Today we’d like to introduce you to Michaela Guzman.
Hi Michaela, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Barrel racing has always been something that was in my heart. It was something I dreamed about doing, but growing up, my family didn’t have a lot. They did the best they could and, even though we couldn’t always afford all the things that come with the sport, they supported me by getting me my own horses. I’m still fortunate enough to have one of my originals, Butterscotch, who is now 22 years old.
Butterscotch has been a huge part of my journey. I trained him myself, and he taught me so much—not just about barrel racing, but about patience, hard work, confidence, and what it means to keep going when things don’t come easy. In a lot of ways, he helped build the rider I am today.
When I was finally able to buy my own truck and trailer, everything started to change. I was able to load up my horses and start traveling to barrel races on my own. Sometimes my mom or one of my brothers would come along to support me and watch, but a lot of those early races were just me, my horses, my truck, and my trailer. I had to learn how to figure things out, show up, compete, and keep pushing myself.
Over the years, I’ve built friendships and connections within the barrel racing community, and that community has become a really important part of my journey. Now, my life looks a lot different than it did when I first started. I have a husband, a baby, and a sister-in-law who is beginning her own journey into the barrel racing world. It’s really special to be able to share something that has meant so much to me with the people I love.
I know a lot more now than I did when I first started, but I also know I still have a lot to learn. I’ve had setbacks, and I’ve had to step away from barrel racing for a year while having and raising my baby. But taking that time away hasn’t changed what I want. If anything, it has made me more determined.
I’m coming back with a different perspective, more experience, and a bigger reason to keep chasing my goals. I know I may not be where I want to be yet, but I’m willing to work for it. I want to continue climbing my way up, one race, one run, and one step at a time. My journey started with a dream I couldn’t always afford to chase, and now I’m determined to see just how far I can take it.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
One of the biggest struggles has definitely been financial. Horses are expensive, and barrel racing takes a lot of time, money, and commitment. You really have to put your heart into the sport to keep moving forward.
But as I’ve gotten older and gained more experience, I’ve realized that the financial side and even the competition itself aren’t what matters most. At the end of the day, it’s about the horse.
You have to treat your horse like an athlete. They have good days and bad days, and you have to learn to recognize when they’re telling you something. They aren’t machines, and you can’t just push them because you have somewhere you want to go or a race you want to compete in.
That’s something I’ve really learned through Butterscotch. He’s 22 now and is in his later prime, and we’ve had times where soreness has come up and he needed more time off than I wanted to give him. Of course, it’s hard when you want to be out there competing, but his comfort has to come before my goals.
I think that’s one of the biggest things this sport has taught me: you can always find another race, but you can’t replace your horse. They give us everything they have, and they deserve that same kind of love and consideration in return. They deserve to be spoiled, listened to, and taken care of—not just when they’re winning, but especially when they’re struggling.
For me, the love of the horse will always come before the sport. The competition is something I love, but the horse is the reason I’m here in the first place.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
For work, I’m a corrections officer, and it’s definitely not an easy job. It comes with long nights, difficult situations, and a lot of responsibility. Trying to balance working night shift, being a mom to a baby, and still pursuing my dream of barrel racing can be challenging. There are definitely days when I wonder how I’m going to fit everything in, but somehow I keep making it work.
I think that’s probably one of the biggest things about me—I’m determined. Even when I’m stretched to my limits, I try to keep showing up for the things and people that matter to me.
I’d also say I’m known for being someone people can count on. If somebody needs advice, needs someone to listen, or just needs a place to vent, I want to be that person for them. Sometimes I may already have a lot on my own plate, but if someone I care about needs me, I’m going to try to be there.
I think that carries over into everything I do—my job, my family, my horses, and barrel racing. I may not always have the easiest road, and I may not have everything figured out, but I’m willing to work hard, keep learning, and be there for the people and animals that depend on me.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
Funny enough, my biggest mentor in barrel racing is someone I’ve never actually met. Her name is Fallon Taylor. She’s a world champion barrel racer, and I found her through YouTube.
I know she may not be everyone’s favorite, but there was something about her positive attitude and the way she approached the sport that really connected with me. Watching her videos and listening to the way she talked about competition, horses, and pushing yourself made me want to work harder and believe that I could accomplish more too.
She probably has no idea how much of an impact she’s had on someone she’s never even met. But sometimes you don’t have to personally know someone for them to inspire you. Her positivity helped push me deeper into the sport and made me want to keep chasing my own goals, even when things weren’t going the way I wanted.
I would honestly give anything to meet her one day and be able to tell her, face-to-face, how much her influence has meant to me. She may have just been making videos and sharing her journey, but to me, those videos became something I could look to when I needed motivation to keep going.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Kayla.a.g12
- Facebook: Michaela guzman
