The Arena Feed

Memories and Stampedes

Michelle Davey — Tue, 15 Jul 2025 18:23:29 +0000

Welcome to the 17th edition of The Arena Feed!

It has been an exciting week of rodeo and barrel racing here in Canada. I had the most enjoyable time watching the barrel racing at the Calgary Stampede this year. What a breath of fresh air to be able to watch with joy and excitement rather than getting gray hair and sympathy pain and frustration watching to see who stood up the best. Kudos to the ground committee and I hope this inspires others to continue to use their resources and do their best as well.

In this issue we hear from Sandy Stewart who just won the Laurie Cooper Memorial barrel race and Shayna McCannell who won the Wood Mountain Stampede CCA Rodeo. Read those below.

Another Memorial race that ran over the weekend was the Joan Lenfesty Memorial at Selkirk, MB. Dawn Vandersteen and Little Miss Chrissy won that average and coveted handmade clock. We heard from Dawn’s daughter April earlier this season with her win on Little Miss Chrissy. Read that HERE

Things are heating up and the dollars are climbing in the CPRA barrel race. You can find those standings HERE. It was Jill Parsonage who won Bowden, AB and Sissy Win who won Teepee Creek barrels over the weekend.

Thanks you for reading and sharing to help celebrate these riders and spread the word about the newsletter. You’re appreciated.

In this issue:
➡From The Arena Floor: Interview with Sandy Stewart and Shayna McCannell
➡Featured ad
➡Road Apples - tidbits from around the web
➡Featured Ranch
➡Mindset Minute with Michelle
➡Meme of the week

From The Arena Floor with Sandy Stewart

Sandy Stewart won the Laurie Cooper Memorial Barrel Race held at Oly’s near Whitewood, SK this past weekend. Sandy has been barrel racing for a few years now and it’s always fun to watch her bring on young horses and see who they move onto next. In this case, it looks like Rocky wanted to stick around a little longer so he could take Sandy to the winners circle! This isn’t her first win on Rocky this season but I’m happy to feature her and Rocky now.

Tell us about BDB CAPTON QUICK AKA Rocky . Who bred him, who owns him, who has done the training etc. Tell us about his personality and what he is like to run.

I bought Rocky on November 7 of his 4 yr old year from B= Quarter Horses (the Bennies). He was barely halter broke so I dropped him off at Stoughton with my colt starter, James McDonal. I told him he was only 3 because I thought he wouldn’t take a 4 yr nearly 5! The next day he was working him in his wooden round pen and Rocky bust out, wood flying everywhere! James almost called me to say “I don’t think this horse is for you, Sandy!” Anyway he put a month on him and I took him to AZ for a couple months! Everyday after I rode him (and before Happy Hour), I’d sit leaning against his stall reading a book and swore he was going to start liking me (he was so standoffish, impersonal) On return it was Covid times so nothing much going on so I sent him to My son, Graham, to swing a rope on, drag a log , etc. as I had full intentions of making him a HS rodeo horse and selling him! The Horse Spirits and the Universe had different plans as he got really sick with an ulcer and I spent the whole year doctoring him. As years went on, he became fairly solid by 2024 and more so this year! He’s a hot little horse but paws a lot less at the trailer - I always said he was digging a hole to China to bring up another virus! 😂😂 when he goes in the arena, he’s ALL business! He goes to run barrels!!

Tell us about yourself. Where you're from, how long you've been barrel racing and what do you like to do when you're not barrel racing.

I’m originally from Kennedy Saskatchewan and now live near Weyburn Saskatchewan. I was a teacher for at-risk youth till I retired! I’ve been barrel racing since dinosaur days! I once beat Dick Stewart (no relation) at the Kennedy Rodeo (boys could barrel race too) on Frisky, a coal black feral ponyxthoroughbred , bareback!! Hope he reads this! 😂😂 When I’m not barrel racing, I’m running around getting my 5 broodmares looked after! I’m 71 so I am looking to keep in the barrel racing world raising some prospects! My latest purchase is a Royal Quick Frenchman mare from Montana! I love the Royal Quick Dash breeding! I also teach First Aid to support my habit! In the winter we background 300 or so calves to grass in the summer! Very busy!!
So many great horses and so little time left for me!

You have a few years of wisdom under your belt that you've been able to take into training this one. Can you share two nuggets of wisdom you've learned along the way that has helped you train Rocky?

Slow is fast! You can’t put too much rate in a barrel horse!

What do you think about before you go to make a run on this horse? What's the game plan?

Hang on and hope for the best!😉

Tell us about your gear setup for this horse What are you riding in for a saddle, pad, bit etc? Shoes or no shoes?

Elliott Bit, Burns Saddle (game changer), Shannon Kerr ROM pad, shoes all round

And how about the feeding and maintenance plan? What fuels this speedy horse?

I’ve been through the whole range of feed but soon as I get on one, it either isn’t available locally, sold out, or the store closes, etc. so I’m feeding whole oats (totally against recommendations for an ulcer prone horse), lots of beet pulp, Camelina Plus, camelina oil. My horses are only stalled when required at an event and I get them out to tie to trailer as long as possible !

What are your competition plans for yourself and this horse for the rest of the season?

I will continue to to go to the bigger, close to the heart jackpots, but my main focus is KCRA rodeos. Barrel Racing is tough at those.

Do you have anyone you'd like to thank or sponsors we can promote for you?

#fuelbyallan (husband)
#horsesbyBDB B= Quarter Horses
#shoesbycurtis Curtis Marcenko, farrier
#familysupport
#paymyownway
Waiting for a ton truck sponsorship as mine is getting old!

From The Arena Floor with Shayna McCannell

On the CCA Rodeo trail this past weekend the cowgirls and cowboys made a stop at the famous Wood Mountain Stampede, near Wood Mountain, SK. Navigating the old time arena and coming out on top was Shayna McCannell and her horse Handsome.

Tell us about Six Moons Guy AKA Handsome. Who bred him, who owns him, who has done the training etc. Tell us about his personality and what he’s like to run.

Handsome is 13. He was bred and started by Rick and Paddy White of Oak Lake MB. He is by their late stud Six Moons Guy. In 2018 I was lucky enough to campaign him at some jackpots and MBRA Finals and then I bought him that fall.

Handsome has quite the personality! He is very spooky, has been from day one. You don’t know what he’s going to spook at (inside or outside the arena) so you just have to prepared for anything and everything at all times lol! I truly don’t think anyone understands just how spooky he is unless they know him lol. He is an in your pocket and loves attention type horse.

He is very athletic and a free runner. He has a fairly big stride and is nice and smooth. For as spooky as he is, he thrives in the loud and packed arenas!

Tell us about yourself. Where you're from, how long you've been barrel racing and what do you like to do when you're not barrel racing.

I grew up in Carievale SK and now live in Brandon MB. I’ve ridden horses all my life and have been barrel racing for 30 years. Started out in the MBRA/SBRA, MHSRA, MRCA, RRA in ND and CCA. I’ve also entered a few pro rodeos.

When I’m not barrel racing I’m working at a Child and Family Services Agency as a clerical supervisor. And in the winter months you can find me at the curling rink.

Have you had to overcome any challenges with horse to make it to this level of success?

I think at some point in everyone’s seasons there’s going to be struggles to overcome. Last summer Handsome got hurt in August and was off the remainder of the year. We started back slowly this spring and it’s definitely taken some time mentally for me to get back on track with my timing but these last few runs I feel like we’re getting our groove back!

What was it about this run that you think helped you take the win?

I think Handsome was really locked on, focused and wanting to work in our run. The ground wasn’t ideal and he had some slips like other horses but he stayed smooth and straight in his lines.

What do you think about before you go to make a run on this horse? What's the game plan?

I try to just stay relaxed and visualize my run. I’m very much about repetition and consistency. Staying calm for him too because he can definitely get amped up!

Tell us about your gear setup for this horse What are you riding in for a saddle, pad, bit etc? Shoes or no shoes?

Martin saddle, 5 Star pad, Ed Wright ported bit and shoes all around.

And how about the feeding and maintenance plan? What fuels this speedy horse?

Good quality hay. Podium and alfalfa pellets with Galozyme by Techna Vet and equine power. He gets 4cyte for his joints and any maintenance by our vet as needed!

What are your competition plans for yourself and this horse for the rest of the season?

We’re going to continue entering the CCA rodeos and just take it a weekend at a time. Finals in October is always an end goal but we need to first continue to focus on one rodeo at a time. We’ve also been prepping for the Legends Slot Race in Saskatoon July 26th.

Do you have anyone you'd like to thank or sponsors we can promote for you?

I would like to thank Elders Equine and Dr. Chris Bell for always helping to keep Handsome feeling his best.

McMillan Motor Products out of Kipling SK for their support throughout the seasons.

My family and circle of friends for always being there and Rick and Paddy White for selling me Handsome and all of their knowledge and help throughout the years.

Upcoming Events:

Here is the Runaway Slot Rental Post. You can rent right up till you walk in the back pen for your turn. HERE
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Breeders Elite Event Schedule is posted HERE
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I started a spreadsheet with many of Western Canada’s barrel races listed including 4 Provinces. It is a work in progress, please send changes or additions. Have a look HERE
*******

The 20th Twirl and Whirl in Brooks, AB set their dates for September 19-21st and announced $15,000 added. Info here
*****
Find info on each of the Canadian Barrel Futurities Events HERE
the next CBF approved event is the Big Bang, Aug 5 -10.
*****
Supernova Productions announced a move from Wetaskiwin, to Red Deer - Westerner Park for their event The Big Bang Aug 5-10, 2025. They have recently shared the arena set up. Entries are open.
It was also recently announced Futurity and Derby contestants can enter either pool A or B this year. HERE
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CBHI announced and exciting 2D Slot Race to be added to their weekend. More info HERE The CBHI Flagship event is October (9TH-12TH) 2025 in Ponoka, AB. The have indicated this event and their approved race derby age is continuing to be 7 & under.
*****

Presented by: Rodeoclassifieds.com

Perfect step up horse with experience. Runs a solid pattern, does not knock barrels and handles all ground well. MORE INFO HERE

🍎Road Apples - tidbits from around the web this week

🍎Here’s the knot you need when tying to rails! HERE

🍎How to use kineseo tape to support ring bone (and a look at a bone with it!). HERE

🍎A Famous First Kiss and Krystal Grad won the 1D Derby average at the Glacier Chaser in MT watch their interview HERE

Featured Ranch

Would you like your ranch or business featured? We’d love to promote yours, get in touch.

AllenQuarterHorses.com Rhonda and Don Allen - Foals available!

Mindset Minute with Michelle Davey

Going down my list from this original post, where I talked about different ways to implement a mindfulness practice, we are onto talking about gratitude.

“Just be grateful” sounds a little incentive when someone is going through something hard - I get it, easier said than done. This isn’t about bypassing the things you are feeling, it’s about moving into an energy that supports where you want to go, rather than where you’ve been.

It’s been said and experienced that you can’t be angry or fearful while also being grateful. Therefore, if you’re ready to get out of angry or fear, focusing on things to be grateful for can help shift that energy. Universal law also says that like attracts like, so this may also help you create more experiences to be grateful for, if that’s where your focus lies.

How to practice gratitude:
It’s more than making a list and checking it twice, although that’s a good start. Start with paying attention to your breath with some slow breaths in and out. Then access your heart space and ask yourself to come up with three things you can feel grateful for today. Don’t just list them, but feel them. How does that gratitude feel in your heart. You’re accessing a frequency here that would be amazing to attract more of. Write them down if you’d like, take some more slow breaths and carry on with more things if you’d like or move on with your practice or day at that point. Notice the shift in your energy as you’ve done that and pat yourself on the back for slowing down long enough to do the practice. Do it again tomorrow and be sure to insert it into your day where it’s likely to become a daily habit.

Meme of the week

If you liked this issue, please share with your friends!
If you have ideas to make it better, please tell me! You can reply to the email anytime and I’m all ears/eyes and I’m looking forward to making each edition worth your time.
I’ll never hold you or your email hostage so you can always find the unsubscribe button anytime you wish.

If you’re reading this because a friend forwarded it to you, click here to subscribe, we send out a new e-newsletter each week.

Interested in advertising or supporting The Arena Feed? Email Michelle - rodeohorses@gmail.com

Until next week,

Michelle

Red, white and wet!

Michelle Davey — Thu, 10 Jul 2025 19:05:17 +0000

Welcome to the 16th edition of The Arena Feed!

This week we hear from Sonda Marks after her Derby win at the West Of The 5th Futurity and Derby at Rimbey Alberta. She won the first go outside and the weather took the race inside where they were 2nd, and taking 1st in the average.

We also hear from Denise Munford who took the win at the Red White and Gold race held at Biggar, SK a few weeks ago. This event did not have the luxury of moving inside, but the ground held up despite the soggy conditions and allowed Denise to win both the slot race and the jackpot.

