Christen Martinez, a 24-year-old rider from Stanley, certainly fits that mold.

"He's just consistent," said Martinez about Cisco, her 9-year-old, tan-and-white paint gelding after the pair were crowned as the saddle-winning victors of the open's premier (1D) division following the finals of the Rockin' Horse Ranch Arena Barrel Racing Series on Sunday. "If something went wrong, it's my fault. He always gives a hundred percent. I missed about half of (the weekends) — I usually just do rodeos — so it was real hard (to get the win)."

Martinez scored 28 points during the 11-monthlong, one-weekend-a-month RHR competition at Rockin' Horse's indoor facility, situated north of Moriarty near the southeast corner of N.M. 41 and Western Road. The series began in January, and will begin again soon, tentatively on the third weekend of January 2010.

"I like coming here," said Martinez, who works for the Santa Fe County Animal Control Division in the capital. "Lonnie and Patty (Wright, the arena co-owners and series coordinators) are real nice, and it's close to home."

Patty Wright said the arena was built in 1994, a little after her daughter, Leona Segura, graduated from Moriarty High in 1992. Evann, Leona's 5-year-old daughter, competed in the youth category this year.

"It was adventurous (doing rodeos as a child)," Leona Segura said. "We traveled all around the country and competed."

The Wrights grew up in Albuquerque's South Valley. They later moved to Edgewood, then out to their current spread north of Moriarty and south of Stanley proper.

"Our kids have done it ever since they were that little," said Lonnie as he pointed to a tyke shod in cowboy boots about 4 or 5 years old. "It's been a way of life for us."

The other 2009 RHR barrel racing open champions included Los Lunas's Dude Penrod (second division), Edgewood's Holly Alsobrook (3D) and Cathy Gray of Albuquerque (4D).

Mountainair's Marie Autrey won the senior (50-and-older) 1D category. Shelby Lynne Lujan of Edgewood earned the youth (16-and-under) 1D title.

After the awards ceremony, Lonnie Wright moseyed his lanky frame over to the arena railing.

"It's a place for everyone to come to compete," he said. "We enjoy it. We've done it our whole lives. We started (the series), I think, seven years ago."

For information, see the Web site at www.rockinhorseranch.net.

Harold Smith can be reached by phone at 823-7104 or by e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .