Emma Parr and DG Excuse My French stay consistent to claim the Rookie Roundup championship at the Cowtown Coliseum.
The top 15 in the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association Rookie standings took on the Cowtown Coliseum in Fort Worth, Texas, vying for the Rookie Roundup barrel racing title on April 25-26. Winnings from the event go towards the Resistol Rookie of the Year standings, but do not count towards WPRA world standings.
Claiming her first pro rodeo win and maintaining a lead in the WPRA Rookie standings, Emma Parr and her main mount DG Excuse My French topped the Rookie Roundup shootout worth $2,500. With a successful winter and spring rodeo season with “Pierre,” the duo also qualified for The American Rodeo at Globe Life Field for the second year in a row.
Inside Cowtown Coliseum, Parr and Pierre were second in the first round with a 13.38 worth $1,156.
“The first round he was a little tighter on the first and second barrel than I would’ve liked but it was still a good run,” Parr said. “He does have a tendency to get a bit strong so I have to make sure he is paying attention to me before we run. He is very easy going on the ground, but he does get super nervous before he runs, when he gets nervous he isn’t afraid to buck!”
The top eight moved to the semifinal round. There, Parr and Pierre ran a 13.24 to be second again behind Kristin Dunn’s 13.23. The top four then moved on to the shootout round which followed the semifinals on Saturday, allowing for back-to-back runs. Parr and Pierre continued to get faster with a 13.08, claiming the championship and $2,500.
“Every run at the Rookie Roundup felt good,” Parr said. “I didn’t do anything but exercise him the week of the Rookie Roundup, and the weekend before I ran him at Northside (Cowtown Coliseum) for the first time and won it with a 13.6.”
Beyond the arena, contestants have opportunities to participate in several career-development activities like media training, mentorship sessions, as well as learning to navigate sponsorships and the business side of rodeo.
“I loved everything about this event, my favorite part was getting to do the interview with the group,” she said. “I got to hear everyone else’s story on how they got to be there.”
Parr continues to lead the rookie standings with $22,607 as of press time.
“It is such a good feeling to be leading in the rookie standings,” she added. “Even though the year is not over, I am so proud of all of my horses and what we have accomplished. My goals for the rest of this year is to just keep winning checks. As long as I am winning checks I will stay where I need to be. I want to thank everyone who helped put on this amazing event, I want to thank my family for all they do and continue to do for me, and I want to thank my horse for being so consistent and helping my confidence after a long few weeks.”
This article was originally published in the July 2025 issue of Barrel Horse News.