Thanks you for reading and sharing to help celebrate these riders and spread the word about the newsletter. You’re appreciated.

In this issue:
➡From The Arena Floor: Interview with Sonda Marks and Denise Munford
➡Featured ad
➡Road Apples - tidbits from around the web
➡Featured Ranch
➡Mindset Minute with Michelle
➡Meme of the week

From The Arena Floor with Sonda Marks

The West Of The 5th Futurity and Derby was held at Rimbey, AB last weekend. The plan was to run the event outside, but the weather moved the second go inside. This didn’t phase Sonda Marks and Shammokin who won the first go and took second in the second to win the average title.

Thanks Sonda for taking the time to share about this nice mare!

Tell us about Shammokin. Who bred her, who owns her, who has done the training etc. Tell us about their personality and what she’s like to run.

I bred and raised Shammokin myself. She's by LDS Unleashed and out of a KN Fabulous N Vegas mare. I’ve ridden several by Unleashed and had a standout futurity horse by Fabulous N Vegas, so I know these bloodlines well—and this cross has absolutely lived up to my expectations. Shammokin has honestly been one of the easiest futurity horses I’ve trained. She’s never taken a step backward, never been a problem. She wants to please, and she truly doesn’t like getting in trouble. Now that she's gaining confidence and consistency, she's really starting to shine. At this point, it's just up to me to get out of training mode and let her do her job. She knows exactly where to place her feet and just wants to work. She's becoming so much fun—and really, she’s the kind of horse anyone could get on and make a nice run on. This is the kind of horse people want to go on with—you don’t need an instruction book to ride her.

Tell us about yourself. Where you're from, how long you've been barrel racing and what do you like to do when you're not barrel racing.

I’ve been training barrel horses for about 30 years. I grew up rodeoing, but I always had a love for racehorses. I used to ride the flat horses at the chuckwagon races which eventually took me to the track, where I spent 15 years training primarily Thoroughbreds, with a few Quarter Horses along the way. After my time on the track, I returned to the barrel pen, bringing that experience with me. I do most of my training out of Thorsby, Alberta, and head down to Arizona for the winter months. That seasonal shift has really giving my horses a strong year-round consistency.

Have you had to overcome any challenges with horse to make it to this level of success?

Honestly, like I mentioned before, Shammokin has been an absolute dream to train. I’ve never really had to troubleshoot anything with her—she’s taken everything in stride. While she didn’t come on fast and hard like some do, she’s more than making up for it now. She’s always had a very correct, natural style. She just needed me to get out of her way and let her work. She was ready, and she was just waiting for me to turn her loose.

What do you think about before you go to make a run on this horse? What's the game plan?

I’m now able send her pretty hard to 1st and I just need to trust her. She doesn't want to hit barrels so I feel pretty confident on her.

Tell us about your gear setup for this horse What are you riding in for a saddle, pad, bit etc? Shoes or no shoes?

I run her in a Kerry Kelley ported chain. I ride in a Martin Stingray with a 5 star pad or Professional Choice air ride pad. She is shod all the way around.

And how about the feeding and maintenance plan? What fuels this speedy horse?

I grain my horses, not a lot but the race track never left me. I feed Hoffmans mineral, l-Lysine, daily gold, and salt. She is out on grass in the summer and alfalfa hay in Arizona.

What are your competition plans for yourself and this horse for the rest of the season?

I plan on running her in the Big Bang, Breeders Elite, ABRA finals, Royal Crown Ponoka and the CBHI. After that she will be available for her next person. I sell everything so I can continue on the training path with all of the up and comers. I love to Futurity and Derby. Then let someone else take the reins.

Do you have anyone you'd like to thank or sponsors we can promote for you?

I would like to thank all of the event producers for putting on big events for us to show case our horses. I would like to thank you Michelle for asking me to be a part of this interview.

From The Arena Floor with Denise Munford

It was a wet and wild weekend for the Red White and Gold race held at Biggar, SK. Denise Munford and her horse Talented Chrome proved the puddles were not a problem for them and came out on top in both the slot race and the open jackpot. We learn more about Denise and her horse below.

Tell us about Talented Chrome. Who bred her, who owns her, who has done the training etc. Tell us about their personality and what she’s like to run.

Talented Chrome was bred by Milt Rigetti and my husband and I bought her as a started 2yr old. I have done all the training on her for barrels. Timer is a very sweet mare, not changing when in heat and also runs very honestly. She has been a handful in the past but has since settled into a calmer horse. Very willing to please.

Tell us about yourself. Where you're from, how long you've been barrel racing and what do you like to do when you're not barrel racing.

I am from the McCord area recently moved into Moose Jaw. I was raised in Assiniboia and got my first horse from my cousin when I earned enough money to buy and feed it at age 13. I have barrel raced since 14. That makes it 50 years or so. Taking time out to raise a family of 4. I am a quilter, gardener, crafter, leather work and dabble in the arts. Not much idle time.

Have you had to overcome any challenges with horse to make it to this level of success?

Yes as I mentioned earlier my parents knew nothing about horses and I lived in town. Having to walk a mile to feed or ride and walk a mile back. I was 13. So it has been a struggle. But all worthwhile. Having bought better and better horses as the years went by. Placing in Futurities in the 80s ,then I would sell them and start again. The challenge was the coaching was few and far in-between as no one in the area taught barrel racing. Timer specifically had so much run she should have been on the race track. Her stride gets longer and longer the farther you go. She did not like to whoa and she did not like to turn very sharp. She has a lot of run in her pedigree. More than any other horse I have trained. She was hot but this year her mind has settled considerably.

What do you think about before you go to make a run on this horse? What's the game plan?

Have I warmed her up enough? Is she listening and responsive? Then I think I have done my homework and we have to Run Rate look and turn with straight lines in between. Go for broke.

What do you think it was it about this run that gave you the edge to take the win?

The horse was feeling extremely good and I had confidence in her and I also knew the ground would hold up with the rain. I had won a prize last year and it had more water on it.

Tell us about your gear setup for this horse What are you riding in for a saddle, pad, bit etc? Shoes or no shoes?

I ride in a Billy Cook rough out barrel saddle with a breast collar and back cinch, nothing fancy just practical gear. My pad is a 5 Star felt or a hand made wool pad. The bit is a twisted wire 3 piece with rings in the middle. It has medium shank I believe. I admit I need to learn more about them. And yes she is shod all the way around with a rim shoe.

And how about the feeding and maintenance plan? What fuels this speedy horse?

Right now she's in a pasture with choice of grass or hay (in the past she would Gant up) 1 gallon of oats and 3 supplements as well as 1/4tespoon salt .

What are your competition plans for yourself and this horse for the rest of the season?

I will try to get to more slot races and I will be going to the SBRA FINALS. Not sure what to plan as my husband has Parkinsons and it is increasingly difficult to get him care.

Do you have anyone you'd like to thank or sponsors we can promote for you?

I would love to thank my long time farrier Curtis Marcenko, my friend and coach Wes Petersen, and the final coach -clinician Marci Powell and of course my husband for his support. I have only my husband as a sponsor.

Upcoming Events:

If you want YOUR event listed free, please reply to this email or use the “hot tips” form on the website. Everyone is welcome to help me out and submit events whether you’re the producer or contestant. ;)

*******
Breeders Elite Event Schedule is posted HERE
*******
I started a spreadsheet with many of Western Canada’s barrel races listed including 4 Provinces. It is a work in progress, please send changes or additions. Have a look HERE
*******

Presented by: Rodeoclassifieds.com

2017 AQHA Bay Roan Mare She's ready to season and finish your way! More info HERE

🍎Road Apples - tidbits from around the web this week

🍎Whether your horse is too fat or not seems to be trending this week! Here’s one take on it.

🍎Can’t get your electric fence posts in the ground for your temporary pen? Try the shaving bag method HERE

🍎Need some ideas for your vet kit? This post has all kinds of ideas. HERE

🍎How to tie a “war knot” in a tail HERE

Featured Ranch

Cottonwood Ranch - Billie Bird and Royden Spence

Would you like your ranch or business featured? We’d love to promote yours, get in touch.

Mindset Minute with Michelle Davey

We have previously talked about different mindfulness practices like grounding and breathwork. Going down my list from this original post, let’s talk about meditation and body scanning.

Suggesting meditation as a practice to someone can make them squirm pretty quick! I think part of the reason is that it’s assumed that you have to have a quiet mind to successfully meditate. That’s not really what it’s about. The point is more to observe your thoughts and not get taken away by them. The real flex is how you recover from your thoughts rather than not having them at all.
Can you bring yourself back to your center after being taken away by your thoughts? To me, that’s the real practice of meditation. The recovery process.

One of the most effective ways to start a meditation practice is not to see how long you can sit still without thinking. Most would fail within the first few seconds. What will set you up for success is to use a guided meditation where you can listen to the speaker and follow their prompts to breath and journey with them. This is helpful in many ways including getting back on track when your thoughts get away on you. One mediation type that I find useful as a competitor is a body scan meditation. This helps you get back into your body and ground and also to increase your proprioception and body awareness. Having a guided audio while you meditate is a must have for me. Insight Timer is a great free app for this. Search for one that is a body scan. With a guide your mind is busy listening and following along rather than getting off on it’s own side quest. Don’t get me wrong, I can still side quest with a guide, but I can get back on track a lot easier when someone is in my ear reminding me to breath and hit the next area of the scan. Think of meditation like a thought recovery practice rather than a mind silencing practice it’s a lot more achievable!

Meme of the week

If you’re reading this because a friend forwarded it to you, click here to subscribe, we send out a new e-newsletter each week.

Interested in advertising or supporting The Arena Feed? Email Michelle - rodeohorses@gmail.com

Until next week,

Michelle

Rodeo road seasoning wins

Michelle Davey — Fri, 04 Jul 2025 18:43:38 +0000

Welcome to the 15th edition of The Arena Feed!

I missed a week of the Arena Feed because of a clinic I was hosting, and then got off my publication schedule. Next week I will also be away early in the week so the next issue will come later in the week as well. Thanks for sticking with me, I’m trying to stay regular with our weekly celebrations, but sometimes family and horse time need to take precedence.

This week we have the pleasure of hearing from Janet Moen after her win at Swift Current CCA rodeo. She is riding a home grown and Canadian bred gelding that sounds like is all heart.

You can listen the the audio or read the text responses for this one. We get a few more details out of Janet in the audio that you may enjoy while keeping it between the white lines this weekend.

There have been many big barrel races and rodeos happening it’s an exciting time in barrel racer land. It was especially exciting to watch Jennifer Neudorf with Ponoka with many Canadian cowgirls also in the hunt. Find our previous interview with Jennifer in an earlier newsletter (and about a different horse) HERE

Thanks you for reading and sharing to help celebrate these riders and spread the word about the newsletter. You’re appreciated.

In this issue:
➡From The Arena Floor: Interview with Janet Moen
➡Upcoming Events & Deadlines
➡Featured ad
➡Road Apples - tidbits from around the web
➡Featured Ranch
➡Mindset Minute with Michelle
➡Meme of the week

From The Arena Floor with Janet Moen

I was able to catch up with Janet Moen after her in in Swift Current, SK. We have both an audio version and text version below depending on what your preference is. The audio shares a few more details.

Thank you Janet for taking the time to visit and share.

Audio Interview with Janet Moen

Tell us about the horse you ran in Swift Current. Who bred him, who owns him, who has done the training etc. Tell us about their personality and what they're like to run.

Raptor is a 8 yr old gelding by 99 out of Howes about me who I made the CCA finals on in 2012. I bred and raised him. Kyle Elliot started him as a 2 yr old and I have done all the training from there. He has the biggest heart and is a little sensitive. He is not very big but has a long stride. From the fall of his 4 yr old year to now he has had a lot of set backs. He seems to always find away to push through and win. He is the fastest and most talented horse I have ever ridden. I just take one run at a time with him.

Tell us about yourself. Where you're from, how long you've been barrel racing and what do you like to do when you're not barrel racing.

I currently live near Stewart Valley SK. I grew up on a family farm, going on 5 generations near Delisle SK. We always had horses. I started in 4H and showing horses than transitioned to barrel racing at the age of 14. So I have been barrel racing for a long time lol. Started out in the SBRA, before it was SBRA, to highschool rodeos and than onto CCA and CPRA. When I’m not barrel racing I’m at my daytime job and following my kids around to their rodeos and sporting events.

Have you had to overcome any challenges with horse to make it to this level of success?

Raptor has had a lot of challenges health wise. Surgery, fractured bones, muscular atrophy. He truly does have the biggest heart.
(more details on this in the audio version)

What do you think about before you go to make a run on this horse? What's the game plan?

I’m not afraid to fail, I have nothing to prove, Trust your horse and leave the trainer at the gate. Remember this is a timed event. Sit square and let him work.

What do you think it was it about this run (in Swift) that gave you the edge to take the win?

