Callie duPerier

Callie duPerier – Boerne, Texas
First-time WNFR qualifier

This may be Callie duPerier’s first time to run a horse in the Thomas and Mack Center. However, she has a not-so-secret weapon.

Callie’s main horse, Rare Dillion, “Dillon” is a veteran of the competition and has been to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (WNFR) three times in the past with two other riders. His first appearance was in 2008 with Annesa Self who trained him. Then Carlee Pierce rode him throughout the year and at the 2011 and 2012 WNFR.

Dillon is a small buckskin gelding that has formed quite a partnership with Callie. Largely because of Dillon, she finished third in the Rookie-of-the-Year race and 25th in the world standings last year. That lit a fire and while Callie was competing among her heroes, she was determined to be in Las Vegas this year and to enter in one of the top positions. The duo has won two Wrangler Champions Challenge events this year as well as other rodeos.

A self-proclaimed horse-crazy girl, Callie is actually allergic to horses and hay. Her reaction to both includes watering eyes, sneezing and occasional hives without wearing long sleeves to protect her arms.

She has not let that get in the way of her passion. She started running barrels when she was 12 riding a different horse every year. This was intentional to show her father Trip duPerier, a Texas Hill Country Real Estate Broker, that she was committed to barrel racing. She played every sport she could at Class A Medina High School and volleyball at Schreiner University in Kerrville for three years. A shoulder injury saw her leaving the volleyball court and coming back to the arena.

Just five years ago, she won the WPRA Junior World Title gaining experience, confidence and the determination she would need to accomplish her next goal in the rodeo arena.