Donna Irvin
Donna Irvin of Galva, Illinois, is a Professor of Equine Science at Black Hawk College in Kewanee, Illinois. Donna is a clinician and equestrian advisor with the Sharon Camarillo Performance Program.
Donna’s experience with The Women’s Professional Rodeo Association, The Professional Women’s Barrel Racing Association and The American Quarter Horse Association Professional Horseman Program, makes Donna our “traveling” professional.
Donna trains her own horses and has a great eye for performance bloodlines. Ropenator, affectionately known as Sneaky, nicknamed for his ability as a colt to squat and almost touch the ground with his belly, is the star of Donna’s remuda. He is a Boston Mac and Sugar Bars bred 12 year-old gelding. Sneaky is the beautiful sorrel horse that graces the cover of my Western Horseman book, The A.R.T of Barrel Racing. Donna’s second string includes a talented assortment of athletic potentials, all with the breeding to excel. The five year-old Easy Jet gelding is AAA top and bottom. She has a three year-old double bred Sun Frost. Her two year-old is all cow bred, Smart Little Lena, Peppy San and Zan Par Bar.
“The idea about doing research on a horse’s pedigree,” says Donna, “is that it gives you an idea of what the horse is bred to do and initial insight to the trainability of the horse.” Donna puts a strong foundation on her horses to give them the opportunity to excel in a variety of areas. Ultimately, the stopwatch will tell her if they are winning barrel horses!
Donna qualified for The Dodge National Circuit Finals in the Women’s Barrel Racing Event, and is an annual competitor at the Quarter Horse Congress.