Health and Exercise senior, Tory Camerer, hitches up in front of the statue in the Peggy V. Helmerich Gardens Sunday night. Camerer says that of all the places on campus, this garden is her favorite. Jeremy Dickie/The Daily

Racing around aluminum barrels at high speeds on an animal weighing in around 2,000 pounds is a typical Friday night for one OU senior.

Tory Camerer, health and exercise sciences senior, has been doing rodeo since she can remember.

“I was at my first rodeo when I was 2 weeks old, [and] I was on my first horse when I was 2 months old,” Camerer said.

Around the time that most toddlers learn their ABCs, Camerer was learning the ins and outs of barrel racing.

“We built a rodeo arena when I was three or four, and I lived there,” she said. “So I just grew up around it.”

Camerer learned at an early age to deal with situations that might have been frightening for other youngsters.

“A lot of people think it’s dangerous, but I don’t know any better,” she said. “I was on a fast horse when I was five years old, and all I did was hold on tight.”

While developing racing skills over the years, Camerer has gotten a few bumps and bruises along the way.

“I have a lot of scars to show for hitting barrels,” she said.

It’s not just hitting barrels that proves a dangerous occurrence, the horse is not always under control.

“I was 10 at the big barrel race in Marshall, Texas … I was coming out of the second barrel and I had my hands on the reigns, [but] as I reached back to whip, my horse just took off running and I just kind of flopped off the back of him in front of lots of people,” Camerer said. “Looking back on it, it’s funny now, but there are lots of times like that, just falling off … you just have to get back up and go again.”

Though she may have gotten hurt here and there along the way, Camerer has continued to compete.

“I was in a few pro rodeos … youth rodeos … and then there’s barrel races, which are just the single event,” she said.

Camerer has taken home more than a few prizes from these events.

“I’ve won two saddles, I’ve won lots of buckles … coats — pretty much everything,” she said.

Those that know Camerer believe her involvement in the rodeo has awarded her much more than horse accoutrement.

“The competitions have really made Tory a better person,” family friend Brenda Spence said. “She learned how to lose, how to win and how to get along better with anyone.”

Camerer’s family also understands how this part of her life has deeply affected her in all aspects.

“Taking care of animals throughout her entire life has really made Tory a lot more responsible,” said her brother, Laramie, who doubles as a riding partner.

Camerer said she plans to continue improving her abilities once school winds down.

“This fall has been hard because I haven’t been as involved as I was growing up … but now that I’m getting ready to graduate I’m looking forward to getting back into it and going every weekend,” she said.

As for Camerer’s goals, she has high hopes, but just doing what she loves is enough for her.

“Ultimately, it would be awesome to make it to the National Rodeo Finals, not even just to win but to get to compete would be awesome,” she said.