Kim Reed is no stranger to rodeos.

Reed, who began riding at age 5, will have the opportunity to show her talents today and tomorrow in poll bending and barrel racing in the Alabama High School Rodeo Association Finals at the Covington Center Arena.

This is the rising senior’s second trip to the finals. Reed, who also plays volleyball at Pleasant Home, is sitting ninth in pole bending and said she “really wants to get to the top five.”

“I’m really nervous,” she said. “I really want to keep a positive attitude and do what I do, and hopefully have a clean run to keep my points.”

Five years ago at the All American Quarter Horse Youth World Show in Fort Worth, Texas, Reed ended up in 11th place after knocking over a pole in her run.

“At 13 years old, I was the youngest girl in the competition,” she said. “I made it to the finals, which is the top 15.

“I went in there on an old horse, which got hurt, and knocked over a pole,” she said. “I finished 11th and that gave me the extra boost on knowing what I wanted to do.”

Reed said the rodeo has helped her keep “busy,” noting that it also helps to keep her grades up at PHS.

“It helps me to have a positive attitude about the rodeo,” she said. “I get excited for a rodeo coming up.”

The AHSRA Go 1 slack is at 9 a.m. today, and then the Go 1 performance is at 7:30 p.m. tonight.

The Go 2 slack is at 9 a.m. tomorrow, and the Go 2 performance is at 7:30 tomorrow night.

Reed is the daughter of Tim and Lynn Reed of Andalusia. Her mother is veterinarian for large animal services, and her father is a farrier, which is a horse shoer.