Probably my first barrel. He is quicker footed and fast.

Tell us about your gear setup for this horse What are you riding in for a saddle, pad, bit etc? Shoes or no shoes?

I ride in a Raylee barrel saddle, 5 Star pad and I most recently started using the new Dave Elliot combo bit, rims on all four for shoes

And how about the feeding and maintenance plan? What fuels this speedy horse?

Grass pasture all day, alfalfa hay, beet pulp, osteon, milled peas, flax and amino acids

What are your competition plans for yourself and this horse for the rest of the season?

I’m taking it one run and one rodeo at a time. Trying to season and build a rodeo horse. I forgot how hard it is lol

Do you have anyone you'd like to thank or sponsors we can promote for you?

My family. They have always supported me. It isn’t easy been away from home.

Upcoming Events:

If you want YOUR event listed free, please reply to this email or use the “hot tips” form on the website. Everyone is welcome to help me out and submit events whether you’re the producer or contestant. ;)

*******
Breeders Elite Event Schedule is posted HERE
*******
I started a spreadsheet with many of Western Canada’s barrel races listed including 4 Provinces. It is a work in progress, please send changes or additions. Have a look HERE
*******

Presented by: Rodeoclassifieds.com

Trixie Coosa Fire" aka "Dixie" 2017 AQHA Bay Roan Mare started on barrels Ready to finish your way.
Full ad HERE. Located near Kamloops, motivated seller.

RodeoClassifieds.com is 25 years young this year! To celebrate we are having an ad sale. Post now, pay later. Free upfront, pay only if we have helped to sell your horse. Stallions and businesses only after 500 views. Post today, pay later.

🍎Road Apples - tidbits from around the web this week

🍎Do you forget to turn the water off? Try a water “bracelet” HERE

🍎Gross, but if you want to see a case of hidden strangles, check this out HERE

🍎An interesting and educational post on how diet and inflammation contribute to COPD HERE

🍎Product recall on Professional Choice bits - Specifically Swivel Port equine bits from Bob Avila collection More info and pictures and steps to take for refund HERE

Featured Ranch

Cottonwood Ranch - Billie Bird and Royden Spence

Would you like your ranch or business featured? We’d love to promote yours, get in touch.

Mindset Minute with Michelle Davey

We have previously talked about different mindfulness practices like grounding and breathwork. Going down my list, let’s talk about having a journaling practice.

Because everyone processes information and energy differently it is helpful to experiment with different practices. Journaling is one that can really help someone that tends to hold onto things or who tends to ruminate on their thoughts but doesn’t want to talk to someone else to unload it. Sometimes you know your thoughts are garbage but they’re still there. Journaling can me a mind dump where you can just vent and complain and get it all out. It can also be used to draw out of you, your dreams and aspirations. You can talk out your fears and you can talk to your higher knowing about what you really know is possible for you. Like any practice, getting your butt in chair and putting pen to the paper is often the hardest paper. Find your flow and let it roll. Sometimes you might just garbage what you wrote and other times you might read it back and be surprises at how wise you really are.
Try and set a regular time of day to journal and commit to 7 days in a row and see how it changes how you feel. I suspect you’ll feel so much lighter, motivated and aligned with possibility.

Meme of the week

If you’re reading this because a friend forwarded it to you, click here to subscribe, we send out a new e-newsletter each week.

Interested in advertising or supporting The Arena Feed? Email Michelle - rodeohorses@gmail.com

Until next week,

Michelle

Team Loretta for the win!

Michelle Davey — Tue, 17 Jun 2025 19:51:17 +0000

Welcome to the 14th edition of The Arena Feed!

This week we celebrate Janae McDougall who made a great run at Gooseberry Lake, AB rodeo. Lakeland Rodeo Association was the lead on that rodeo but it was also WRA and CRA approved. Learn more about Janae and Cowboys Flirt below.

I would also like to send a shout out to Dusty van der Steen and her Rocking W Ranch crew near Morden, MB. The weekend event she hosted raised $22,950 for the South Central Cancer Resource.

There will be no newsletter next week as I have a commitment that needs my full attention. There may or may not be a bonus issue later this week.

Thanks you for reading and sharing to help celebrate these riders and spread the word about the newsletter. You’re appreciated.

In this issue:
➡From The Arena Floor: Interviews with
➡Upcoming Events & Deadlines
➡Featured ad
➡Road Apples - tidbits from around the web
➡Featured Ranch
➡Mindset Minute with Michelle

From The Arena Floor with Janae McDougall

At just 16 years old, Janae McDougall tore up the arena at the Gooseberry Lake rodeo to win a shiny new buckle and paycheck in the Ladies Barrel Racing. She rode her Mom’s horse Loretta and the two (or three when you count Mom Jill in) seem to make a pretty bang up team. Sounds like Dad’s a pretty important part of this team effort too. Here’s what Janae had to say about Loretta and her run.

I would also like to note and celebrate the fact that Janae won the barrels AND pole bending aggregate at the recent Alberta High School Rodeo Finals as well. It’s a big deal to claim just one of those titles never mind two!

Here’s what Janae had to say about Loretta and her run.

Tell us about Loretta! Who bred her, who owns her, who has done the training etc. Tell us about their personality and what she's like to run.

Loretta was bought as a yearling from Heidi Robinson (former owner and breeder of Guys Casanova Cowboy) by my dad as a surprise for my mom. She had ten days riding on her when my mom took over and trained her. She took her to the futurities and had some success on her. Last year my horse got sick and so my mom let me start taking the reins over with her. She is very gritty and loves to turn. She is super fast but can shut her feet off just as fast so it took some time for us to get in sync. Last summer around August we finally got it fairly nailed down and I won a lot on her including the youth ABRA Finals high point and derby and CBHI derby short go. My dad has also spent some time on her riding her across the field and chasing the heelomatic or riding her around at events and just trying to find some balance for her mind. My dad honestly can make Loretta so quiet so quickly and we all appreciate that. To ride around at home she is so broke and relaxed but away from home she can be a bit spicy and nervous and an over achiever. We try hard to just do what we can to make her feel at ease before she runs. She will literally drag you around for a blade of grass and can be a bit stubborn but most of the good ones are.

“Loretta” - Cowboys Flirt

Tell us about yourself. Where you're from, how long you've been barrel racing and what do you like to do when you're not barrel racing.

I am sixteen and from Bashaw Alberta. The heart of barrel racer land. My parents have always done what they could to make sure I had a honest confident building horse and one that challenged me. I made the WRA finals in the pee wee's when I was 8 years old and just never looked back and have been chasing goals in the WRA, LRA when I was young and then AHSRA in the jr's and sr's. Im pretty focused on barrel racing. I played some school sports, and ski but generally just love to be at a jackpot, or rodeo.

Have you had to overcome any challenges with this horse to make it to this level of success?

Loretta is so fast and so light in the mouth it took me a bit to find timing with her and we still struggle somedays getting it just right. My mom finally took the curb strap off last summer and put a piece of breakaway string on it and that helped us the most so if I get in her way with my hands she could ignore me a bit.

What do you think make this run the one that won the rodeo? What made it great?

Well I was supposed to be top of the ground but there was a turn out so I ended up near the bottom. I knew I needed to be tight to the turn and not get out in the tracks. I tried hard to just be correct and let her work.

What do you think about before you go to make a run on this horse? What's the game plan?

Most times Mom tells me be brave. We also talk about getting the barrel behind me and riding two handed to that point and then opening my hips up sitting back and driving through the turn and soft with my hands. Loretta is fairly fast on her own and is always giving all she's got so I try hard not to ride wild and to aggressive just correct and quiet. Also whatever happens out there I know my Mom and Dad can probably help me fix it so I don't worry to much.

Tell us about your gear setup for this horse What are you riding in for a saddle, pad, bit etc? Shoes or no shoes?

I ride in an Usher saddle. I love it. Your feet are in front of you and it's easy to sit back and ride the hind end of your horse. I use a synergy saddle pad from weaver. I use alliance equine front boots and then we always use hind polo wraps from alliance as it seems the horses like that better. For a bit Loretta likes a Merrill 3 piece twisted wire dog bone it's balanced with purchase and shank and a bit of yellow light gag. We use a head setter that has movement in the nose band. We find it doesn't stop her feet as much but also allows her something to balance on. I'm lucky my dad is such a great shoer and so Loretta runs in shoes all the time. We tape her feet for each run to be sure she doesn't pull a shoe as she is so aggressive in the turn.

And how about the feeding and maintenance plan? What fuels this speedy horse?

We feed simple. Good Hay and cubes, Hoffmans grain with rice bran and then a good mineral, KER electrolytes, KER rite track for gut health, farrier's formula and lysine. We are huge advocates for seeing your vet. Loretta and all our horses are vetted at Stanton Equine. The number one thing you can do for your horse is make sure they are sound, can breath, and are physically fit. We ride minimum of 6 days a week. We never leave home with out our Xlr8 magnetic sheet and our Equipod we find both these things to be great for all our horses pre and post runs.

What are your competition plans for yourself and this mare for the rest of the season?

I am going to hit up a few rodeos. The plan was to get her a bit more seasoned to different set ups and ground. But I am looking forward to running her at nationals in Wyoming in July, maybe the breeders elite, ABRA finals again as that was so fun on her last year and the fall AHSRA rodeos that suit her and of course the Royal Crown and CBHI.

Do you have anyone you'd like to thank or sponsors we can promote for you?

I couldn't go down the road with out my parents, grandparents and family giving me so many opportunities and so many sacrifices. But I have great sponsors such as Stanton Equine, K Rae Designs for always making sure I have cute outfits, XLR8 Canada for the magnetics she wears both pre and post runs, Alliance equine for her leg protection and blankets, West of the Fifth therapies who have been so good at keeping me full of vitamins, Equipod Canada, and Marketing with Shelby.

Upcoming Events:

Tentative Schedule for West of the 5th Futurity and Derby and Open in Rimbey, AB posted HERE
******
ISO Rider or Slot Post for the Breeders Elite Showdown event HERE and entry form link is HERE
******
Selkirk, MB Fair and Rodeo Released details about their Joan Lenfesty Memorial race July 12 and 13 HERE
******
Entries are open for the June 28/29 Canada Race in Rimbey, Alberta. Enter HERE
There is a futurity, derby and open race. Answers to questions in this post HERE
******
The 20th Twirl and Whirl in Brooks, AB set their dates for September 19-21st and announced $15,000 added. Info here
*******
I started a spreadsheet with many of Western Canada’s barrel races listed including 4 Provinces. It is a work in progress, please send changes or additions. Have a look HERE
*******
Use this post to buy and sell slots for the Red White and Gold Slot race in Biggar, SK
*****
Find info on each of the Canadian Barrel Futurities Events HERE
the next CBF approved event is the Big Bang, Aug 5 -10.
*****
Supernova Productions announced a move from Wetaskiwin, to Red Deer - Westerner Park for their event The Big Bang Aug 5-10, 2025. Entries are open.
It was also recently announced Futurity and Derby contestants can enter either pool A or B this year. HERE
*****
CBHI announced and exciting 2D Slot Race to be added to their weekend. More info HERE The CBHI Flagship event is October (9TH-12TH) 2025 in Ponoka, AB. The have indicated this event and their approved race derby age is continuing to be 7 & under.
*****
The Prestige Barrel race is also noted as CBHI approved and scheduled for June 21-22 in Brandon, MB. There is a post running for those wanting to buy and sell slots. FB page here.

Presented by: Rodeoclassifieds.com

11 year old AQHA mare standing 15.1hh. Runs consistent 2D times with ease and has more than enough ability to run 1D times. This mare is also a very solid 22-23 second pole horse and has been started on the heading side and with limited roping is a good practice head horse and should be able to go to jackpots with more time spent in the roping pen.
Snooki hauls well, sights and sounds don't bother her, has been entered in numerous jackpots and a handful of amateur rodeos.
Youth safe, however she has a big motor so experienced youth suitable for competing on. Videos and price HERE

🍎Road Apples - tidbits from around the web this week

🍎How to video on tying “war knots” in a horses tail to keep it up and out of the way HERE

🍎Video on wrapping to protect and draw out an abscess HERE

🍎Check your horse for ulcers using these external points shared by Dr DePaolo HERE

Featured Ranch

Rhonda and Don Allen - www.allenquarterhorses.com

Mindset Minute with Michelle Davey

A couple weeks ago I suggested creating and implementing a mindset and mindfulness practice that you can be consistent with and actually do. Your mindset skill “muscles” don’t build on their own and different exercises will work for different people so you need to pick a few and practice them. I listed some ideas in the issue a couple weeks ago and talked about grounding last week. I’m going to keep expanding each of those ideas in the coming weeks. This week one of the tools you can use is a “breathwork practice”. A breathwork practice can range some simply being intentional with each breath, or a full fledged 45 minute breath practice alternating nostrils, and different ways of breathing that take you to various state. We are going to keep it simple because we’ve got horses to ride. You can actually do this practice while you’re riding. It’s perfect for a warm up and a cool down. It will help regulate your nervous system.
How to: Focusing on your breath, breathe in through your nose, feel it filling your lungs, take a bit more air in than feels natural and then slowly release it out your mouth. Do this 10 times. I bet you’ll already be feeling better after 5! If you don’t get to 10 that’s okay too.
Another practice is box breathing. Start with 4 second increments and build up to 8. Each side of the “box” represents a section of the 4 part breath cycle.
Follow me now: Count to 4 (in your head) as you breath in through your nose. Hold your breath for 4 seconds, exhale through your mouth as you count to 4. Hold at the end of your exhale for 4 seconds before inhaling again while (you guessed it) counting to 4. Do the next one for 6 seconds increments. If this is your first time doing this you may find holding and waiting to breathe challenging but it gets easier once your body starts to trust the process. If you’re trying this while you’re riding, pay attention to how you feel in your body and you do it and how your horse responds. It can be quite remarkable the shift it can create for the both of you as your body gets more present and your nervous system finds a more ideal state.

