Meet the competitors who travel far and wide with their horses for annual Quebec rodeo

Last weekend as Kim Picard rounded the third barrel — careening across the dirt in a packed stadium in Sainte-Tite, Que., she says she had a feeling she'd be taking home first place.

"My horse didn't miss a step, so I had high hopes," said Picard, referring to her 15-year-old quarter-horse, Tiger, who's been competing with her for 13 years.

Picard was among the competitors at the Festival Western de St-Tite. The 10-day event, located 65 kilometres north of Trois-Rivières, is celebrating its 55th edition, welcoming athletes and spectators from across the world.

Picard skidded to the finish line with a time of 16.132 seconds, taking home the barrel race title in the Wrangler Canada Cup Final.

She says she waited around for other competitors to have a go before realizing she really had won — for the second year in a row.

"You don't have time to realize [what's happened] you already have to be brought into the ring to do your victory lap," said Picard.

"[Tiger] was so happy, I felt it, I think we're really really connected. When we do well, he goes out, he's proud, he was prancing and lifting his legs while he walked."

As they took in their victory, Picard says she was beaming.

"I'm really at peak happiness," said Picard.

"It happens super fast, then we go back down to the trailer as if nothing had happened, but to realize in reality, my dream came to life. I had butterflies in my stomach all evening, even throughout the night."

For Picard and other athletes travelling to the town of 3,000 to compete in rodeo and gymkhana events [timed speed events] it's something they do out of passion — partnering with animals they consider to be athletes in their own right and continuing a tradition that's existed for generations.

Walking