In her final high school rodeo, just over a week after she graduated from Aledo High School, she finished as reserve champion (second) in barrel racing at the North Texas High School Rodeo Association (NTHSRA) Finals. She came into the event at the Cowtown Coliseum in the Fort Worth Stockyards seeded 10th in the event.
“I would say the turnaround point for me in being able to achieve this started not this season but last spring/early summer,” Annabella said. “I was coming off a break from riding and knew I wanted to get back in, just couldn’t find the motivation to go and ride and practice.
Eventually, I set a schedule for myself, and with my mom’s help I was able to find my love for riding and racing again.”
Starting the comeback
While she has ridden horses and owned horses her entire life, Annabella only began barrel racing in 2021. However, after her sophomore year she decided to step away from competing in the NTHSRA.
A year later she realized she missed it and wanted to return. But it wasn’t as simple as showing up and picking up where she left off.
In later summer of 2024, she competed at a five-week long buckle series and won the 1D (fastest), Open and Youth divisions at one of the races. She ended up reserve Open and Youth champion at the end of the series.
“It really helped open my eyes up to the fact that me and Hollywood (her horse) can win, and we can compete and do well against tough North Texas competition,” Annabella said.
Then, she and Hollywood made a comeback in September of 2024. In fact, they not only returned, but they did so in impactful fashion.
They ran a personal-best time (16.1 seconds) and placed fourth for the weekend.
“That’s when my mentality really did a complete 180,” she said. “I knew then that we would do better this season than we ever had in the four years together. And obviously that came true!”
In addition to returning as a competitor, Annabella served as the queen of the AHS Rodeo Team in the 2024-25 season.
“She is a team player and has always been enthusiastic about the team and has helped me with team activities and team members for the last four years,” AHS Rodeo Team coach Jane McCarthy said.
Hollywood dream
Annabella got Hollywood her freshman year in October of 2021. They’ve been competing together ever since. When she got him he was 14 years old.
“He’s now 18, which is just mind boggling to me,” she said. “I went from running at play days and in the 4D at barrel races to riding this very experienced high caliber barrel horse. He had way more experience in the barrel pen than me by far.
“Although it took many down barrels, many broken patterns, many entry fees, and many, many tears, Hollywood changed me. He shaped me into the rider I am today and I owe all my winnings and happiness to him.”
Like mom, like daughter
Annabella’s mom, Lisa, barrel raced before Annabella was born.
“About one to two months prior to finding out she was pregnant, she put a down payment on a Dash for Cash pro rodeo gelding and bought a nice trailer all with the intention of buying her rookie card to turn pro,” Annabella said. “And then she found out she was pregnant and stopped.”
Lisa still rides but doesn’t compete. Annabella said she talks about getting back into competition, though.
Annabella noted that, along with Lisa, her stepfather, David Voegtlin, is also very supportive of her and the NTHSRA.
“That support has helped push her forward,” McCarthy said. “We have enjoyed having her on our team.”
What’s next
Annabella plans to attend Texas Tech and double majoring in business and restaurant, hotel and institutional management with hopes to work in the event management world.
She said she will not compete for the college rodeo team, however, due to the cost and time it demands. She does plan to compete outside of school as time allows.
And she hopes to someday compete at the highest level.
“I do have a desire to go pro, but would like to wait till after college,” she said.
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