If you’re reading this because a friend forwarded it to you, click here to subscribe, we send out a new e-newsletter each week.

Interested in advertising or supporting The Arena Feed? Email Michelle - rodeohorses@gmail.com

Until next week,

Michelle

PS. There will be no new newsletter the week of the 23rd.

Canadian bred, home raised for the win

Michelle Davey — Tue, 10 Jun 2025 17:48:15 +0000

Welcome to the 13th edition of The Arena Feed!

It was another exciting weekend in Canadian barrel racer land with may jackpots, a futurity/derby and rodeos on the go. It makes it hard to pick when I’m “drawing straws” to see who to reach out to. This week we are hearing from two riders who have bred and raised their own winning mounts, both by Canadian stallions.

Traci MacDonald won the Lea Park Pro Rodeo taking home $5339.39 for the win on Foxys Mine a Ninety Nine Goldmine gelding out of her 2008 NFR qualifying mare Foxy Crime. Other CPRA barrel racing results can be found HERE

Over in Saskatoon, the Grace and Grit Futurity and Derby saw many great runs. Winning the derby and open two run average was Jane Corey on her Wagons West gelding Tipsy Wagon. We hear from her below.
Winning the derby short go was Casey Ann Nedeljack and Fancy Rum Shots.

In the Futurity, the average on two winner was Kirsty White on R Ace Of Spades. They also won the short go. We interviewed Kirsty in a previous newsletter and learned a lot about this stud and all that he’s overcome. You can listen to that interview HERE.

Thanks you for reading and sharing to help celebrate these riders and spread the word about the newsletter. You’re appreciated.

In this issue:
➡From The Arena Floor: Interviews with Traci MacDonald and Jane Corey
➡Upcoming Events & Deadlines
➡Road Recipe of the Week
➡Featured ad
➡Road Apples - tidbits from around the web
➡Featured Ranch
➡Mindset Minute with Michelle
➡Meme of the week

From The Arena Floor with Traci MacDonald

It was a busy weekend on the pro rodeo trail with 4 rodeos running within a 4 day span. Winning the highest paying rodeo of the weekend (Lea Park Rodeo North of Marwayne, AB) for was Traci MacDonald riding her homegrown gelding Foxys Mine.

Tell us about Foxys Mine, the horse you ran and won on at the Lea Park rodeo. Who bred him, who owns him, who has done the training etc. Tell us about their personality and what they're like to run.

Foxys Mine. He is a 10 year old gelding that I raised and trained. He’s pretty easy going and laid back on the ground, as soon as you get on his back he’s all go. He is not the easiest horse to run I really have to make sure to do my part. I do love that he’s so fast

Tell us about yourself. Where you're from, how long you've been barrel racing and what do you like to do when you're not barrel racing.

I’m originally from Cardston Alberta. I’ve been barrel racing competitively since I was 5. So a really long time ago lol. In the winter I enjoy watching my kids at their sports.

Have you had to overcome any challenges with horse to make it to this level of success?

No not really. He kinda started having success from the start.

Tell us about your gear setup for this horse What are you riding in for a saddle, pad, bit etc? Shoes or no shoes?

I ride him in a Flaharty Duke bit. My saddle is an old Pozzi I won. The saddle pad is a weaver. Rim shoes

And how about the feeding and maintenance plan? What fuels this speedy horse?

Alfalfa hay. Purina grain.

What are your competition plans for yourself and this mare for the rest of the season?

Not much of a plan. If the horses are working good I’ll keep entering.

You've been riding many of Foxy Crime's offspring over the years. What has it been like getting to ride such a great mare's foals? Is there one that stands out as a favorite so far?

It has been fun riding her foals. Foxys Mine has always been a favourite. Foxy Fiona probably reminded me the most of Foxy Crime, unfortunately she got an injury her 5 year old year.

Do you have anyone you'd like to thank or sponsors we can promote for you?

I don’t have any sponsors. I would not be able to rodeo if it wasn’t for the help from my family running things at home.

From The Arena Floor with Jane Corey

It was Jane Corey and Tipsy Wagon that came out firing the first round of the derby and the Grit and Grace Futurity and Derby in Saskatoon to be one of two times under the 14 second mark. The duo also won second in the second round securing the average on two in both the derby and the open. Jane also cashed in on some Select earnings as well.

Tell us about Tipsy Wagon AKA City. Who bred him, who owns him, who has done the training etc. Tell us about their personality and what he's like to run.

I bred City he is out of Tippy Too Badger and by Wagons West. This was her first colt after I purchased her. I own him and was able to watch him be born. He was started by my great colt starter Mitch Zeller as a 2 year old he got 15 rides then went back as a 3 year old for another 15 rides. I rode him a bit then he spent a month with Lucas Bertram the late summer of his 3 year old year. Then I took over. He’s a colt that has been ALL THERE so was really taking my time with him I did decide he needed a lot more steady riding so I sent him to Dwight Dokken in the winter of his 4 year old year for a few months and he did some great horsemanship training with him that helped me to get him started on the barrels. I only started jackpotting City in November of this past year. He ran in the 3D at the first few and then went straight to the 1D and and then even winning a few of them. I think it was a wise decision to miss his futurity year and let him get rolling as a derby horse instead. He’s pretty easy to run just get him to his points and let him work. He’s very smooth and fast he’s powerful but a smooth power.

Tell us about yourself. Where you're from, how long you've been barrel racing and what do you like to do when you're not barrel racing.

I’m from Swift Current, SK been barrel racing since a kid at shows but got more serious in about 1995 I guess going to jackpots When not barrel racing it’s Ranching keeping the place going and the cattle happy

Have you had to overcome any challenges with horse to make it to this level of success with City?

Just really had to be patient with City and let him come along at his pace

Which was your favorite run of the weekend and what made it great?

Favorite run was winning the first go of the derby. He was so honest and sharp and really fired for me.

What do you think about before you go to make a run on this horse? What's the game plan?

To try to be patient in the turns on him let him work

Tell us about your gear setup for this horse What are you riding in for a saddle, pad, bit etc? Shoes or no shoes?

I run him in a Elliot bit pretty sure it’s the spur up 03 SS with a port and the beads inlaid mouthpiece I use a 3S pad on him and a Martin BTR saddle He runs barefoot

And how about the feeding and maintenance plan? What fuels this speedy horse?

City gets beet pulp along with the Farmstead Cool Care and G’s formula. He gets oral Zesterra when being hauled and before runs. And he’s on the Zesterra lick tubs. Thankfully no maintenance he’s a very easy moving horse so hope he continues to take care of himself

What are your competition plans for yourself and this City for the rest of the season?

I hope to hit more of the events that have some derby’s and some slot races. Ones that have the sidepots he’s eligible for. Might run him at the odd rodeo that might suit him.

Do you have anyone you'd like to thank or sponsors we can promote for you?

I need to thank my husband Jason for always staying home looking after things. The horses that are left at home while I’m gone and make sure the cattle are staying in and looking after our dog Addie. She’s not a great traveller which I wish she was but I think she prefers to stay home lol

Upcoming Events:

If you want YOUR event listed free, please reply to this email or use the “hot tips” form on the website. Everyone is welcome to help me out and submit events whether you’re the producer or contestant. ;)
******
Entries are open for the June 28/29 Canada Race in Rimbey, Alberta. Enter HERE
There is a futurity, derby and open race. Answers to questions in this post HERE
******
The 20th Twirl and Whirl in Brooks, AB set their dates for September 19-21st and announced $15,000 added. Info here
*******
I started a spreadsheet with many of Western Canada’s barrel races listed including 4 Provinces. It is a work in progress, please send changes or additions. Have a look HERE
*******
Use this post to buy and sell slots for the Red White and Gold Slot race in Biggar, SK
*****
Find info on each of the Canadian Barrel Futurities Events HERE
the next CBF approved event is the Big Bang, Aug 5 -10.
*****
Supernova Productions announced a move from Wetaskiwin, to Red Deer - Westerner Park for their event The Big Bang Aug 5-10, 2025. Entries are open.
It was also recently announced Futurity and Derby contestants can enter either pool A or B this year. HERE
*****
CBHI announced and exciting 2D Slot Race to be added to their weekend. More info HERE The CBHI Flagship event is October (9TH-12TH) 2025 in Ponoka, AB. The have indicated this event and their approved race derby age is continuing to be 7 & under.
*****
The Prestige Barrel race is also noted as CBHI approved and scheduled for June 21-22 in Brandon, MB. There is a post running for those wanting to buy and sell slots. FB page here.

Road Recipe Of The Week - Keeping it Simple!

Roast Beef & Horseradish Wraps

Ingredients:
- Sliced roast beef (great use of leftovers)
- Arugula (or lettuce if you’re not that fancy)
- Horseradish mayo (or your choice of sauce)
- Tortilla or wrap
Instructions:
1. Spread horseradish mayo on the wrap.
2. Add arugula (lettuce) and roast beef.
3. Wrap tightly and refrigerate.

Presented by: Rodeoclassifieds.com

See the Delta Vet Wellness ad and products HERE

🍎Road Apples - tidbits from around the web this week

🍎Need some guidance oiling your saddle? Here’s a good overview.

🍎Use a dog collar to help ice a knee. Good idea HERE

🍎Energy Equine shared about aerobic and anaerobic conditioning HERE

Featured Ranch

Cottonwood Ranch - Billie Bird and Royden Spence

Would you like your ranch or business featured? We’d love to promote yours, get in touch.

Mindset Minute with Michelle Davey

Last week I mentioned a “grounding practice” as one idea for a mindfulness or mindset practice. Let’s talk about what that might look like.

To put it simple, if you’re connected to the ground, you can’t be all up in your head. Think of how your electric fencer needs have a grounding wire to be effective. You’re an electric being yourself and not a lot different.

Since energy follows intention, you can get your boots on the ground, sit on the ground, lay on the grass, take your boots and socks right off if you really want to “plug in”. But you can also use your imagination and connect and ground. You can follow my prompts now. Check in with how you’re feeling and take a deep breath. Imagine roots growing from your feet and into the core of the earth. Taking a breath and exhaling while you imagine a root growing out of your butt and through your seat (or saddle) and into the earth. Taking another breath in and exhaling slowly while you feel connected and settled into your body while it’s plugged into the earth. Check back in with your body and see how you feel. You will feel less in your head and more in your body. Your horse will sense this shift and be more apt to connect with you from a grounded frequency. The more often you practice this ahead of being nervous the easier it will be to connect when you are a bit amped up. You’ll create a grounding anchor in your mind and be able to center and ground easier each time.

Meme of the week

If you’re reading this because a friend forwarded it to you, click here to subscribe, we send out a new e-newsletter each week.

Interested in advertising or supporting The Arena Feed? Email Michelle - rodeohorses@gmail.com

Until next week,

Michelle

Big wins on a big weekend

Michelle Davey — Tue, 03 Jun 2025 17:51:16 +0000

Welcome to the 12th edition of The Arena Feed!

What a big weekend in Canadian Barrel Racing! It gets hard for me to pick who we will feature each week when there are so many exciting races and rodeos going on. This week I decided to connect with one racer from the CCA barrel racing and one from CPRA barrel racing. I wish we could do each and every winner but that would get awfully long! I’m sure we will be hearing from some of the other weekend winners throughout the season. This week we learn about Kennedy Smith and her brand new horse who tied for the win (with Suzanne DePaoli) at Hand Hills Lake Stampede CPRA rodeo, and Angela Mastad who won the Kindersley Stampede and was second at Unity, SK on the CCA circuit.

Welcome to all the new subscribers and thank you to everyone here already that’s been sharing and reading. You’re appreciated.

