Bailey Schellenberg, first female steer rider at Canadian Finals rodeo, takes one last ride

Bailey Schellenberg was born to ride.

As a kid, she'd hop onto the couch and pretend it was a bucking horse.

At nine years old, she decided that it was her dream to ride steers. 

And now, at 15, she's made history. This year, Schellenberg became the first girl to qualify for the junior steer riding event at the Canadian Finals Rodeo, one of the biggest events on the Canadian rodeo circuit, held at the end of October.

'Dance with a steer'

Schellenberg first rode a steer at 13, although her parents needed some convincing. 

"We thought it was a phase, and that she would eventually just want to barrel race, ride and rope," said her mom, Naomi Schellenberg. "But then she wanted [to ride steers] every day." 

"I got hooked," said Schellenberg, "I didn't want to do it because I was going to be the first girl, it just happened to be that way. I just love the sport. It's so cool being able to dance with a steer." 

Steer riding is a stepping stone to the world of bull riding. Steers have been castrated and are smaller than bulls — but they still love to buck, and can weigh up to 453kg (1,000 pounds).

Earlier this year, Schellenberg got a concussion after the steer she was riding bucked its head up and slammed its skull against her helmet.

Her parents, Naomi and Phillip, worry about their daughter, but the danger of the sport — and the fact that all of her competitors are male — doesn't faze Bailey.

"The adrenaline it gives you is phenomenal and beautiful," said Schellenberg. 

'I rode a lot of cows to get here'

Because the sport of steer riding is only open to people aged 15 and under, this year's Canadian Finals Rodeo was Schellenberg's last steer riding event. 

But with her final chance to win a steer riding title and thousands of dollars in prize money on the line, Bailey just couldn't hold on. She was bucked off all but one steer, and placed third in the second round of competition.

But Schellenberg is not letting the loss get to her.

"It's amazing to accomplish this dream. There's no words to describe it. I'm really sad that this was my last ride, but looking back at where I started, I've come a long way."

Like many 15-year-olds, Schellenberg isn't quite sure what she wants to do next. Whether or not she decides to start the even more bruising sport of bull riding, she's proud of what she's accomplished in her short, but decorated, career.

"I've just gotta remember, I rode a lot of cows to get here."