Sherwood Park trick rider, 12, to compete in National Finals Rodeo

Bella Da Costa is a trick rider she rides horses while performing unique stunts, similar to what was performed during the Roman Empire.

She's a member of the Canadian Cowgirls Trick Riding team who will compete for the North American Trick Riders Cup at the National Finals Rodeo in December.

And she's only 12 years old.

Da Costa started trick riding when she was just seven.

"I saw a girl perform at a rodeo, and I really wanted to do it," she said. She rode another girl's horse at first, but within six months she had her own to ride.

Da Costa said the average trick takes about one month to learn. Her best tricks are the shoulder drag and the bridge. The bridge took Da Costa two years to master, and was also the trick that she was performing when she got a concussion.

But since then, she's fully recovered, practising two hours a day almost every day. She's gearing up for her performance in Las Vegas at the NFR.

As a bit of a tune-up, Da Costa will be performing at the Farm Fair International on Nov. 9 at Northlands at 5 p.m.