We asked world champion Nellie Miller 14 quick questions to find out just a little bit more about the Cottonwood, California, cowgirl.
Barrel Horse News: Five must have items you take with you on the road and why?
Nellie Miller: 1) I always pack for all seasons, because it seems like no matter what time of year it is you might need your winter coat. So I pack all four seasons of clothing in the trailer. 2) I always pack as much hay from home as possible –that’s a must. 3) Lots of kid activities in the truck. 4) I like to pack food in the trailer, because I get tired of stopping all the time, so I try to prep food before we go.
BHN: Cake or pie?
Miller: Cake
BHN: Favorite restaurant?
Miller: That’s tough, I like to eat a lot. I have a lot of favorites Vegas, one of those is an Italian restaurant called Piero’s in Vegas.
BHN: Favorite snack or candy?
Miller: Cheezits
BHN: Favorite holiday?
Miller: Thanksgiving
BHN: What is something you’ve never done before but want to try?
Miller: I’ve always wanted to go to that racecar track in Las Vegas and do one of the rides with a racecar, but I don’t know that I have the guts to do it anymore.
BHN: Where in the world would you most like to travel?
Miller: Australia
BHN: Favorite movie?
Miller: I have a lot of favorites, but since it’s getting close to Christmas I’ve been thinking a lot about watching “Home Alone.”
BHN: If you could ride any horse past or present who would it be and why?
Miller: That’s so hard to decide. I’ve always thought Duke (Yeah Hes Firen) looked like such a fun ride, he turns so fast.
BHN: If you could breed Sister to any stud past or present who would it be and why?
Millre: I’ve thought about this quite a bit and still haven’t come to any conclusions, because it was easy to breed her mom because she needed more speed so we added the speed. I don’t know about Sister, I try to think about something works for us, which would like half cow horse and half running horse and so I’m not sure yet who that would be.
BHN: What’s your biggest pet peeve?
Miller: Bad table manners, like people smacking food.
BHN: What’s the most important thing you’ve learned this year?
Miller: I think one thing I tried to focus on is trying to block out all that negative stuff going around. Just stay your own course and do your own thing and really focus on what you need to do instead of what people are talking about.
BHN: Who is your barrel racing idol?
Miller: When I was yonger it was definitely Charmayne. She’s who I grew up idolizing as a kid, but now I have a lot of them because I’ve gotten to know them over the years. I really like having the relationships with the girls and getting to know each one of them, because each one of them is different.
BHN: What do you appreciate most about the sport of barrel racing?
Miller: With sports there’s always controversy, but I feel with ours it’s a pretty honest sport. The fastest time wins it’s pretty cut and dry – for the most part. I feel like it’s kind of pure competition in a way – a lot more than other events or other sports even. There’s not a lot of judge calls or anything. I feel like it’s a pretty pure horse race. The fastest time wins and I like that about barrel racing.