In this issue:
➡From The Arena Floor: Interviews with Kennedy Smith and Angela Mastad
➡Upcoming Events & Deadlines
➡Road Recipe of the Week
➡Featured horse
➡Road Apples - tidbits from around the web
➡Featured Ranch
➡Mindset Minute with Michelle
➡Meme of the week

From The Arena Floor with Kennedy Smith

It looks like a dream team in the making with Kennedy Smith and her new mount Howes Hion Firewater AKA Bucket! Making her first run ever on the mare and taking the win is what dreams are made of. It will be exciting to follow this new team throughout the year. Thanks Kennedy for sharing about yourself, your horse and your program.

Tell us about Bucket. Who bred her, who owns her, who has done the training etc. Tell us about her personality and what she's like to run.

Bucket is a 14 year old grey mare. I just bought her on Tuesday before Hand Hills from Braidy & Gayle Howes. That was my first ever run on her so safe to say she blew my expectations away. She’s came from the Howes program as I believe they bought her as a 3 year old so they did all of her training. She was bred by Lee Youngerman. She has a funny personality. She’s pretty all business when there’s a job to be done and a little grumpy. Her papered name is Howes Hion Firewater. She is by “Nick Dell” out of Teddy Bear Tracks a daughter of Firewater Flit.

Tell us about yourself. Where you're from, how long you've been barrel racing and what do you like to do when you're not barrel racing.

I am from Rimbey AB. I am 27 years old and have been riding horses since the age of 3. I work for my dad on a buffalo ranch and we raise and sell them. I also own and operate my small business K Rae Designs. A clothing company for all things cowgirl. I also am a certified LARC Test Technician and can customize conditioning programs specific to a horses recovery.

What do you think about before you go to make a run on this horse? What's the game plan?

I honestly don’t have much for a game plan on any horse. But I try to keep it pretty calm. I usually warm up and sit for a minute or two and then go. Each horse is a little different on how I do things pre run but my game plan for a run stays the same. Ride my horse to the best of my ability and make the best run I can and don’t worry about things I can’t control. This weekend was different as It was my first run on Bucket. I just knew she was reliable and sent her in there confident she’d do the job.

Tell us about your winning run. What do you think it was about it that put it on top?

I think that mare is incredibly efficient in a turn. She wastes no time around the barrels and she has a strong leave out of the barrel. I think it makes her tough to beat.

Tell us about your gear setup for this horse What are you riding in for a saddle, pad, bit etc.? Shoes or no shoes?

I ride her in a Dave Elliott spur up 03. It had a twisted dog bone. I’m pretty sure that’s what she’s had in her most of her life so she’s pretty comfortable in it for sure. I ride a Stingray for a saddle and I use a classic equine zone pad. She runs in shoes on all 4 feet. Rims on the front plains on the back.

And how about the feeding and maintenance plan? What fuels this speedy horse?

Every horse I own currently gets the Coulee Equine Ration. It’s a low sugar low starch soy free grain which is important to me. They also get all Roan & Co supplements. I feed the leg up t0, breeze up, flax oil & warrior bomb.

What are your competition plans for yourself and this mare for the rest of the season?

I plan to keep on going to the rodeos. Try to have some luck and hopefully end up in Edmonton! Just enjoying the process one run at a time.

Do you have anyone you'd like to thank or sponsors we can promote for you?

I’d love to thank my sponsors: Roan & Co, XLR8 Equine Canada, Special FX Equine Performance Products, Coulee Equine, Alliance Equine

From The Arena Floor with Angela Mastad

It was a successful rodeo weekend for Angela Mastad and her mare Crackle N Fire AKA Crackle taking the win in Kindersley and second place at Unity, SK CCA rodeos. Thank you Angela for sharing about yourself and your mare Crackle.

Tell us about Crackle. Who bred her, who owns her, who has done the training etc. Tell us about their personality and what she's like to run.

Her registered name is Crackle N Fire. She’s a 9 yr old mare. We bred her, I used to run her mama till she was hit by lightning. She survived and I bred the mare to get Crackle. I’ve done all the training. She’s very kind and loving…and sassy and naughty. She’s extremely opinionated and very vocal about her likes and dislikes. She’s quite wild to ride at home until we get to some rodeos. She loves rodeos and being on the road. The louder the crowd and chaos out back the better she gets. She really loves little indoor pens with loud loud crowds lol.

Tell us about yourself. Where you're from, how long you've been barrel racing and what do you like to do when you're not barrel racing.

I’m from Bengough SK originally and live in Pleasantdale SK now. Did a little barrel racing for fun as a kid. I got more into it when I got bored watching my husband team rope. When I’m not barrel racing I like riding colts with family, I read a lot, and hanging with my family.

Have you had to overcome any challenges with horse to make it to this level of success with Crackle?

Every day feels like a challenge in this sport. So many decisions and always with her best interest at heart. I think keeping her happiness at the forefront of those decisions leads to success. Her 7 yr old year she took my daughter, Ivy, to the National High School Finals Rodeo. Stalling for 10 days in Gillette Wyoming was a huge challenge for her. She’s busy and it took a lot of riding to keep her sane. I’m pretty sure the locals watching me buck and play down the ditches provided good entertainment for them. Heading west to the Pro rodeos the miles from where I live has been another big challenge. Some great people have opened up their yards for us to have places to stay. It makes it so much easier on her. We very much appreciate their hospitality.

You had a great weekend winning Kindersley and second at Unity. What kind of adjustments did you make going from a small pen to big pen?

I was out west at some pro rodeos before Kindersley and was struggling to find some timing on her. She’s very quick footed and quick to react to me in a run. Kindersley I tried to ride by everything to keep the barrels up in that tight pen. And unity I just tried to ride my first barrel slightly less aggressive. She adjusts to pen sizes and set ups really well. I usually just have to ride aggressive. She’s loves to turn and I’m not a very aggressive rider so I constantly remind myself.

What do you think about before you go to make a run on this horse? What's the game plan?

Be aggressive. Don’t weaken. Ride her in the hole. And getting her to an appropriate launch point in the alley. She would run in from the back 40 if I let her.

Tell us about your gear setup for this horse What are you riding in for a saddle, pad, bit etc.? Shoes or no shoes?

I use a wide usher on her, five star saddle pad, and she runs in a snaffle bit with a noseband. She doesn’t need or want much bit on her. I ride her in just a plain snaffle at home most of the time. Shoes for sure. So much gravel I want her feet protected. My husband Clay is an awesome farrier and keeps her feeling great.

And how about the feeding and maintenance plan? What fuels this speedy horse?

She’s a super picky eater. She’s been on Race today by Vetline since she was 5, as well as their electrolytes. She’s a fairly easy keeper so she gets some buckeye and alfalfa pellets. We have great vets to keep her feeling her best in both Saskatchewan and Alberta. To compete at this level it’s so important to have a great relationship with your vets.

What are your competition plans for yourself and this mare for the rest of the season?

We will head back out west to some more Pro rodeos. See what we can get done out there. She loves all the different arenas she gets to see out there. She would love love the CFR building and crowd if we could be so lucky as to make it there someday. Competition out west is so rank. 150 girls entering and the most amazing horsepower, it’s inspiring.

Do you have anyone you'd like to thank or sponsors we can promote for you?

TKC Trucking & Picker Service and Ching Construction Corp out of Kindersley Sk sponsor my fuel. So it was super fun to win their home rodeo for them. They also sponsor Kindersley rodeo! Vetline Canada started sponsoring us last year after they heard how much we love their products. Nicole Hicks has been a great sponsor to have on board. And Epp Financial, Marissa Epp, for all my financial questions and needs.

Angela and Crackle with their new buckle!

Upcoming Events:

If you want YOUR event listed free, please reply to this email or use the “hot tips” form on the website. Everyone is welcome to help me out and submit events whether you’re the producer or contestant. ;)
******
Entries are open for the June 28/29 Canada Race in Rimbey, Alberta. Enter HERE
There is a futurity, derby and open race. Answers to questions in this post HERE
******
The 20th Twirl and Whirl in Brooks, AB set their dates for September 19-21st and announced $15,000 added. Info here
*******
I started a spreadsheet with many of Western Canada’s barrel races listed including 4 Provinces. It is a work in progress, please send changes or additions. Have a look HERE
*******
Use this post to buy and sell slots for the Red White and Gold Slot race in Biggar, SK
*****
Find info on each of the Canadian Barrel Futurities Events HERE
the next CBF approved event is the Grace and Grit in Saskatoon, SK June 5-8
*****
Supernova Productions announced a move from Wetaskiwin, to Red Deer - Westerner Park for their event The Big Bang Aug 5-10, 2025. Entries are open.
*****
CBHI announced and exciting 2D Slot Race to be added to their weekend. More info HERE The CBHI Flagship event is October (9TH-12TH) 2025 in Ponoka, AB. The have indicated this event and their approved race derby age is continuing to be 7 & under.
*****
The Prestige Barrel race is also noted as CBHI approved and scheduled for June 21-22 in Brandon, MB. There is a post running for those wanting to buy and sell slots. FB page here.

Road Recipe Of The Week

Egg Salad or Tuna Salad (simple, but easy to forget it’s an option so here’s your reminder).

Ingredients:
- Hard-boiled eggs or canned tuna
- Mayo
- Dijon mustard
- Celery, chopped
- Salt and pepper
- Bread or crackers
Instructions:
1. Mix eggs or tuna with mayo, mustard, and celery.
2. Serve chilled with bread or crackers.

Presented by: Rodeoclassifieds.com

See the Delta Vet Wellness ad and products HERE

🍎Road Apples - tidbits from around the web this week

🍎Want to be in the movies? Casting call for “rodeo riders” in AB HERE

🍎Hang your bridles on the fence without getting the reins dirty with this method HERE

🍎If you’re not scared of needles, check out how an SI injection is done HERE

🍎Foaling signs, tips and how to test the pH of milk to see when your mare may foal HERE

Fundraisers:
🍎Calves N Cans jackpot are raffling off an Allen Quarter Horses yearling filly. Buy tickets HERE

🍎The CBHI has joined the CFR ticket fundraiser program. Buy your tickets through their link and help the CBHI earn funds. You save 20% off retail too! HERE

🍎Big Bang is having a fundraiser. 3 chances at $3000 or credit towards a Sandy Ridge Stallion Station foal or stallion fees. HERE

🍎Grace and Grit Futurity and Derby have a raffle for a Flexineb HERE

Featured Ranch

Cottonwood Ranch - Billie Bird and Royden Spence

Would you like your ranch or business featured? We’d love to promote yours, get in touch.

Mindset Minute with Michelle Davey

Last week I talked about the benefits and importance of a mindfulness practice to your competition mindset. I said that this week I’d share some ideas of what that might look like. Everyone will have a different method and routine that works for them. The biggest thing is to actually do it (whatever you pick) and be consistent with it.
Here are a few ideas you could learn more about and implement into your day. Pick one to start.
- Grounding practice
- Breathwork practice
- Journaling practice
- Meditation practice and body scanning
- Gratitude practice
- Mantras, affirmations, afformations
All of these practices are great for regulating your nervous system, therefore increasing your capacity for challenges and growth opportunities. None of these things work if you don’t actually do them by the way 😉 It’s a practice, you’ll get better as you do it.

Meme of the week

If you’re reading this because a friend forwarded it to you, click here to subscribe, we send out a new e-newsletter each week.

Interested in advertising or supporting The Arena Feed? Email Michelle - rodeohorses@gmail.com

Until next week,

Michelle

From the Dustbowl to the Rope & Race

Michelle Davey — Tue, 27 May 2025 17:10:34 +0000

Welcome to the 11th edition of The Arena Feed!

This week we feature two barrel racing champs from the May 23-25 weekend. We will hear from April Callander who won the Rope and Race average in Brandon, Manitoba and Twila Hayes who won the DustBowl Slot Race Open in Swift Current, SK.

Both horses that are featured are by two great Canadian Stallions whose legacy lives on through their offspring. Mr Red Rock Leo Bar and Ninety Nine Goldmine are both stallions who have made their mark on barrel racing and Canada. We celebrate their impact as we celebrate the gals who rode these fine horses to the pay window.

On the CPRA trail, Lisa Groves took the win at the Buffalo Lake Metis Settlement Gateway To The North Pro Rodeo adding another $6255.70 to her year end standings. We heard from Lisa HERE after her Spring Fling Derby win. Taylor Cherry and Jennifer Neudorf were 2nd and 3rd.

Welcome to all the new subscribers and thank you to everyone here already that’s been sharing and reading. You’re appreciated.

In this issue:
➡From The Arena Floor: Interviews with April Callander and Twila Hayes
➡Upcoming Events & Deadlines
➡Road Recipe of the Week
➡Featured horse
➡Road Apples - tidbits from around the web
➡Featured Ranch
➡Mindset Minute with Michelle
➡Meme of the week

From The Arena Floor with April Callander

Winning the 1D Average barrel racing championship at the Rope & Race in Brandon, MB was April Callander on Little Miss Chrissy. April took the reins from her Mom Dawn Vandersteen after Dawn recently broke her foot. When I asked April for the interview she was very humble giving her Mom all the credit for doing such a great job of training Gigi saying she just jumped on and the horse did the rest. April had a baby just two months ago making this jump jockey experience even more impressive. Great team work here I’d say!

