Craig Daily Press

Losing a horse days before the college rodeo season’s biggest event is akin to a NASCAR driver blowing his engine before the Daytona 500.

Or, a professional baseball player losing his trusty mitt right before the World Series.

But, losing two horses?

Such is the case for Craig native Becky White.

White enters her first College National Finals Rodeo beginning Sunday without her horse, Whiz.

And, her backup horse — Chloe — is on the mend, as well.

“Both of my horses are hurt,” White said. “I’ve been stressing out about everything. It seems like it’s not supposed to happen because of everything that’s going on. My first horse got hurt, then my second horse came up lame today.”

But despite her possibly having to borrow a horse from a teammate, White said the show must go on.

“It’s going to be hard to try something different,” she said. Whiz and Chloe “have been my horses since before I started high school rodeo. I felt more comfortable on my horses and very confident with them, but I’ll just have to borrow a horse from somebody on my team. They have plenty, so it shouldn’t be a problem.”

White attends Oklahoma Panhandle State University in Goodwell, Okla.

The sophomore qualified for the national finals in goat tying after competing in goat tying, barrel racing and breakaway roping throughout the course of the regular season.

White graduated Moffat County High School in 2006. There, she qualified for the high school national championships in goat tying and pole bending, finishing second and third, respectively, in her senior season.

But, White said there is a lot to the transition from high school to college.

“For me, there was no pole bending” in college, she said. “It’s mostly the same except it’s all new people, there’s no parents around and the competition is much tougher. Everybody on my team was just awesome though, so it made it a lot easier.”

Although she’ll be in the national spotlight beginning Sunday — the event will be televised later this month on ESPNU — White said she’s only halfway to her goal.

As a Little Britches cowgirl, through high school to college, White has visions of going pro.

“After college, I definitely want to get on the pro (rodeo) circuit,” she said. “I’ve grown up with rodeo, and the (National Finals Rodeo) is the highest achievement you can get. I’ve always kind of dreamt of it.”

In the meantime, White plans to do her best while at the college national championships.

“I think it will be pretty exciting,” she said. “It will be nerve-racking because it’s being televised, but it should be fun. I’ve seen it on TV, and it gives me chills just watching it.”

As for a prediction on her College National Finals Rodeo finish?

“It’s kind of hard to predict anything,” she said. “I don’t even know what horse I’m riding yet.”

John Vandelinder can be reached at 875-1793, or jvandelinder@craigdailypress.com