for hauling my sister and I around and giving everything they have to support my dreams in this and my pawpaw and nana for helping keep us on the road and racing,” Hamilton added.
Youth 5D Champion: Karsyn Murray and Sheza Bully Miss
Inspired by the Canadian TV series Heartland, 11-year-old Karsyn Murray started barrel racing about six years ago. Her mare Sheza Bully Miss has been her partner for four of those years. “BB” is now 24 years old and Murray said this was her last year running at the NBHA Youth and Teen World Championships.
“I was nervous in Round One because I wanted to qualify so bad,” Murray said. “I was so excited because I kept all barrels up on all three horses. I knew it was going to be BB’s year. I qualified two horses back in the Finals in Round One. I am finally old enough to take care of my own horses so that made it easier.”
Murray and BB ran a 16.267 in Round One to qualify back to the Finals after only one run. In the Finals they stopped the clock with a time of 16.697 to win the Youth 5D world title and $1,773.
“Finals came fast. I was so excited when I came out of the arena and saw my time on BB. I knew that would sit perfect with the fastest time. I just had this feeling when I came out BB was going to win it,” she added. “When I found out I won Youth 5D I felt like I was going to pass out. I was so excited I almost fell down the steps in the arena. This was BB’s last year coming to Youth World so I’m glad I got a good win on her. She is my most consistent horse that usually always pulls a check.”
This was Murray’s fifth time competing at the NBHA Youth Championships, and fourth time to qualify to the finals. In 2023 she was the Youth 3D Reserve Champion and in 2024 she was fourth in the 5D. “My goal is to save all my winnings to buy a Leslie Willis horse one day,” Murray said. “I would like to thank Tammy and Tommy Crosby for where I am now. I would also like to thank Brenda Garrison for giving me the opportunity to buy BB.”