Tell us about your horse Little Miss Chrissy. Who bred her, who owns her, who has done the training etc. Tell us about their personality and what they're like to run.

Little Miss Chrissy (Gigi) was bred by Jacqueline Rookes. My mom, Dawn Vandersteen, is the owner and trainer. She has been a long time rider and supporter of Jacqueline's great breeding program. I have the first Mr Red Rock Leo Bar horse my mom ever competed on Rocky in my pasture. He just turned 20.

My mom broke her foot 5 weeks ago. She had pre entered several barrel races and asked if I would ride in her place. I was 5 weeks post partum and didn't feel confident I was up to the job. It took her a week to convince me to head to Alberta with her and we've been having a lot of fun since.

Gigi is a firecracker. I’ve rode many horses bred by Jacqueline and trained by my mom but I've never ridden one quite like her. She has the same solid foundation, follows the same cues but there is a quickness in her turn that requires you to buckle up or get thrown (I learned that the hard way the first time I ran her).

Tell us about yourself April. Where you're from, how long you've been barrel racing and what do you love to do when you’re not barrel racing.

I live by Selkirk, MB and have been barrel racing my whole life. When I'm not barrel racing I'm focused on my family and my career, working in finance for an airline. I travel quite frequently both for my job and personal vacations. I have a 2 month old baby and a 4 year old who is very excited for her first year of peewee barrel racing.

What do you think about before you go to make a run on this horse? What's the game plan?

Rope and Race was my 5th and 6th runs on Gigi so the game plan was still quite simple - sit down and hang on! Mom trusted me a lot and gave minimal direction except to ride hard. It's time for me to hand the reins back to mom but I'd be thrilled if I ever got the chance to run her again.

Tell us about your gear setup for this horse What are you riding in for a saddle, pad, bit etc.? Shoes or no shoes?

I use the pro lite saddles sold by SK Equine. It’s a Brazilian made saddle and only 20 pounds which I love. I also use a pad from SK Equine.- the ROM one because it and the saddle allow for shoulder, freedom of movement, which is important, especially for this horse. Head stall and breast collar are also by SK Equine and the bit is a twisted wire with a few chain links in the middle. She always runs in shoes all around.

And how about the feeding and maintenance plan? What fuels this speedy horse?

During the spring and summer Gigi is allowed to graze and we supplement with hay. I feed the co-op working horse ration and top with Galozyme and Re-Zorb by Technavet.

What are your competition plans for Gigi for the rest of the season?

We’re going to try to pick our races wisely. I think we will hit up some of the bigger slot races and will head to Alberta at the end of July for the Breeders Elite and the Big Bang.

Do you have anyone you'd like to thank or sponsors we can promote for you?

Thanks to SK Equine for all of my horse gear and Technavet for keeping my horses feeling good.

From The Arena Floor with Twila Hayes

Twila Hayes came out on top at the Dustbowl Slot Race Open Jackpot in Swift Current, SK. Twila and Light On Gold ran the only sub 18 second run to win the 1D with 17.922 ahead of second and third place Krystal Grad on Calamityjamesafiren and CD Decked In Gold. Open results HERE.

Tell us about Light On Gold. Who bred her, who owns her, who has done the training etc. Tell us about their personality and what they're like to run.

Breeder: Arlos Ross Beierbach

She was raised out of the 1 Y Quarter horses program at Maple Creek.

I bought Light on Gold from Mary Reimers in 2018 with 6 bareback rides as a 2 year old. She was kind, quiet and completely different confirmation than I ever had rode before. I started her. Running blood vs quarter horse was new experience for me.

She took to the pattern easily. She is very gritty. She tries her very best to drive around a barrel. She is very chillaxed. She seems to be good in all ground conditions. She loves working with cattle! She lets me know when she is not having a great day.

The older she gets the more confidence she is showing.

Tell us about yourself Twila. Where you're from, how long you've been barrel racing what do you love to do when you’re not barrel racing.

My passion is Animal Communication and helping align the energies between the rider and their Equine partner. Barrel racing is meant to be fun and an opportunity for us to create memories. I love to team rope, breakaway rope and train horses in the arena and out in the hills.

I am from southern Saskatchewan in a little town called Val Marie. I grew up ranching and roping and married my high school sweetheart Ryan. We have two sons that attracted two beautiful wives. Wyatt & Sasha live at Granum, AB and Riley and Carlie live at Tisdale,Sk.

I did some barrel racing in the Little Britches nothing too serious. One day my good friend Susan Legault showed up with an SBRA membership and said your boys are gone now and fill out this form. You have nice horses so come do this with us. So I thought why not….I have the horses here that we roped on and the rig to getter done. I didn’t know the how…so I rode with Dannielle Dinius Knudsen, Mary Reimers, attended an Ed Wright clinic…I hosted Andre Udahl. I become a you tube queen iso barrel racing styles and tips. I spend time with Shawn and April Williamson when I can feel we are in resistant mode. Everything about this sport is an opportunity to learn about myself. I am determined and enjoy being a lifetime learner to master 3 garbage cans🤣truthfully somebody put up 3 garbage cans and created a whole world of opportunities from this small act!

Have you had to overcome any challenges with horse to make it to this level of success with Light On Gold?

We had some challenges as a 4 year old she got some spice to her so I sent her to Shawn Williamson to work his magic and get some pasture miles on her.

As a 5 yr old Mary Reimers and I started her on the pattern and could feel she was taking to it easily. Her strides were long. I had to learn to get my timing down. She is very sensitive in her head and head shakes if u handled her too much. So I learned to handle her a lot until she got soft to being handled at all speeds.

She is very chillaxed by nature and doesn’t get excited coming into the arena or leaving. She increased her speed on her own in the pattern. I do feel the short sprinting has helped that.

Our first run in Arizona she leaping in the air and raring on her way into first!! It was like we were on two different planets. Thank goodness April Williamson was there and got us on track. She said “don’t sell this one, gonna be a winner!” I was like mmh…wasn’t feeling that! lol by the end of that winter she was right up there with big dogs. Showing up and being vulnerable was the ticket!!!

We entered KCRA rodeos and she and I learned a lot about each other! She was slow loping and clocking and I was like wth…this is interesting. We had great runs we had some omg what just happened out there! As I reflect back we were in over-trying mode and trying to prove we were good enough and that I was good enough to own a 99!

Unwavering faith in my process is what I try my best to stay focused on. I take longer than others to get one rodeo ready. I’ve learned that that is ok!

What do you think about before you go to make a run on this horse? What's the game plan?

I focus on riding the horse I have today. In our warm up…where she feels sticky in her body I do my best to release the sticky so we have softness!

I focus on gratitude and smiling it grounds me!

If the ground is deep I tell her “grounds deep follow your track and you will be fine!”

The race prior to this one which was our first outside run this year… Dannielle yelled out “Trust her!” As I was running into first! I felt myself relax and say ya let’s do that! We had a beautiful run.

I trust myself and this radiates her trust in me. 💕 that’s my affirmation!

Show up for my process and let go of the outcome! When the chips fall focus on my own personal wins in the run!!! Live in the moment and it doesn’t matter what we did yesterday! Today is a new day!

“Reward the small things and the big things take care of themselves”…Ray Hunt quote

Tell us about your gear setup for this horse What are you riding in for a saddle, pad, bit etc.? Shoes or no shoes?

I love my Burns saddle I feel it has been the game changer for the both of us.
Turn n Burn pad I like a tie down it’s set long and seems to give her balance.
Kerry Kelly DC 1 smooth magnum with a ported chain and Elliot knotted reins.
She is shod.
She really is a simple horse! She knows her job! I am so blessed to learn n grow with her!

And how about the feeding and maintenance plan? What fuels this speedy horse?

Bemer before and after

Hay or cubes Pasture 3 hrs before our run….lasix with her Messy Mash…beet pulp, race today electrolytes, spirulina, trimax, equinity xl Equilibrium prior to run. After our run messy mash she loves it!! That’s her reward

Equiwinner patches spring n mid summer and prior to fall.

We ride in the hills and move cattle around the arena. She loves to work cattle. Lots of sprint work.

Gets at least an hour ride a day.

She loves her sleeps and tells ya when it’s feed time!

What are your competition plans for yourself and this mare for the rest of the season?

KCRA rodeos, enter some CCA Rodeos. Canadian Horses to Move (Matt Pitt) event at Oyen, Big Bang … Ponoka in the fall.

Do you have anyone you'd like to thank or sponsors we can promote for you?

I would like to thank Ryan for putting up with my big plans!! Grateful for all the help, love and laughter from my circle of friends.

Hats off to all the Hosts and Sponsors that create opportunities for all of us to have fun doing what we love to do!

Thank-you to anyone who has shared a story and helped me. My world is a better place with all of you in it.

Upcoming Events:

If you want YOUR event listed free, please reply to this email or use the “hot tips” form on the website. Everyone is welcome to help me out and submit events whether you’re the producer or contestant. ;)
******
Entries are open for the June 28/29 Canada Race in Rimbey, Alberta. Enter HERE
There is a futurity, derby and open race.
******
The 20th Twirl and Whirl in Brooks, AB set their dates for September 19-21st and announced $15,000 added. Info here
*******
I started a spreadsheet with many of Western Canada’s barrel races listed including 4 Provinces. It is a work in progress, please send changes or additions. Have a look HERE
*******
Use this post to buy and sell slots for the Red White and Gold Slot race in Biggar, SK
*****
Find info on each of the Canadian Barrel Futurities Events HERE
the next CBF approved event is the Grace and Grit in Saskatoon, SK June 5-8
*****
Supernova Productions announced a move from Wetaskiwin, to Red Deer - Westerner Park for their event The Big Bang Aug 5-10, 2025
*****
CBHI announced and exciting 2D Slot Race to be added to their weekend. More info HERE The CBHI Flagship event is October (9TH-12TH) 2025 in Ponoka, AB. The have indicated this event and their approved race derby age is continuing to be 7 & under.
*****
The Prestige Barrel race is also noted as CBHI approved and scheduled for June 21-22 in Brandon, MB. There is a post running for those wanting to buy and sell slots. FB page here.

Road Recipe Of The Week

Pulled Pork Sliders (Substitute with chicken if you prefer)

Ingredients:
- Slow-cooked pulled pork
- Slider buns
- Coleslaw
- BBQ sauce
Instructions:
1. Prepare pulled pork ahead of time and store in an airtight container.
2. To assemble, warm the pulled pork and place it on slider buns.
3. Top with coleslaw and a drizzle of BBQ sauce.

Presented by: Rodeoclassifieds.com

🍎Road Apples - tidbits from around the web this week

🍎The Central Alberta College Rodeo Team is recruiting. If your post secondary institution doesn’t have a rodeo team, join this one. HERE

🍎Considerations when mixing and using different medications on your horse HERE

🍎Scholarship/bursary for post secondary students (any year) who live in small towns (less than 5000 people) and from AB, SK or MB From Mathewson & Co . HERE

🍎Grit and Grace has announced their futurity and derby added money are now $8100 each! More info here

Fundraisers:
🍎Calves N Cans jackpot are raffling off an Allen Quarter Horses yearling filly. Buy tickets HERE

🍎 SBRA District 1 are raffling off Keith Urban tickets. More info HERE

🍎The CBHI has joined the CFR ticket fundraiser program. Buy your tickets through their link and help the CBHI earn funds. You save 20% off retail too! HERE

🍎Big Bang is having a fundraiser. 3 chances at $3000 or credit towards a Sandy Ridge Stallion Station foal or stallion fees. HERE

🍎Grace and Grit Futurity and Derby have a raffle for a Flexineb HERE

Featured Ranch

AllenQuarterHorses.com - Rhonda and Don Allen

Would you like your ranch or business featured? We’d love to promote yours, get in touch.

Mindset Minute with Michelle Davey

Mindset work is not a “one and done” kind of event. It’s a practice.
Your brain and nervous system is still quite primal and it’s naturally wired with a negativity bias in order to protect you from danger. Now that we are living a relatively safe life (as in you’re not likely to be attacked by a sabre tooth tiger) you have to be active in overriding this natural programing that leans towards negativity. There’s nothing wrong with you if you’re seeing “negative” things or if you have to be intentional about seeing the positive side of things. This is mindset work. It’s like a muscle that needs exercise to build itself stronger. The more intentional you are about your mindset practice (and making it an actual practice), the stronger your mindset will be. Just like some people are more naturally muscular, some people will have a more natural positive mindset. Others, well, we have to be intentional and work at it! Next week let’s talk about what a “mindset practice” might look like.

