OPEN RANGE- Barrel Racing's International Ambassador
When I think of barrels in context with Italy, horses aren’t exactly what I picture and that is the very reason Shannon Kerr is breeding them in Italian countryside. I’m Susan Allen. Stay tuned for Open Range. It’s no secret that the American Quarter Horse has been taking Europe by storm and trainers, especially in reining, have made good money selling horses over seas. When Shannon Kerr relocated to Italy with her Italian husband she was surprised to find that barrel racing dominated by men with mounts from reining bloodlines. Always one to seize an opportunity, she decided to breed her own barrel horses. Importing a son of Firewater Flit she went on to take Italy by storm winning every event and the Italian championship title twice. This Spring she brought the seven year old stallion back to the US for some resume building experience at rodeos and also to promote her breeding farm Equitech International. Equitech is home to thirty brood mares and typically ten horses in training. Ever the entrepreneur Kerr held Europe’s first barrel horse auction last fall featuring offspring of Dash Ta Fame, Cash Not Credit, Firewater Fast, and others. She also imports horses that don’t make it to the top US levels for Italian owners. To help fund her summer rodeo rendezvous Kerr developed an apprentice program where young girls from throughout the world travel with her to learn the nuances of American Barrel racing. Teaching girls from Ireland, Australia, Italy and Brazil has made Shannon Kerr our barrel racings international ambassador.
