Meet NLBRA Barrel Racer Greeley Eastep And Her Rescued Horse Harley

They say some horses try harder if they like the rider on their back. That seems to be exactly the case with Greeley Eastep and her horse Harley, who have unofficially qualified for the National Little Britches Finals short round in the senior barrel racing.

Watch the National Little Britches Rodeo Association Finals Rodeo LIVE on FloRodeo July 10-15 in Guthrie, OK.

You see, the paint horse named Harley didn’t have the best start in life. His first three years were the very definition of “abuse.”

In Eastep’s interview, she explains the start her “wonder horse” had in life, far different than the situation the mare is in now. 

“She has quite a story,” Eastep explained in her interview. “She was abused when she was little… she had not seen daylight until she was three years old.”

Harley was later rescued and started as a rope horse as well as being lightly started on the barrels. She had been for sale with no success for over a year when the Eastep’s decided to take a chance on the then 6-year-old. 

Sticking a 9-year-old on an unproven 6-year-old may have seemed crazy to some, but the two clearly share a bond that helped them grow together. 

“She’s such an amazing horse, I’m just so blessed with her,” said Eastep. “She always takes care of it for me and she’s just a phenomenal athlete.”

That unfortunate start has given Harley some quirks that include anxiety in stalls and a jittery attitude, but the horse that you can breakaway off of, run 19-second pole bending patterns, and qualify for the National Little Britches Finals short round on in the barrel racing. 

The two placed 10th in the first round with their time of 14.785, then came back with a time of 14.410 to total 29.195 on two runs. No matter what happens in the short round, these two will remain a powerful team.

“She’s kind of got an attitude sometimes, but that’s what makes her so great,” said Eastep.