Meme of the week

If you’re reading this because a friend forwarded it to you, click here to subscribe, we send out a new e-newsletter each week.

Interested in advertising or supporting The Arena Feed? Email Michelle - rodeohorses@gmail.com

Until next week,

Michelle

Canadian College Champ

Michelle Davey — Tue, 20 May 2025 17:03:04 +0000

Welcome to the 10th edition of The Arena Feed!

This week we feature the Canadian College Barrel Racing Champion Lacey Terpsma. Lacey and her horse Animal had a clean sweep of the college finals. I always think it’s fun to hear from the “young guns” and it always gives me such hope to hear from these well spoken champions of today and the future. I hope you enjoy hearing from Lacey as much as I did.

On the CPRA trail, Taylor Cherry and stallion Blazin Sugar Daddy took the win in Falkland BC by 2 tenths. While we didn’t hear from the stud in the last issue, we did hear from Taylor. You can read last week’s issue with Taylor if you missed it HERE. Falkland full results HERE

At the Cloverdale Invitational Rodeo it was Kyla Simmons and her mare Rime by Canadian stallion Frenchs Hula Guy that took the $25,000 Showdown Round check home. Full results HERE

In Manitoba, it was Carlene Reimer and Turn Quick On Red that came out the big winners at the Don’t Give A Buck Barrel Race. We interviewed Carlene after her Spring Thaw win. Read it HERE and event results are HERE

Welcome to all the new subscribers and thank you to everyone here already that’s been sharing and reading. You’re appreciated.

In this issue:
➡From The Arena Floor: Interview with Lacey Terpsma
➡Upcoming Events & Deadlines
➡Road Recipe of the Week
➡Featured horse
➡Road Apples - tidbits from around the we
➡Featured Ranch
➡Mindset Minute with Michelle
➡Meme of the week
➡Bonus Email Subscribers Only Interview with Ashley Schafer

From The Arena Floor with Lacey Terpsma

The Canadian College Rodeo Association held their finals in Rimbey, Alberta May 16-18, 2025. Winning all 3 rounds and coming out as the Canadian Barrel Racing Champion was Lacey Terpsma and her gelding Animal.

I was able to catch up with Lacey after her big win to learn more about her and her partner Animal.

Tell us about your horse. Who bred him, who owns him, who has done the training etc. Tell us about their personality and what they're like to run.

The horse I run in the barrel racing goes by barn name Animal, and is registered as Bag Me Some Sweets. He is a 2014 sorrel AQHA gelding bred by Jesse and Elyse Thomson of 7P Ranch. My mom, Stacey Terpsma, bought him as a 3 year old with 40 days and has done the rest herself with the help of our awesome trainer JP Forget! He is a super quirky horse, and comes by the name Animal honestly. He picked up the barrels right off the hop, he’s one of them horses that wants to be good but needs a job. He is very smart, you make one correction at a trot in the practice pen and he’ll hold onto that correction and he never puts up a fight- just so honest. He’s very broke, a great head horse, good to brand on and is an overall outstanding ranch horse. To get him some experience and muscle strength I used him as a show jumping horse as a 6 year old and he was an awesome cross country horse too!
I try to keep his warm up as simple, smooth and quiet as possible as he can get hot. I have the hardest time with him in the alley, as when he wants to go he is going in there with or without you. In the arena he is super honest, and pretty much runs the same pattern every time.

“Animal’s” Pedigree

Tell us about yourself Lacey. Where you're from, how long you've been barrel racing and what you're studying in College or University and where you're doing that.

I’m 21 years old from Alhambra Alberta! I have been riding horses for as long as I can remember, my mom was riding with us while she was pregnant even. I grew up entering local rodeos, junior rodeos and Gymkana. I just finished up my third year at the University of Alberta where I plan to graduate with a Bachelor’s of Commerce degree in December 2026! Before going into a Commerce degree, I did two years in a Bachelor’s of Science with the plans of being a performance vet- but it wasn’t my passion and I found myself a lot more interested in economics, business management, commerce & marketing!

Have you had to overcome any challenges with horse to make it to this level of success?

Animal has definitely scared us a few times. When he was 4, he jumped a roping box and hung his hind left leg, right below the hock, on a bolt connected to the chute. We thought we were going to have to put him down, it was a MESS and swelled up to the size of a stove pipe. He had a hole the size of a toonie right to the bone. After X-rays and ultrasounds, he somehow missed everything important and was going to be completely sound on it. It was just a nasty superficial wound, we hosed it every day for 3 months and 6 years later he still has the nasty scar. Last summer, he seemed off and tried to colic. After bringing him to the vet I learned he had a form of clover poisoning that was dehydrating him and causing a bunch of inflammation. He was quickly filled up with electrolytes, antibiotics and everything he needed to get back to being healthy again and he made a full recovery. Overall, I think the biggest challenge with him was just learning to trust him and build a relationship with him, as he is cautious. I never gotta worry about someone taking him home, cause if he doesn’t know you he will not let you near him.

It's pretty impressive to will all three rounds. What do you attribute to that consistency? Did you have to make any adjustments throughout your runs? Which run was your favorite?

He is almost always consistent, he usually makes me the same run every single time. I think he’s more scared of hitting the barrel than I am, so I really don’t worry about hitting them- if we do it’s a rider error. I think my favourite run was Friday night, I wanted to go in there and make a statement and he did just that. The only adjustment I tried to make the last two days was clean up our second a bit, and moving into the summer season it’s something I need to fix up. I have a great trainer at home, JP Forget, who I try and ride with every opportunity I get and he will help make it right again.

Tell us about your gear setup for this horse What are you riding in for a saddle, pad, bit etc.? Shoes or no shoes?

I ride him in a all black Seven lightweight spinal relief saddle. He’s got “shark fin” for a wither, so he’s been hard to fit to make sure his back isn’t sore, and this current saddle is by far the best fitting one for him I’ve had. I use a 1” Best Ever Pads saddle pad, it helps keep my saddle sitting up and equalizing pressure. I use Alliance Equine splint boots all around every run. He’s super soft, but I still ride in a Sherry Cervi diamond long shank so I have some control if I need it quickly- but I try not to touch him at all. I have a great farrier, Kelly Avery, who hot shoes him all around, he runs barefoot or with shoes but I like to keep shoes on to protect his feet from stone bruising. Overall he has good feet.

And how about the feeding and maintenance plan? What fuels this speedy horse?

I have him on a very specific feeding plan, as he is extremely fussy. He has free choice alfalfa/timothy mix hay every day no matter where we are. His grain mixture consists of soaked alfalfa cubes, mixed with various Delta Vet Wellness supplements, joint supplements and oils. Hailey Shaw with Elite Equine has helped me design a feed plan that is really working well for him, and that he will eat. The most important thing in his pre-run routine is his nebulizer from Rhinestone Acres, as he does have some allergies and it has made the world of a difference.
In regards to maintenance, I have Hailey with Elite Equine come out monthly to work her magic with a massage, acupuncture and corrections if need be. I try to consistently use magnets such as Equibandz and the Alliance Equine magnetic sheet as well.

What have you enjoyed most about being on a College Rodeo Team?

I have made some great friends and lifelong connections throughout my time in the Canadian College Rodeo Association. I have learned sportsmanship, responsibility and leadership. It has taught me to be a stronger competitor and how to focus, but to also have fun along the way. I am thankful to have a association such as this one so that we can further our Canadian educations and still rodeo in Canada. Being on the Central Alberta Rodeo Team has been a lot of fun with great support, and given lots of us who aren't attending an agricultural school the opportunity to rodeo at a collegiate level.

Do you have anyone you'd like to thank or sponsors we can promote for you?

I would like to thank Hailey Shaw with Elite Equine for her support, help keeping him feeling good and for sharing her mountains of knowledge. Along with JP Forget for helping me be the rider I am today. Alliance Equine for creating a lightweight boot that is durable and I can trust to keep Animal's legs safe, as well as their awesome magnetic products! Lastly, Rhinestone Acres has been wonderful for helping me get my Flexineb nebulizer working good and set up, as well as carrying any product I need to for my nebulizer. They are a great family with a great cause, and carry almost everything I have in my trailer.

Lacey and Animal ❤

Upcoming Events:

*******
The Westman Challenge Series (Western Manitoba) continues to add new locations and date to their series. See additions post HERE
******
The 20th Twirl and Whirl in Brooks, AB set their dates for September 19-21st and announced $15,000 added. Info here
*******
I started a spreadsheet with many of Western Canada’s barrel races listed including 4 Provinces. It is a work in progress, please send changes or additions. Have a look HERE
*******
Use this post to buy and sell slots for the Red White and Gold Slot race in Biggar, SK
*****
Find info on each of the Canadian Barrel Futurities Events HERE
the next CBF approved event is the Grace and Grit in Saskatoon, SK June 5-8
*****
Supernova Productions announced a move from Wetaskiwin, to Red Deer - Westerner Park for their event The Big Bang Aug 5-10, 2025
*****
CBHI announced and exciting 2D Slot Race to be added to their weekend. More info HERE The CBHI Flagship event is October (9TH-12TH) 2025 in Ponoka, AB. The have indicated this event and their approved race derby age is continuing to be 7 & under.
*****
The Rope & Race in Brandon, MB is scheduled for May 23-25. More on their FB page here. It is CBHI approved.
*****
The Prestige Barrel race is also noted as CBHI approved and scheduled for June 21-22 in Brandon, MB. There is a post running for those wanting to buy and sell slots. FB page here.

Road Recipe Of The Week

Chicken Caesar Wraps

Ingredients:
- Grilled chicken breast, sliced
- Romaine lettuce
- Caesar dressing
- Tortillas
Instructions:
1. Lay out the tortilla and spread Caesar dressing over it.
2. Add romaine lettuce and sliced grilled chicken.
3. Roll the tortilla tightly, wrap in foil or parchment paper, and refrigerate until ready to eat.

Presented by: Rodeoclassifieds.com

🍎Road Apples - tidbits from around the web this week

🍎Calves N Cans jackpot are raffling off an Allen Quarter Horses yearling filly. Buy tickets HERE

🍎 SBRA District 1 are raffling off Keith Urban tickets. More info HERE

🍎 Black Cat Lider ran another 16.2 on a standard pattern in Brazil. Watch that run HERE

🍎 The CPRA’s The Short Round podcast interviewed Rene LeClercq last week. Listen on Spotify HERE

🍎The CBHI has joined the CFR ticket fundraiser program. Buy your tickets through their link and help the CBHI earn funds. You save 20% off retail too! HERE

🍎Big Bang is having a fundraiser. 3 chances at $3000 or credit towards a Sandy Ridge Stallion Station foal or stallion fees. HERE

🍎Canadian Barrel Futurity Points are up to date and posted HERE and Derby HERE

🍎Orthopedic leg braces some folks rent out that have made a difference to many foals over the years. Hope you don’t need them, but might save one if you do. HERE

🍎How to check for the elusive mare bean. HERE

🍎Grace and Grit Futurity and Derby have a raffle for a Flexineb HERE

Featured Ranch

Cottonwood Ranch is operated by Billie Bird and Royden Spence. Contact Billie at 1 780 926 6097 for more information or to book to a stallion.

Would you like your ranch or business featured? We’d love to promote yours, get in touch.

Mindset Minute with Michelle Davey

From my experience and observation through working with hundreds of barrel racers, the majority of us don’t need to “toughen up”. We need more grace, more self compassion and self kindness. Yes, there’s a place to push through with resilience, tenacity and discipline. But you don’t need to be hard on yourself or trash talk yourself into action. That affects your overall vibration and health. Your body is listening. Speaking to it with tension will cause the same. Speak to yourself like you would a friend, encourage, motivate and get going, but don’t do it from a place of self degradation in order to feel “tough” (when that frequency is really a point of weakness that will cause the breaking point).

Meme of the week

If you’re reading this because a friend forwarded it to you, click here to subscribe, we send out a new e-newsletter each week.

Interested in advertising or supporting The Arena Feed? Email Michelle - rodeohorses@gmail.com

Until next week,

Michelle

Royal Crown Canada Queen

Michelle Davey — Tue, 13 May 2025 18:46:35 +0000

Welcome to the 9th edition of The Arena Feed!

It was an action packed week of Royal Crown Canada events in Claresholm, AB. The team started their event with the roping events and concluded with barrel racing. There was PLENTY of money to be won across Royal Crown and Open events. The Royal Crown exclusive events were open to those horses sired by enrolled stallions.

In the barrel racing, it was Taylor Cherry who came out on top. She won both the Royal Crown Futurity and the Open futurity aboard the Guys Casanova Cowboy daugther - Lynns Honor. See her interview below.

Winning the RC and Open Derby average was Anita Ellis on the Goodbye Lane offspring SGL Rico. The duo were first in the first round and second in the second.
In the second round of the Open Derby, setting a new arena record of 15.829 was Jennifer Neudorf and Canyons Moon Light by Guys Canyon Moon. With this run they also won the slot race and open. Read their interview below.

