In the heart of Brazil’s rich equestrian landscape, Shannon Kerr stands as a testament to the global allure and impact of barrel racing and Quarter Horse breeding. A renowned figure in the world of equine athleticism, Shannon’s journey from her roots in the United States to her current home in Brazil is a tale of passion, perseverance, and the transformative power of horses.
In this exclusive interview, Shannon Kerr offers a glimpse into her remarkable life, sharing insights into her upbringing, career trajectory, and the unique fusion of American barrel racing culture with the vibrant breeding scene of Brazil
Q: Can you tell our audience a little more about yourself?
A: I grew up in Miami, Oklahoma, and graduated college at Oklahoma State University. Since a young age, I had always been crazy about horses, but grew up in a golf family. I was raised by my father who was a policeman, but unfortunately, he was killed when I was eleven. I was then raised by my grandparents until I was 21 when they passed away. It was my relationship with horses that helped me to cope and become the person I am today.
I played all kinds of sports and did every extra activity available but again, the passion for horses was stronger than anything else and eventually led the way to the life and career I live today.
Q: How did your career in barrel racing begin and have you always ridden quarter horses?
A: As a child who didn’t grow up with horses, I was never biased to one breed or discipline. I just loved them all. I got my start, however, on racehorses. When I was 16 and could drive, I stopped at a local public race training track. I walked in and asked them if I could ride, so I actually started on racehorses. When I went to college I moved over to jumping and dressage and then eventually barrel racing. On the track, I rode a lot of QH and TB, and even for the jumping, it was also mostly TB horses with a few warmbloods.
I had a boyfriend who was a saddle bronc rider in the PRCA and I would go with him to rodeos. I was watching the rodeo one night and with popcorn in my hand, I thought I think I can do this. So I bought a cheap mare and trained her and then that same year filled my WPRA permit riding that mare and the rope horse of my boyfriend. I had trained both of them with the help of a retired Olympic Dressage coach. I didn’t have money to go to clinics and didn’t know anyone in the business, but with his help I was successful right off the bat. I was hooked when I went to a jackpot and actually won money and not just a ribbon.
Q: What did the transition to breeding and riding quarter horses in Brazil look like?
A: When I came to Brazil, I had been successful in Europe and also in the USA, but when I arrived here I was in for an awakening experience. The level here is like none other. The amount of horses that run in the 1D and run sub 16 on standard patterns – doesn’t exist in the USA. The breeders here and the scale on which they do things can only be compared to maybe racehorse breeders in the USA. There aren’t very many people who work 9 to 5 and then have one or two barrel horses as a hobby. Everything here is really done on a professional level and on a large scale. You do see some of the rodeo girls that could be compared to the riders in the USA, but on the open show, it is all professionals.
So I had to change my perspective on everything. I had to let go of the concept that I had to do everything for my horse. I now have staff that feeds and cleans the barn, and I have a helper at the races to help me saddle and put away horses and even warm them up for me. I had to get used to letting a truck and driver pick up and take my horses to shows and bring them home for me. It was hard to let go of that control, but if I hadn’t I wouldn’t be able to be successful here because I would have had to limit my number of horses and it allowed me to open up into other business opportunities that came about. So I had to let go of that mentality that I could do it all myself, instead, I became a manager of my horses. Changing that mindset was difficult but necessary.
I had to adapt to being one of the few women trainers in the industry and realize that I had to work even harder to be competitive against the men. But all of this made me a better trainer, and a better business person and has taken my program to a new level.
Q: Can you tell our audience a little bit more about any differences between the quarter horses bred in Brazil versus the US?
A: The main difference I see is that here because of our rules, we can’t use medications on our horses during certain competitions. So Brazilians have developed training methods and fitness methods to try and combat the need for these medications during races where we have testing.
Our competition horses tend to be a lot leaner than horses in the States. I think the heat plays a big role in that and the idea here is you want your horse without any fat and only muscle in order to compete to try and that fastest time from them possible.
