CENTRAL COASTING: 12-year-old King City barrel racer chasing big dreams

A 12-year-old girl from King City is chasing her dream of becoming a professional barrel racer.

Addison Escobar and her horse Royal Ramblin Rose, also known as “Blue,” have won several awards together and even made it to the Junior National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas in December. Addison ended up placing in the top ten out of 160 girls.

“It’s amazing to watch her run, she loves it, this is what she lives for and she doesn’t want anything else but to barrel race,” said Lauren Hamilton, Addie’s mother.

From the moment Addie hopped in the saddle and decided to try competing on Blue two years ago, they instantly became one.

“She’s always been a good horse, never done anything wrong,” Addison said.

However, there’s a reason Addie and Royal Ramblin Rose share a special bond.

“This was my aunt’s horse, but then she passed away and it was mine,” Addison said.

Addie is talking about her Aunt Ashley Escobar. The 26-year-old died from cancer in 2013.

“It’s super special for her to be able to ride her aunt’s horse and carry on what she really loved,” Hamilton said.

Hamilton told KION Addie almost gave up riding when her aunt passed away, but Blue is what brought her back to a sport she loves so much.

Addison started riding and entering junior rodeos when she was just 3 years old. She rode with her Aunt Ashley and watched her barrel race. After Ashley was diagnosed with cancer and passed away, Addie took a few years off barrel racing.

Hamilton said that in 2017, Addie told her grandfather she wanted to ride “Blue,” the horse her aunt was going to ride and train. Hamilton told KION she was nervous because the horse was a lot to handle, but Addie and Blue got along great.

Addison later entered into her aunt’s memorial barrel race for her first competition and ended up winning the 4D saddle.

Addie has also competed in the Sherry Cervi barrel race and won “Horse with the Most Heart.”

Last summer, she won a saddle at the Triple Seven Barrel Racing finals. She then competed in Las Vegas.

“Addie and Blue have gone a lot of places and won a lot of races, and her aunt has been with her every step of the way. It’s super special to see that and it keeps us smiling and keeps us going. We are so proud of her, her dad and I and her grandparents, we have enjoyed watching her grow and become an amazing barrel racer,” said Hamilton.

And when KION asked Addison at a King City barrel race last weekend how it felt to be one of the best in the country at just 12 years old, she had one word for us, “Amazing.”