After months of hard work, the Cal Poly Rodeo Team fulfilled a Make-A-Wish dream during their Poly Royal Rodeo. 11-year-old Maddie Owens and her horse, Rigs, kicked off the hometown college rodeo with the first barrel run of the weekend.

Maddie was diagnosed with Ewing Osteosarcoma, an aggressive form of bone cancer, at age 10. After treatment and surgery, she is now in remission and has been saddling up to get back doing what she loves - riding horses.

Photos by Patricia Rincon.

She has been working with Assistant Coach and Masters of Agricultural Education student Sierra Spratt and other rodeo team members to make her barrel racing dreams a reality. Of the experience, Sierra says, "It was incredible working with Maddie. It was an experience I feel so blessed to have been apart of and I made a lifelong friend."

Maddie was even presented with a new custom Usher Brand saddle and buckle, a custom Best Ever saddle pad, and a Casey Curtis feather.

Great job, Maddie!