MOORE Amberleigh
In less than three years, Keizer resident Amberleigh Moore
has become one of the top barrel racers in the country.
After quickly climbing the national rankings in 2016, Moore’s
third year as a professional is off to an even faster start. Last
year, she won the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo in
addition to wins at the Bell County PRCA Rodeo in Benton,
Texas, and the Dixie National Rodeo in Jackson, Mississippi.
She finished second at the San Angelo Rodeo in Texas.
Starting 2016 as a bit of an unknown, Moore ended it on the
grand stage of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (WNFR) in Las
Vegas. She placed second overall; the Reserve World Champion.
During September 2016, Moore and Paige made nineteen
runs in twenty-three days, covering more than 6,000 miles
going to rodeos in thirteen states throughout the Midwest
and Southwest. She made it into the top fifteen by 2,580
dollars. Over the course of the 2016 season, she won 78,762
dollars at fifty-three rodeos.
Because of her success in 2016, Amberleigh and her mare,
Paige, got to compete at rodeos that require qualifications.
They won more money at the 2017 San Antonio Stock Show
Rodeo than any other contestant where they either won or tied
for first in every round. That added up to nearly 30,000 dollars
which gave her a big boost in the world standings.
Moore and her husband, Paul have a daughter together named
Keirstin. Amerleigh operates her own bling tack business, AKM
Originals. She also handles all the bookkeeping for the family
business Emerald Outdoor Living: a business that includes pools,
hot tubs, grills, patio furniture and fireplaces. She grew up on
a horse competing alongside her parents in o-mok-see (game
that involves racing in four lanes at once) and gymkhana events.
Her father, Bill and mother Sandy Neely still compete as of 2016.
Moore started training and competing in barrel racing futurities
around 2000. She purchased her horse, Paige, from Cody Hyde
when the mare was three years old.
Photo courtesy of PRCA Rodeo LIFE 117