I will say our young horses mature faster than horses I have seen in the States. Our two-year-olds look a lot like four-year-olds. American horses catch up to our horses but horses 3 and under here in Brazil grow faster and bigger. Again, I think that is because of our climate. The horses don’t have to burn calories to stay warm in the winter and most farms here feed excellent grain, and supplements and have a lot of pasture. But in the end, the horses are the same. We do have the Shady Leo and some other bloodlines that we get to work with that are just now becoming available in the States and Canada.
Q: This issue is all about the global effect that the Western lifestyle has on people and culture. Can you describe what living a Western lifestyle means to you?
A: I am so blessed. Horses have taken me around the world and have allowed me to meet so many amazing and interesting people. Because of barrel racing, I speak 5 languages and literally have a global market for my horses.
I may live and ranch in Brazil and raise and train horses here, but my daily activity makes me feel like I am back in Oklahoma. Our ranch and my house are very Americanized and Brazilians just love Americans and the Western lifestyle we lead.
It’s an amazing life when you get to wake up to the Toucans and parrots and all the birds chirping in the morning and then put on your Ariat jeans and your boots and spurs. It means the world to me the Western lifestyle and as I said before, I am very blessed to get to live it every day.
Q: What is something you wish more people knew about breeding and barrel racing quarter horses in Brazil?
A: Brazil has imported the best of the best. The Brazilian government doesn’t allow just any horse to be imported. It has to meet certain standards set by the Agriculture Department and the breed association. The reason for this is to protect the breeders in Brazil and the idea is if the animal is imported it should be so to improve the breed.
So in the past 15 years, Brazil imported some great horses and bred the best of the USA to the best of Brazil. Brazil actually has some genetics that are so amazing in barrel racing. And when those genetics are crossed with the ones from the States, the results have been incredible.
The main example of this is the bloodline here in Brazil of the great stallion Shady Leo. Shady Leo is the sire of 4 of the top 15 stallions in Brazil and he is the number one broodmare sire. Shady Leo grandget has produced over $40 million here in Brazil and Brazil does not have the prize money that the USA does. So that is crazy impressive. So many breeders use the Shady Leo bloodline to cross on Dash Ta Fame, Frenchmans Guy, Fire Water Flit, etc, and the heterosis that came from that has been spot on. Producing some of the greatest barrel horses I have seen. Horses that are fast, calm, sound, and good-looking.
Shady Leo-bred horses tend to have good bones and good minds. Depending on the stallion, it also has good feet and incredible stamina and soundness.
I wish that Americans could understand the size of the breeding industry here and the seriousness of it. There are farms here that have anywhere from 300 to 1200 horses and breed 150 to 400 foals just for barrel racing a year. They are particular in how they breed and only try to breed to make a top athlete and champion. There are some, but not a lot, of that person that breeds a mare because they just love her and want a foal from her. Here its careful calculations with market demand and statistics are always at the forefront.
Q: Where can people find or connect with you online if they want more information about your horses?
A: I am on most social media platforms. You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. Just send me a message, I am pretty good about answering every one. We also have a bed and breakfast and offer packages for people to come and ride with me or even just see the amazing countryside and Western lifestyle of Brazil.
I have a stallion named RCH Red Streakin. He is a grandson of Shady Leo – he is sired by Castanho Red, Brazil’s #7 stallions for barrel racing. His dam is an own daughter of Streakin Six and her dam is an own daughter of Bugs Alive in 75. We collected him in 2023 and his semen will be available in the USA at Zerlottis Genetics in Texas and also at Heide’s Vet Clinic in Alberta, Canada. He is also enrolled in the Royal Crown, Royal Crown Canada, Diamond Classic, and Colorado State Breeder Stallion incentives.
RCH Red Streakin is booked full for 2024 so I think American Barrel Racers are willing and eager to give some Brazilian genetics a try.
Through the lens of Shannon Kerr’s inspiring journey, we gain a deeper appreciation for the intersection of barrel racing and Brazilian Quarter Horse breeding. Her unwavering dedication, coupled with a profound respect for tradition and innovation, exemplifies the transformative power of horses in shaping lives and bridging cultures across continents. As Shannon Kerr continues to trailblaze in the world of equine athleticism, her story serves as a beacon of inspiration for generations of breeders and barrel racers to come.
