Barrel racer Haddad places 7th at state finals in Redding

At the California Cowboys Profes­sional Rodeo Association rodeo circuit year end finals at the Redding Convention Center on Friday  Haddad placed 7th overall out of 15 participants.

The top five finishers made it to the second day on Saturday.

Haddad finished with a time of 18.2 seconds and was the youngest competitor at the event with the next youngest being in her early 20s.

“I’m very blessed and proud just to make it to finals,” Haddad said.

On the day of the race Lexie was lethargic and not eating well, which affected how they did in Redding.

“ The horse was not herself,” Jeanna  said. “You could tell she just didn't have that spirit she normally has. But it happens ... It definitely was a learning experience.”

While Natasha said she was disappointed her horse was not completely on top of her game, saying she believed they would have had a better time if Lexie was 100 percent, she understands that things like this happen sometimes.

On Tuesday, Jeanna  said Lexie seemed to be much better and appears to be OK.

At the finals there was a large group of friends and family cheering Natasha on, which she said meant a lot to her.

In her first year racing professionally, Haddad, a student at Redwood School,  placed eighth overall in the CCPRA standings.

 Only the top 15 barrel racers qualified for finals.

Natasha said that she plans to continue to race next year when the CCPRA season starts up again in May.