It wasnt very long after Debby Daniels broke her ankle in a barrel racing accident that her mother, Bonnie Johnson, began to wonder whether it might be time for her 68-year-old daughter to hang up her spurs. I cant believe youre still out there running barrels, said Mrs. Johnson.
But Daniels isnt just another idle hobbyist or some smiling retiree whos decided she needs a new way to spend her free time. Nor is she that species of sentimental contender who hangs on to the sport of her youth long after that sport has passed her by.
Ask the folks at the National Barrel Horse Association about Daniels, theyll tell you who she is: Debby Daniels is number one.
The senior, who recently claimed the NBHA 1D-open district title, is among the oldest barrel racers in the country, and among the best.
Barrel racing is that rodeo sport that sees horse and rider slalom at top speed around a series of three barrels, a timed event which pits cowgirl versus clock in a flurry of dirt and stirrups that at the highest level rarely lasts longer than 16 seconds. Daniels consistently turns in times that are among the best in the region. In fact, two weeks ago, in an indoor arena in Frontenac, Daniels registered now, admittedly, it was on a shorter-than-usual course an almost superhuman time of 13.434. In video of the race, you can hear, immediately after Daniels run, the announcers voice echo out across the PA system: Wow.
And so for every cautious soul who tells her her time is up or who winces at the thought of this Kansas grandmother and her brick-colored quarter horse, Rosie, rounding those steel drums at full blast, there are one or two young riders in the arena, burgeoning barrel racers themselves, for whom Debby Daniels is an inspiration.
So what makes this Humboldt native so good?
The problem is, in person, you cant get Daniels to brag. Shes that brand of modest Kansas rancher who wouldnt toot her own horn in a snowstorm. Luckily, her husband Garry, whos been a boon to Debby across their 30 years of marriage, is there with a plausible theory of his wifes success: She rides every day.
Thats one theory.
But Garry who counts himself among that coalition of wincers; one of those loved ones whos seen Debby ejected from her horse a time or two and who dreads the thought of a more serious injury Garry has another theory, too: Its in her blood. Her dad, you see, is Frank Johnson.
AND SO when 88-year-old Bonnie Johnson wondered aloud whether her daughter might not be on the far side of her rodeo prime, she must have had tucked in her heart an ironic smile, because if anyone knows the stubborn ardor that drives the best rodeo riders, its Bonnie, who for nearly 60 years was married to Frank Johnson, who roped until the day he died.
On a Saturday afternoon in November of 2003, the 77-year-old rural Iola native as close to rodeo royalty as these parts are likely to see competed in a team roping competition in Lawrence. On Sunday, he watched a football game on TV before heading to bed with a headache. The next morning, Johnson awoke, climbed out from beneath the covers and fell over dead. And, at least according to those who knew him, if it wasnt for this final paroxysm of fate, hed probably be roping still. When you mention the name Frank Johnson in Iola, said Garry, everybody knows he was big-time rodeo.
In between roping and riding, however, Johnson managed to father three daughters, and it was from trailing her dad on the rodeo circuit that Debby, the middle one, caught the bug. Ive been around horses all my life, said Daniels. But [dad] always had pretty fast horses and pretty rank horses, added Garry so I didnt actually own my own horse until I was 25.
At that point, though, life began to intrude marriage, kids, career and it wasnt until many years later that Daniels was able to get back to serious barrel racing. And its only now, nearing 70, that shes reaching her peak.
