Ramey May, of Quitman, takes a turn on a barrel during a practice run prior to the barrel racing competition of the State Games of Mississippi in Quitman Saturday.

Quitman resident Ramey May has been riding horses since she was “itty bitty.” She’s been barrel racing since approximately the age of 4.

Saturday night, she was on hand at the State Games of Mississippi’s barrel racing event teaching her 4-year-old horse D.D. the ropes.

While May didn’t compete in the barrel racing competition itself, she took to the arena before the start, guiding D.D. around the three barrels and then racing to the entrance, trying to get her used to the sport.

“It’s very difficult,” May said of making the turns around the barrels. “You have to know a lot about riding to get that horse to turn like you want him to. There’s a lot of technique involved, and it’s harder than it looks.”

Because she grew up around horses, May said she loves riding, whether it’s recreationally or for a competition.

“It’s in my blood,” she said. “It’s a challenge.”

That was passed along by her parents, who had her and her siblings around horses all of their lives. While she’s ridden plenty in her life, May said riding D.D. is unique because of her only being 4.

“She’s young and not seasoned,” May said. “I’ve had her since she was 1, and I’m trying to get her out there and get her seasoned for the barrel racing.”

May and D.D. weren’t alone Saturday night, as May’s 4-year-old daughter, Dallas, was alongside the two and even rode D.D. around the outside of the arena while May was guiding the horse to get water. While some might be afraid to get on a horse for the first time, May said her daughter has done it so often that she’s used to it by now.

“You grow up around them, and you just have to know a horse,” May explained.

Hopefully, May said, her daughter will grow up to love horses and barrel racing as much as her mother does.

“It’s important to me, because I grew up doing it, and I want to be able to do it with her,” May said.