By Marilyn Miller
On the internet, go to the “National Barrel Horse Association” and look up the results of the 2025 NBHA Youth & Teen World Championships that took place in Perry, Georgia July 18-27. You might not see the name Avery Powell there, but she didn’t come home empty-handed…and you might even see a dream there.
Avery has raced barrel horses for five out of the 11 years she has been around. Pretty darn good for a lass who was delivered at 31 weeks, six days; weighing 2 lbs., 10 ozs. She was, naturally, sequestered in the neo-natal intensive care unit for weeks, but proved to have a fighting spirit and began gaining weight immediately. Today, she is a proud 4’8” tall, and holds her own around horses that measure 14 hands high and weigh an average of 1,200 pounds.
The first time Avery rode a horse was on Aug. 17, 2020. She started out trail riding, and then “did a run” around the barrels. She must have run well, because since that time she has amassed three saddles, many belt buckles, and a healthy amount of money. Of course, like many pre-teens, she was faced with a decision when her mother said, “Dancing or barrel racing, pick one.”
She obviously chose right, because she’s putting the money she earns from barrel racing up for college, where she plans to pursue a degree in Veterinary Science. She’s even started observing Dr. Foster Lott at his veterinary clinic during her free time. Does she have a lot of free time? Right now, no. She gets up at 7 a.m. to feed and water the eight horses at her grandparent’s place. If she finds anything wrong, she lets them know right away. Then, of course, there’s training. Two nights a week she goes to Heflin, where she gets tips and help from the Robinson and Williams girls, winners of many equine events. And then there are the events.
And school hasn’t even started yet. When it does next week, Avery will be a sixth grader at Lakeside Jr.-Senior High School. The fun hasn’t even begun!
Avery’s favorite thing about working with horses, competing, and training is making friends. Her least favorite thing? Falling. She’s already broken her nose once, which is probably why her mother, Amanda Powell, is always too nervous to eat on competition days. The RN was also a horseback rider. In fact, there are horseback riders on both sides of Avery’s family.
That family includes Avery’s parents, Casey & Amanda Powell; grandparents Hunt & Dana Powell, Edward & Karen Poche, and great grandmother, Jerri Poche. Then there are older siblings Stella, Savannah, and Kennedy, who focuses on jumping horses. No doubt, Avery has a large fan base, including her sponsors, Brown Motors, Minden Farm & Garden, Hercules Ag & Outdoor, A. J. Price, Championship Carts, Angel Safety, and the Minden Animal Clinic.
The 2025 NBHA Youth & Teen World Championships drew 1,326 contestants from 10 different countries to the Georgia National Fairgrounds in Perry, GA. Lots of opportunities to make friends and lots of pressure to win…
“I worry most about my horse falling,” Avery said, fielding a question about the most pressure she feels. But no such thing happened at the championships last month. Both of her horses, Bay Mare, Frenchie and Palamino, Ari, performed well. In fact, in Round 2, she and Ari placed 8th in 4D, and she and Frenchie placed 14th in 3D. In the finals, Ari and Avery placed 4th in 4D, and Frenchie and Avery placed 7th in 3D. Both were money rounds.
The total of Youth in rounds one and two was 839 riders, while the finals saw 209 riders competing. There were 2,286 horses competing in the world championship. The total payout was $665,572.
Avery’s goal in the barrel racing competitions is to “get in the 1D,” she said. To do that, she believes she should work harder on her timing, that being the exact place and moment that she needs to begin her turns around the barrel.
Right now, Avery and her family are proud of her 67th place among 843 competitors. Pretty great for an 11-year-old rider who has advanced from competitions sponsored by the Minden Riding Club, the NBHA01, and Lil Britches to the NBHA in just five years.
