NC State University student Sara Richardson was crowned Miss Rodeo North Carolina 2025 this past November and is already working to shine a spotlight on rodeo in NC. Sara is a young woman whose quiet confidence and poise point to her deep-seated intelligence and sense of purpose. Paired with her love of horses and willingness to always put them first, she is a natural fit to represent rodeo and serve as an ambassador for a positive, horse-centered lifestyle.
Sara grew up in Pittsboro, NC, in a family that was no stranger to horses. Her grandparents had cattle that they worked horseback prior to her birth and both her mother and father grew up around horses. Her mother, aunts, and uncles would go to local rodeos in Oklahoma and ride in the grand entry and her uncle did bull riding as well. She remembers going on pony rides as young as two years old and visiting her grandparents farm, loving any and all animals she could get her hands on.
For Christmas when she was five years old her parents gifted her a riding lesson package. She took a few lessons and fell in love with being horseback. When she was nine years old, she started riding more regularly and seriously, based out of a hunter jumper barn. After getting a good foundation there, she wound up at a dressage barn where she found a new appreciation for how dressage provides insights into the way a horse can move and is feeling. During this time, she also discovered a real love for cross country riding, something that remains one of her favorite English events.
Two transformative moments in her journey with horses occurred during these years: she purchased her horse, Acorn, and she was given her grandpa’s western roping saddle. When Sara discovered Acorn, he was nothing like what she was looking for. She was looking at big flashy bay thoroughbreds and hadn’t found the right fit. Acorn was a short, stocky Appaloosa who had some lameness issues and a good bit of spice in his personality. But something about him drew her in. He clicked with her.
During the first year and a half that Sara and Acorn shared together she was able to jump him but that became something he didn’t enjoy anymore. Always wanting to put the needs of her horse first, she switched her focus to dressage to make it easier for him and his body.
Acorn’s next adventure came thanks to a family heirloom. Before her grandpa passed away, he gifted Sara his old roping saddle. A treasure in itself, Sara was excited to use it, and brought out a saddle fitter to see if it would work for Acorn. It wound up being a perfect fit! Sara started trail riding and doing some work in the western saddle with Acorn. On the side she worked on her own skills, teaching herself to rope by roping the jump standards at the barn. She and Acorn continued to explore different disciplines together and he was quite the good citizen.
As she explored more of the western world, Sara discovered a passion for barrel racing, but knew it was not an option for Acorn due to his physical limitations. A kind friend offered Sara use of her horse for competition and taught Sara the basics, allowing her to enjoy competing in barrel racing events.
Her eagerness to learn has led to her wealth of horse knowledge. She has been on the National Travel team with NC State’s 4-H horse program for hippology and horse judging. Their team has gone to Nationals and Congress 3 times and won each time.
When not studying horses, Sara is studying for her engineering degree and hopes to use it in the agricultural or automotive industry one day.
Sara is proud to share her passion for horses and desire to spread the sport of rodeo through her role as Miss Rodeo NC. Keep an eye out for her soon–you can find her in Williamston at the Bob Martin Ag Center for the Old Ford Rodeo.
All photo credit to respective photographers: Kirsten Hannah Photography (barrel racing picture), Geri Messenger (dressage show picture), Mal Clark (Miss Rodeo picture and Acorn in the field picture).
Great read.