From the NT to the USA: best friends saddle up for the ride of a lifetime

A pair of Top End teenagers have spent years competing together, and now their biggest challenge awaits — representing Australia at the world’s largest high school rodeo event in the United States.

Kailee Rykers and Grace McDonald have spent years riding side-by-side, pushing each other to be better, faster, and stronger.

And that hard work has paid off, with the best friends set to represent Australia at the National High School Finals Rodeo (NHSFR) in Wyoming, USA, in July this year.

The Top End girls Kailee, 17, and Grace, 18,both secured their spots on the Australian team after placing in the top four for pole bending at the Australian High School Rodeo Association Finals in January.

Grace will also be competing at a youth rodeo event in Oklahoma, where she’ll take on both pole bending and barrel racing.

Kailee Rykers in action – competing in barrel racing. Picture: Kailee Rykers / Supplied.

But for these two, the experience is about more than just competition – it’s about sharing the journey together.

“When we found out we were both going, we just ran to each other and cried,” Miss Rykers said.

“We were jumping up and down, hugging – it was amazing.”

They’ve travelled the country competing, training, and learning, with their latest adventure taking them to New South Wales in December.

It was there, at Bendemeer, that they secured their qualifications.

Grace McDonald in action – competing in pole bending. Picture: Kailee Rykers / Supplied.

They’re preparing to ride unfamiliar horses in the United States.

“I think we’ll try and keep ourselves fit and healthy and we’ll keep riding our horses and keep competing so it’s nothing new when we get over there,” Miss McDonald said of their game plan.

“Then we will have to transfer over to the horses we have either borrowed or hired – which will be difficult, but I think we are up for the challenge.”

While the girls are treating this as a business trip – they’ll be coming straight home to finish year 12 and prepare for university – they’re still thrilled to be representing Australia.

“It’s such a big experience,” Miss Rykers said.

“We’re both so thankful and so excited.”

Best friends Kailee Rykers (Left) and Grace McDonald (Right). Picture: Kailee Rykers / Supplied.

Both girls have big plans beyond rodeo.

Kailee hopes to study nursing, while Grace is aiming for veterinary science – but neither can imagine a future without horses.

“I will always own a horse … whether that’s doing rodeo or another discipline in the horse riding industry,” Miss McDonald said.

To get to the USA, however, they need support.

Travel, competition fees, and accommodation don’t come cheap, and both girls are working hard to raise funds through raffles, sponsorships, and community support.

If you’d like to help these NT rodeo stars make their mark on the world stage, you can support them via Kailee’s Australian Sports Foundation page or Grace’s GoFundMe campaign.

Originally published as From the NT to the USA: best friends saddle up for the ride of a lifetime