“You don’t know, if you don’t try.” Those were wise words from National Finals Rodeo (NFR) barrel racer, Molly Otto’s mother, Teri Nelson, when she was inquiring about getting her Women’s Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA) permit.

“Honestly, I kind of was doubting my ability and if I should make the plunge to barrel race at the professional level,” said the Grand Forks, North Dakota barrel racer. “My mom told me, ‘You don’t know, if you don’t try.'”

The decision to obtain the permit has led to Badlands Circuit qualifications, runs at the American semi-finals, a world title at the Better Barrel Races of America (BBR), and the covenant National Finals Rodeo.

DHM caught up with the humble, kind, and talented North Dakota horse trainer on her way to the San Antonio Stock Show Rodeo Finals where she has cinched her spot this week with 3 incredible runs on her 7-year-old mare, ‘Chewy.’ Chewy is by Frenchman’s guy and a daughter of Blazin Jetolena and is owned by Katie Lindahl.

“I’m not a very technical person when it comes to barrel racing. I react to the situation. If I make a plan at a rodeo, I usually think about one thing too much, so I just go in there to be fast and do what I gotta’ do to make it happen,” explained the cowgirl.

Otto has been training her own horses since she obtained her first horse at the age of 15. Two decades later, she is traveling with six head of horses, maintaining family life, and rodeoing full-time.

Otto doing what she does best [Photo: Dusty Saddles.com]

When working away from home on the road rodeoing, this barrel racing mom has described the sacrifices and things she misses being away from her husband and three children. “I just want to show my kids that with hard work, you can do anything. I hope to be an example for them and other people,” noted Otto.

The Otto Family [Photo: Impulse Photography]

As far as advice for other barrel racers and competitors, Otto said that knowing your horse and making sure you’re taking the best care of your horses that you can is the number one goal in her rig. “Chewy loves to lie down and get comfortable. I always make sure I have enough shavings for her wherever she stays, because that’s her thing. I have good communication with my vet and shoer to make sure everything is covered there,” said Otto.

Otto has jockeyed multiple horses to futurity champions, rodeo horses, and to the semi-finals at the American Rodeo. Some of those include: Paris, Wonder Woman, Chewy, and Six Appeal, that Otto also won the BBR World Finals on. “When my horses start clocking at the top of futurities and get pretty solid and not afraid of things, I’m not scared to start entering rodeos on them and get some experience,” Otto added.

This worked out perfect for her current mount, Chewy. “Chewy had to step up and run at rodeos when she was four. My other horse came up with an abscess, and I couldn’t go home and get another horse. So, I ran Chewy. She got better every run and when we went back to the futurities, it was like ‘nothing.’ Chewy gets bored easily too, so the rodeo atmosphere and different arenas actually are her game, and she loves it,” said Otto.

The momentum that Otto and Chewy have going into the finals at the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo is like a Ferrari running on a full tank. With her family: Sterling (16), Rowdy (13), Blaisy (6), her husband, Andy, and the ‘Molly Otto fan club’ from up north and beyond — you can bet everyone will be sitting on the edge of their seats this year for a glimpse of the team that has the goal: ‘to make it happen.’