There’s something about the sound of hooves pounding through an arena, the whip of wind as a horse barrels around a turn, and the flash of a cowgirl in the zone that just feels like Texas. Even when that cowgirl isn’t Texas-born. 

Meet Charmaine Holdren, a Colorado-raised, horse-training powerhouse who now proudly calls North Texas home.

From the time she was barely out of diapers, Charmaine has been on horseback. “I don’t remember learning to ride,” she laughs. “I was so young it’s just something I’ve always done.” With a dad who was both a bull rider and a rodeo clown, rodeo culture was in her blood. Naturally, when it came time to pick her event, Charmaine leaned into the fast-paced, heart-pounding world of barrel racing — the signature women’s event in rodeo.

From Morgans to Mavericks

Now, here’s the twist: her family didn’t raise typical rodeo horses. “We had Morgans which are great for trail rides and elk hunting, not exactly known for speed,” she says. “But that didn’t stop me. I taught every single one of them how to run barrels.” That kind of determination hasn’t changed, whether she’s chasing a ribbon, a title, or her next personal best.

Charmaine’s move to Texas in 2005 was a strategic one. “I wanted to compete against the best,” she says. “And let’s face it, Texas is horse country. I’ve lived in Colorado, Kansas, Wyoming, Tennessee — but North Texas is my favorite. The equine industry here is amazing. There’s always something going on.”

The Limited Life (For a While)

Like many rodeo competitors, Charmaine’s path hasn’t been a straight line. When she returned to competition after a 10-year break, she qualified for the Limited division of the Women’s Rodeo Championship (WRC) due to her lower lifetime earnings and lack of a pro card. But don’t let the term “Limited” fool you. Charmaine brought decades of experience, hard work, and grit to the table.

“I’ve been running barrels since I was 10. I’ve taken clinics with legends like Martha Josey and Charmayne James,” she says. “The Limited division was a great way for me to stay close to home and still compete. I work full-time, I’m a full-time mom to a teenager on the autism spectrum, and I train horses. I don’t have the bandwidth to be on the road every weekend chasing points.”

That’s the genius of the WRC’s format — it allows competitors to earn points at races they’re already attending. “It’s so doable for someone like me,” she says. After winning the Limited Championship, Charmaine advanced to the Challenger division. A few wins later, including a big one at the iconic AT&T Stadium, and the WRC bumped her up again . . . to the Pro division.

“I got the letter and was like, ‘Well, guess I’m doing this,’” she laughs. “Now I’m running against women who do this full time. But hey, I’ll do my best, train my horse, and keep showing up.”

Trick, Trials, and Training

At the heart of her recent success is Trick, her young and still-green barrel horse. “We only started entering races in November 2024,” she says. “Before I won the Championship, he’d earned about $3,000 total. He’s come along quickly, but he’s still unseasoned. We’re learning together.”

Charmaine’s approach to training is equal parts science and soul. “With Trick, I make sure he knows his job cold at home first. Then we haul to different arenas so he can get comfortable in new places. I keep our prep routine the same wherever we go. It helps him feel secure.” She avoids bad influences (yes, even horses have those) and often hauls Trick alone to build his confidence.

And Charmaine doesn’t slack on her own conditioning either. “I train every other day — cardio, bodyweight exercises, yoga, pilates. I’ve always loved taking care of my body,” she says. “I was raised to be mindful of what I eat and how food affects me.” That attention to wellness pays off in competition and recovery alike.

Bumps in the Road (and Elbows)

Of course, this journey hasn’t been without setbacks. In 2014, Charmaine was just $134 away from filling her pro permit when her top mare got injured. With no other horse of that caliber, she shifted her focus to training.

But that came at a price. “One horse I trained had a habit of pulling hard, and over time I developed tennis and golfer’s elbow in both arms,” she recalls. “I didn’t know then to go to physical therapy, so I just kept working and made it worse.”

After years of pain and ineffective treatments, Charmaine finally found a physical therapist who worked wonders. Through weight-bearing exercises and months of shockwave therapy, she regained her strength and a whole new appreciation for recovery.

The Art of the Juggle

You might wonder how she does it all. Project management career. Teenager with his own athletic dreams. Horse training. Pro rodeo competition. The answer? Planning, prioritizing, and grace.

“I wake up early. I write everything down in a planner and I keep two online calendars — one for work and one for appointments,” she says. “If the weather’s good, I ride. If it’s not, I adjust. I stay busy, but I don’t say yes to everything. If it doesn’t align with my purpose, I pass.”

Family support plays a huge role. Her husband is getting back into roping, and he was the one who encouraged her to start hauling Trick. “He said, ‘You’ve got the horse that can do it.’ And he was right.” Meanwhile, their son is a rising cyclist. “He’s training for the Hotter’n Hell Hundred this August. He did 92 miles last year at 14 years old! Sometimes his races fall on the same weekends I could be barrel racing, but I sit it out. It’s his time too.”

Wisdom from the Arena

When asked what advice she’d give to young barrel racers, Charmaine doesn’t sugarcoat it. “If you really want it, you have to be all in. I’ve seen students skip lessons because a boyfriend called, or they won’t do the work to stay fit. That’s fine — barrel racing can be just for fun. But if you’re chasing success, it takes serious commitment.”

She speaks from experience. Every win, every setback, and every mile driven has been a lesson in grit, grace, and gratitude. “This is a privilege,” she says. “Every opportunity is a blessing.”

The Long Ride Ahead

So what’s next? Charmaine is focused on staying in the Top 20 to qualify for the 2026 WRC finals, or earning her spot through a qualifier. “We’ll just keep doing our best,” she says. “My horse is still learning, and so am I.”

Long-term, she plans to continue entering local races, training up younger horses, and staying healthy. “Sure, making the National Finals Rodeo would be amazing,” she admits. “But we’ll see where God leads. I’m just trying to be brave enough to walk through the doors He opens.”

For now, Charmaine is exactly where she wants to be — kicking up dirt in Texas, chasing barrels, and showing the world that heart, hustle, and horsepower can take you just about anywhere.

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Cover photo courtesy Charmaine Holdren

Bob Valleau is a regular entertainment writer for Texas Lifestyle Magazine.