Born to the saddle

Sean Miller, 11, races around a barrel at the reins of Spirit Ta Corona, a 5-year-old quarter horse, as they practice barrel racing at Fancy Fast Horses at Triple Cross Ranch in Shiloh, Fla. on Tuesday, July 7, 2026. Sean placed first in the Florida State National Barrel Horse Association Youth Class 1D Championship in Kissimmee on June 20, 2026, beating out 300 other barrel racing competitors. He also placed first in the Florida State NBHA Youth 4D Beginner Class in 2024. Next up, Miller, his horses and family will be travelling to the Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agriculture Center in Perry, Ga. to compete in barrel racing in the NBHA Youth World Show National Championships from July 20-25, 2026. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2026.

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Posted July 7, 2026 | By Susan Smiley-Height / Photos by Bruce Ackerman

If you trace the lineage of Sean Miller, it’s easy to see that the new Florida National Barrel Horse Association Youth Champion truly was born to the saddle.

Sean, 11, is the son of national barrel racing legend Angel Rae Miller; grandson of Norman Edwards, a professional rodeo announcer for 30 years; nephew of Callie Sue Edwards, who, with her partner Shane Kuhn, produces award-winning rodeo novelty and wild west acts under the banner of Banjo the Water Buffalo and Friends; and whose other relatives include an extended family of cowboy and cowgirl world champions and halls of fame members.

Sean’s recent 1D win came at the FNBHA Florida State Finals, held June 17-21 at Osceola Heritage Park in Kissimmee.

“This was part of the National Barrel Horse Association Florida State Show, with 617 entries in our open class and 301 entries in our youth class. Sean was first in this class,” said Statewide District Director Renee Kitching via email.

The National Barrel Horse Association, headquartered in Decatur, Texas, is the largest barrel racing organization in the world. In 1992, the NBHA revolutionized the barrel racing industry by pioneering the divisional format, which allows riders of all skill levels a chance to win money and prizes in competition. NBHA has thousands of members of all ages across the United States and affiliates in a number of foreign countries, according to its website.

Divisional barrel racing, using the 4D format, gives competitors from beginners to professionals, from youth to seniors, a chance to compete, learn and succeed. The format encourages riders to improve skills and work toward higher divisions. NBHA members compete at district, state, national and world championship levels, including the Youth & Teen World Championships the last week of July and the Open & Senior World Championships in October. 

In the event in Kissimmee, Sean rode two horses, Paint Me Dark, an appaloosa, and Spirit Ta Corona, a quarter horse. He became the 1D Champion riding Spirit, with a time of 14.312.

“A special congratulations to all of our Youth Champions. We know this week was filled with unforgettable moments and we’re so proud of each of you,” the FNBHA noted on social media.

In 2024, Sean won the 4D Championship title.

The lanky young cowboy with bright blue eyes and a brilliant smile is right at home in the barns at the home of his mom and dad, Angel Rae and Chris Miller, in Shiloh in northwest Marion County. The expansive property, which was founded by the Rev. Norm Edwards and his wife Phyllis some 20 years ago, is the home of the Church at Triple Cross. It also is the base of Angel Rae’s Fancy Fast Horses operation, Chris’ trucking business and Callie Sue’s Stinky Flamingo Salon.

Angel Rae said the first time she was on a horse was the day her mom and dad brought her home from the hospital and she was cradled in his arms while he was mounted. It wasn’t long before she was competing in classes in cutting, reining, roping and jumping. Today, she travels all over the country for top-level barrel racing competitions and consistently is at the top of the scoreboards. She specializes in training and racing futurity horses, which are those of a younger age.

Like mom, like son, Sean also is adept at traveling and next is set to go to Perry, Georgia, to compete in the FNBHA Youth & Teen World Championships.

Barrel racing pits the horse and rider against a time clock and they must complete a cloverleaf pattern that uses three barrels. There are penalties for knocking down a barrel.

On Tuesday at the ranch, standing next to the two saddles he won for being the 1D champ this year and the 4D champion in 2024, Sean explained that competing in the 1D Division was more difficult than in the 4D Division.

“This one was harder,” he said.

According to the FNBHA website, the four-division format means that all riders, regardless of ability, run in the same barrel race. The four divisions are determined by time brackets. The overall fastest time of the race is used to set the time brackets for the four divisions. The NBHA awards points to members in all divisions on a 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 basis for first place through fifth place. The 1D riders are those with the fastest times, 2D competitors ran one-half second or slower than the overall fastest time, 3D competitors ran one second or slower than the overall fastest time and the 4D riders ran two seconds or slower than the overall fastest time.

That means Sean was racing in the fastest division.

Angel Rae said her son practices a lot at home, usually bareback. She said that for about six years he was involved in a rigorous gymnastics program that helped him develop an ability to be highly focused.

“I think Sean has a really strong conviction naturally from being so involved in the gymnastics training that he had. It is so strict and you know exactly what you’re supposed to do and there’s no there’s no wiggle room with training,” she shared.

She noted that he also has grown up being around her training young horses and knows that in order to be competitive you need to know the difference between having an equine as a pet and working with them on discipline and proper management.

In working in the practice arena with Spirit for a photo session with “Gazette” staff photographer Bruce Ackerman, for example, Sean made a couple of trotting passes before he went into a speedy gallop around the three barrels. When Ackerman asked him to repeat the latter, Sean said no.

“Sean knew that was a perfect run,” Angel Rae remarked. “A lot of times people will say, ‘Oh, that was good. Let’s do it again.’ But it’s like Sean fully understood that it was perfect and so he wanted to stop and give the horse a treat. I think some people don’t understand that the training is all done slow and that being able to then handle the speed and pressure comes from having a solid foundation.”

Before they head to the world championships in Georgia, Sean, Spirit Ta Corona and Paint Me Dark will compete in a couple of local races. In Georgia, they will be among a pool of approximately 2,500 entries.

“They only take the top 20 in each division out of those 2,500 entries. Last year, he was the fastest in his division,” Angel Rae noted with pride.

In addition to being homeschooled and practicing his barrel racing, Sean also has been learning some trick riding maneuvers from his aunt Callie Sue.

She and Kuhn will be one of the featured acts in the July 24 and 25 Banjo Buffalo’s Wild West Revival, which will take place that Friday at the Two Hawk Hammock Equestrian Center in Williston and that Saturday at the Canterbury Equestrian Showplace in Newberry. Learn more at visitgainesville.com/event/banjo-buffalos-wild-west-revival/

After the “Gazette” interview and photo session on July 7, Angel Rae took to social media to share some thoughts about her son.

“Oh geez… I spent the whole morning just sitting in amazement of my child, Sean Miller. We are so incredibly blessed with this kid,” she wrote. “Why do I get so emotional? Because watching your child work so hard, stay humble and chase their dreams is something words can barely describe. I’m beyond proud of Sean and his very own unicorn, Spirit. What an incredible journey these two have been on together. No matter where this journey leads, I’ll always be grateful for the memories, the lessons and the blessing of watching my son do what he loves.”

To learn more, go to nbha.com/state/florida and fb.com/fancyfasthorses