"I'm a real life cowgirl - I could horse ride before I could walk"
- 9 months ago
Meet the real-life cowgirl who could ride a horse before she could walk.
Riata Guynup, 20, has been riding horses since she was a baby.
After being born and raised on a farm, Riata was surrounded by animals.
When she was four years old, she decided she wanted to be a trick rider after going to a rodeo with her dad, Jerry Guynup, 46, a farmer.
A trick rider is someone who performs stunts while horseback riding such as riding on the horses back as it gallops and hanging off its body.
Jerry then took Riata on a weekend riding clinic, and she has been hooked ever since.
When she was 13, she started performing for crowds and has since performed for thousands of spectators.
Riata, a tricker rider, from Alberta, Canada, said: "For my birthday one year dad took me eight hours from home for a weekend riding clinic.
"I spent the weekend trick riding and from that point, I was hooked.
"The adrenalin rush, that feeling that you get performing and working with your horse, knowing that they have your back.
"We know each other so well - it is a really cool experience to know your animal knows everything you're thinking."
Growing up on a farm, Riata had spent her childhood around horses.
When she was four years old, she wanted to start trick riding and was immediately hooked.
When she turned 13, Riata performed for the first time at an amateur rodeo - a competitive equestrian sport.
She said: "I was the first person in my family to get into rodeo. I have been doing it for 10 years and I can't imagine doing anything else.
"When I am in the arena, I am in the zone. When I step in no matter how nervous I was before, I step in a feel calm.
"When the crowd starts cheering it really helps the horse. It is impressive how much they feed off the crowd."
Since she started trick riding, Riata had four horses and now exclusively rides Jesse, 11, and Phantom, 10, who she uses in every performance.
Riata said: "I started on my horse, Bob, who is now mostly retired. When I retired Bob, I trained little Jesse and then Phantom and now Mariposa.
"Jesse and Phantom are the main team that performs every single show with me.
"Mariposa is a four-year-old mare that was born on our farm, and I have done all the training with her since she was born."
Riata performs every weekend between May and September but said that her schedule calms down in the winter months due to the weather.
When performing, Riata has two stunts which she says make the crowd go wild.
Currently, Riata doesn't compete but hopes to one day.
She said: "I try and mix the show up every time I perform.
"The hippodrome stand - where you stand on the horse - is always a crowd favourite and the stroud - where the rider rises from their mount, slides their legs around the side of the horse's torso, and places one foot atop the horse's back and the other against the horse's underbelly.
"My performances are usually around five minutes long - I find it really rewarding.
Riata Guynup, 20, has been riding horses since she was a baby.
After being born and raised on a farm, Riata was surrounded by animals.
When she was four years old, she decided she wanted to be a trick rider after going to a rodeo with her dad, Jerry Guynup, 46, a farmer.
A trick rider is someone who performs stunts while horseback riding such as riding on the horses back as it gallops and hanging off its body.
Jerry then took Riata on a weekend riding clinic, and she has been hooked ever since.
When she was 13, she started performing for crowds and has since performed for thousands of spectators.
Riata, a tricker rider, from Alberta, Canada, said: "For my birthday one year dad took me eight hours from home for a weekend riding clinic.
"I spent the weekend trick riding and from that point, I was hooked.
"The adrenalin rush, that feeling that you get performing and working with your horse, knowing that they have your back.
"We know each other so well - it is a really cool experience to know your animal knows everything you're thinking."
Growing up on a farm, Riata had spent her childhood around horses.
When she was four years old, she wanted to start trick riding and was immediately hooked.
When she turned 13, Riata performed for the first time at an amateur rodeo - a competitive equestrian sport.
She said: "I was the first person in my family to get into rodeo. I have been doing it for 10 years and I can't imagine doing anything else.
"When I am in the arena, I am in the zone. When I step in no matter how nervous I was before, I step in a feel calm.
"When the crowd starts cheering it really helps the horse. It is impressive how much they feed off the crowd."
Since she started trick riding, Riata had four horses and now exclusively rides Jesse, 11, and Phantom, 10, who she uses in every performance.
Riata said: "I started on my horse, Bob, who is now mostly retired. When I retired Bob, I trained little Jesse and then Phantom and now Mariposa.
"Jesse and Phantom are the main team that performs every single show with me.
"Mariposa is a four-year-old mare that was born on our farm, and I have done all the training with her since she was born."
Riata performs every weekend between May and September but said that her schedule calms down in the winter months due to the weather.
When performing, Riata has two stunts which she says make the crowd go wild.
Currently, Riata doesn't compete but hopes to one day.
She said: "I try and mix the show up every time I perform.
"The hippodrome stand - where you stand on the horse - is always a crowd favourite and the stroud - where the rider rises from their mount, slides their legs around the side of the horse's torso, and places one foot atop the horse's back and the other against the horse's underbelly.
"My performances are usually around five minutes long - I find it really rewarding.