Maddy Gatrel

Maddy  has been riding trick riding horses since she was in the womb.  Her mom, Jennifer Gatrel, is a former trick rider so Maddy got her start early. As early as preschool age, Maddy was trick riding on a pony in equine theatrical shows her mom helped produce and training with the Double Trouble Girls, a trick riding troupe her mom was training. 

Bethany Iles, one of the girls she trained with, was the 2020 PRCA Contract Act of the Year. When Maddy graduated from her pony to a full-sized horse, she began using Dusty, a horse her mom had performed on and trained.  

Maddy’s family founded the Pegasus Riders and have trained several children throughout since its inception.   A true performer who wanted to shine in other areas, Maddy expanded her experience to the aerial hammock at age 6, contortion at age 8 and then in 2020, she got her pony Razor and began equestrian liberty.

 She has performed all those in front of large crowds across the United States. Maddy loves to trail ride and do obstacle courses with her horses. You can always find her out working or training new or up-and-coming horses. 

Recently, Maddy became interested in reining and is now taking  lessons in that discipline. When not in school or practicing her various performance specialties, Maddy is learning to sew. She can’t wait to be able to make her own costumes for her and her equine partners. Maddy lives on a cattle ranch in northwest Missouri with her parents and older brother Dalton.

Age: 11

Performance Horses:

Dusty (Trickriding, going into retirement)

Sparky (Trickriding)

Razor (Liberty)

Cowboy (Training in liberty)

Goal(s): "I would LOVE to someday do the Equine Affaire, more shows with Sylvia Zerbini,  Road to Horse, Cheyenne Frontier Days, and the NFR! I definitely have the dreams a performer like me would have ;). I also want to learn more about barrel racing, it looks fun!"