Ty Mitchell

Ty Mitchell Saddled Up Early for His Life’s Work

In 1986, Ty Mitchell climbed on his horse "Sister" and went out and won the first of his five world championships in barrel racing. It happened at the Barrel Futurity of America World Championships in Oklahoma City, an event that drew some of the best adult barrel racers in America. Ty was all of 13 years old at the time.

The grandson of noted Bossier Parish educator Emmettt Cope and son of Frances and humorist/entertainer and former coach Thomas Mitchell. Ty was getting an early and successful start for what was to become his life's work - training horses and teaching the sport of barrel racing to young people.

Beating the best in the world became a habit for Ty, who learned and perfected his skill in Joe D. Waggonner Arena with the Benton Riding Club. In a four-year span (1990-1993) he won world championships at the Josey Jr. World, the barrel racing equivalent of the Super Bowl, conducted in Marshall, Texas, by the renowned barrel racer Martha Josey. He beat the best riders from 30 states on the mare "Memorial Mint," the second of the two world champions he trained.

Josey, a member of the Cowgirl Hall of Fame and barrel racing icon who has competed in the National Finals Rodeo in four decades, had been eager to help the promising rider develop in the sport. But she was just as eager to keep the bright young star as an instructor with Team Josey, the gold standard in the sport. Team Josey conducts 25-30 riding clinics and schools across the country each year. More than 30,000 students have learned championship techniques and life lessons at these clinics since 1967. Ty moved to Marshall in 1988 and soon became one of Team Josey's top instructors. His inspirational and motivational presentations are a highlight of the clinics. Mitchell also helps produce the Josey Reunion Barrel Race each April and the Josey World each May at the Josey Ranch in Marshall.

Barrel Racing is a family affair with Ty and his wife Lisa, who won reserve champion in the 2005 Josey Reunion. Ty's stepson, Quade Kelly, won his first championship in 2000 and there was a familiar twist to that. Remember the 4-year-old mare "Sister" that Ty rode to his first championship? At age 18, she carried Quade on his winning run.