Merrill Mundy, 13, of Parrish wins junior world barrel racing championship

MANATEE -- Merrill Mundy, 13, of Parrish has won the 2015 junior world championship in barrel racing in a Women's Professional Rodeo Association competition.

Merrill, daughter of David and Merrily Mundy, and her 8-year-old mare, Smoke More Money, nicknamed Silly, recently won the championship in Waco, Texas.

"It takes a true team effort to win a championship. They are partners," said Merrill's father, David Mundy. "She has been on a horse's back from the time she was in diapers."

Merrill has been competing since she was roughly 8 years old.

"It was great to see how the rider and the horse bonded together," Merrill told the Bradenton Herald in 2014 of her initial interest in the sport. After giving it a try, Merrill said she found: "It was more exciting than I thought. It was amazing."

In 2013, Merrill won fourth place in the competition, and was the reserve world champion in 2014.

"It's a dream come true for us. She is a great kid and takes good care of her horse. Merrill is an athlete, and was probably one of the fastest kids in elementary school, and a heck of a gymnast," David Mundy said.

Merrill is home schooled. Before moving to Parrish, the family lived in Northwest Bradenton, hardly the rodeo capital of Manatee County.

What's next? She is looking at going pro when she turns 18, he said.

This story was originally published November 6, 2015 at 5:43 PM with the headline "Merrill Mundy, 13, of Parrish wins junior world barrel racing championship ."