Not long before the arena record of the day was set, Krystal Grad and A Famous French Kiss set a new record first with 15.851. Being by a Royal Crown stallion, they won the Royal Crown Derby second round. We have a past interview with Krystal here.

Find all the Royal Crown Results here and learn how to get involved in the next event by listening to our previous interview with share holder Randa Nugent here. Their next event is September 8-14 in Ponoka, AB.

Welcome to all the new subscribers and thank you to everyone here already that’s been sharing and reading. You’re appreciated.

In this issue:
➡From The Arena Floor: Interview with Taylor Cherry
➡Upcoming Events & Deadlines
➡NEW! Road Recipe of the Week
➡Featured horse
➡Road Apples - tidbits from around the web
➡Featured Ranch
➡Mindset Minute with Michelle
➡Meme of the week

From The Arena Floor with Taylor Cherry

They gave the crowns out a few weeks ago at the Mother of Dragons race, but I think the undisputed (and undefeated) Queen of the Royal Crown Canada Futurity is Taylor Cherry! I’m going to hedge a bet that this may be Taylor’s favorite event of the year. She has won this event on different horses every year it’s been running! That’s simply amazing!

This year it was Taylor and Lynns Honor who won both the Royal Crown Futurity Average and the Open Futurity Average in Claresholm, AB, taking home $18,327! Taylor also took home some coin with her 3rd place finish on Blazin Sugar Daddy.

I caught up to Taylor so that we could learn a bit more about Taylor and her mount Lynns Honor.

Tell us about 𝐋𝐲𝐧𝐧𝐬 𝐇𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐫. Who bred her, who owns her, who started her, who has been training her, now long she's been with you in training and what she is like to be around.

Lenny—aka “Lynn’s Honor”—might just be the queen of spunk in my barn. She’s got opinions, she’s impatient, she tells you exactly what she thinks… but she also has the biggest heart and LOVES to be loved on.

Bred by Doug & Debbie Willis, owned by Tracy Scott, started by Keely Durrel, and now stealing my heart (and patience) daily for the last 10 months. She keeps life interesting—and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Taylor, tell us about yourself. Where you're from, how long you've been training barrel racing horses for and what you do when you're not barrel racing.

I’m 26 years old, born and raised on a ranch in Quesnel, BC. Horses have been part of my life for as long as I can remember. I was riding before I could walk and started training horses full time while still in middle school.

I’ve always taken pride in riding and training my own horses. I love starting colts and bringing them up into whatever discipline suits them best. While barrel racing is my main focus, you’ll still find me in the saddle every day, whether it’s working with reiners, rope horses, or young prospects.

When I’m not riding (which isn’t often), I’m usually chasing another passion—fitness. I love anything that keeps me active, from boxing to hiking, running, or hitting the gym. I also have a huge love for the water! If I’m not at the barn, I’m likely on the lake or sun bathing in a pool. Horses, hard work, and hustle, that’s what keeps me going.

What kind of obstacles (if any) have you had to overcome while training and prepping this mare to futurity? How did you do that?

She hasn’t exactly thrown big obstacles my way, but she hasn’t been the easiest either. Lenny is incredibly gritty and aggressive on the pattern, which meant I had to really slow things down and keep her in check until she learned how to channel that intensity and figure out where to put her feet. She’s one of those horses with so much heart she can almost try too hard at times.

What has been your training and fitness program to get Lynns Honor ready for the season?

Lenny gets worked 5-6 days a week as part of my fitness-focused program. Everything I do is centered around keeping my horses physically prepared and capable of doing their job well.

With Lenny, I incorporate the pattern into our routine almost every day, but I typically only take her through it 3-4 times unless I feel there’s something specific that needs tuning. That’s been the key to success with her.

Lenny absolutely loves her job and takes it seriously, sometimes a little too literal, which means I don’t need to tune on her much. Which I do love about her. My main focus is keeping her fit, sharp, and mentally ready. When I do need to address something, it’s usually speed control and helping her slow her feet down in the turns, since she naturally wants to attack the pattern with a lot of grit and intensity and not to mention the SPEED again. lol

Tell us about your gear setup for her. What are you riding in for a saddle, pad, bit etc? Shoes or no shoes?

Lenny runs in a wide Usher saddle, paired with a zone saddle pad and J9 splint boots for leg protection. She runs in a tie-down and a 1:1 locked shank JD Morrow bit with a copper twist and a small chain in the center. She’s also shod with rim shoes all the way around.

And how about her feeding and maintenance plan? What fuels her?

My feed program is pretty simple and straightforward. I focus on quality and consistency.

I feed the best hay I can find, along with alfalfa pellets for added protein. For grain, I keep it basic with Manna Pro pelleted rice bran and rolled oats. Sometimes I’ll spice it up with a little sweet feed on the road to keep them eating their supplements.

Supplement-wise, I use:
• Daily Gold
• 4CYTE
• Lysine
• Electrolytes
• Hoffman’s Mineral

This combination keeps her feeling good, recovering well, and ready to perform at her best.

As a barrel horse trainer (and not specific to Lenny), how do you balance the progress and needs of the horse with those of the owner?

For me, it’s always about the horse first. I focus on doing what’s best for the horse at all times, and I work hard to reassure owners that their horse’s time will come, when the horse is ready.

They all have their own timeline, and more often than not, it’s not the same as ours. It’s about patience, trust, and letting the horse tell us when they’re ready for the next step.

Can you offer any advice to a young person with a dream of training barrel horses full time?

Work hard and KEEP GOING, even when it feels like nothing’s going your way, because truth is, it probably won’t for a while. Take the small wins, cheer yourself on for the little things, because those little things will add up to everything you’ve been working for.

Do you have anyone you'd like to thank or sponsors we can promote for you?

I’d love to give a huge thank you to my amazing sponsors who continue to believe in me and my program: Usher Brand Silver & Saddlery, J9 Equine, and Pro Earth Animal Health Canada (Zesterra).
Your support means the world to me and my horses. I couldn’t do what I do without you!

For complete results see www.RoyalCrownCanada.com and to order your pictures head to https://www.billiejeanduff.ca/royal-crown-canada1

From The Arena Floor with Jennifer Neudorf

Setting a new arena record of 15.829 in the Open Derby of the Royal Crown was Jennifer Neudorf and Canyons Moon Light With this run they also won the slot race and 2nd round of the open. You can watch the blistering fast run HERE.

I caught up with Jennifer to ask her a few questions that I’m happy to be able to share with you!

Tell us about Canyons Moon Light - Febe Who bred her, who owns her, who started her, whos been training and what is she like to be around. Inquiring minds want all the details about Febe.

Bear creek QH bred and owned her until the end of her 4yr old year, Jolene Montgomery rode and trained her. This will be the 4th year I’ve owned Febe, she has the kindest heart out of all my barrel horses and is by far everyone’s favourite to deal with at the barn, she loves people, attention, and butt scratches. She’s so forgiving over all my mistakes, She can get worried but throughout the years I’ve felt her put more and more trust into me as her rider. I’m excited to keep learning and growing with such a special horse

Tell us about yourself. Where you're from, how long you've been barrel racing for and what you do when you're not barrel racing.

I’m from Rimbey Alberta, I barrel raced off and on growing up but Reining always caught my eye so from 12-18 I was on a reining horse or working for my trainer as much as I possibly could. When I got to ride as a non pro with Craig Schmersal I started online schooling. I would fly and stay with the Schmersals as much as I was able, all I wanted to do was be at their barn learning and riding. When it wasn’t lessons on my own horse I was bathing, braiding, every other horse I was able to put my hands on. Once in a while I was allowed to get on other horses and get a lesson which was the most exciting for me! Throughout the time I was reining my mom was still breeding, raising, and sending her barrel horses to trainers/jockey's. In 2021 when Chubbs last derby year was over I stayed home full time and started barrel racing and became my moms jockey and trainer instead. I take a lot of pride in my reining background and have used so much of that knowledge and feel to help me figure out the barrel world.

Have you had to overcome any challenges with this mare to keep her running at this level?

One challenge is knowing the amazing things Febe is capable of and trying to be the jockey to take her there. I realized I need to trust we can go win not try to go win. Not to attach myself to the outcome or placing of the race. I found when I attached to winning on her I was relying on that title in a way instead of running our own race and having fun doing it.

How did that record setting run feel? Did you make any adjustments going into it that you could give credit to for being so fast? Give us a play by play of the run.

It felt smooth, that feeling when you and your horse are just with each other every stride of the run is the most addictive parts of the sport to me. It always brings a huge smile to my face, even if I didn’t want to I can’t help it. I am an over analyzer and it gets me into trouble of doing too much sometimes but Wade Marshall who has a cutting background gave me some pointers of letting them work and leaving them more accountable. When I left them more accountable I could feel all my horses confidence in themselves grow with every run I made on them at the royal crown. My run in the first round we went by first barrel a bit so the second round I just wanted to be smooth and stay out of her way, she likes to bury her butt a bit too much in that arena sometimes so made sure I was with her riding the hip to keep her forward around all three barrels.

Tell us about your gear setup for Febe. What are you riding in for a saddle, pad, bit etc? Shoes or no shoes?

I took a long time this winter finding the perfect angles and plan of action for Febe’s front feet. I took her tie down off, lengthened my reins to where it felt uncomfortable and shortened my stirrups to all help me stay back and ride the hip more.

And how about his feeding and maintenance plan? What fuels this speedy horse?

We have over 45 horses on our property so grain gets expensive. Instead we buy big totes of oats rolled with peas, mineral, flax, and some other things. We soak beet pulp and mix 50/50 for their grain Supplements I use:
Race today (help strengthen the capillaries for bleeding)
Vetline electrolytes
Excell EQ
Vitamin E
Magnesium
Ashwagandha
I also have a megnawave that I use on them and myself and I always feel a big difference

You ride a lot of fast horses! How do you adjust yourself and your timing to ride right for each horse you're jumping on?

When I started it did take a bit to learn how to adjust especially when I was running 10 different horses. It was tough to learn running a dishonest horse then getting on one of my good horses I know could win and not getting any bad habits or trusting I don’t need to do anything extra I have also jump jockeyed a lot of random horses at big races without knowing anything about them or how they run so I think all that was the best thing for me because now switching between the horses I have I don’t even have to think about it.

Do you have anyone you'd like to thank or sponsors we can promote for you?

Yes my sponsors:
Vetline
Excell EQ
Zestarra
Usher Brand saddle

I’m forever thankful for all the people in my corner, If it wasn’t for them I wouldn’t be able to do this interview I’m doing right now

For complete results see www.RoyalCrownCanada.com and to order your pictures head to https://www.billiejeanduff.ca/royal-crown-canada1

Upcoming Events:

*******

The Westman Challenge Series (Western Manitoba) continues to add new locations and date to their series. See additions post HERE

*******

The 20th Twirl and Whirl in Brooks, AB set their dates for September 19-21st and announced $15,000 added. Info here

*******

I started a spreadsheet with many of Western Canada’s barrel races listed including 4 Provinces. It is a work in progress, please send changes or additions. Have a look HERE

*******

Use this post to buy and sell slots for the Red White and Gold Slot race in Biggar, SK

*****
Find info on each of the Canadian Barrel Futurities Events HERE
the next CBF approved event is the Grace and Grit in Saskatoon, SK June 5-8

*****

Supernova Productions announced a move from Wetaskiwin, to Red Deer - Westerner Park for their event The Big Bang Aug 5-10, 2025

*****

The Calgary Stampede Ladies Barrel Racing Qualifier will be June 10 &11, 2025 at the Nutrien Western Event Centre. Competitors will have the opportunity to run for a chance at competing at the 2025 Calgary Stampede Rodeo. Entries Open April 15th and Close May 15th. Enter HERE
*****

CBHI announced and exciting 2D Slot Race to be added to their weekend. More info HERE The CBHI Flagship event is October (9TH-12TH) 2025 in Ponoka, AB. The have indicated this event and their approved race derby age is continuing to be 7 & under.
*****

The Rope & Race in Brandon, MB is scheduled for May 23-25. More on their FB page here. It is CBHI approved.

*****
The Prestige Barrel race is also noted as CBHI approved and scheduled for June 21-22 in Brandon, MB. There is a post running for those wanting to buy and sell slots. FB page here.

*****
Don’t Give A Buck Barrel Race and Roping is slated for May 17-19 in Virden, MB. The event kicks off with a wedding fundraiser jackpot for Janet and Ory, on the 18th, the 7th annual Don’t Give A Buck Barrel Racing $2500 WF approved JP in the 18th, concluding with a fundraiser team roping.

Road Recipe Of The Week

Taco Salad Jars

Ingredients:
- Seasoned ground beef or turkey
- Shredded lettuce
- Diced tomatoes
- Black beans
- Corn kernels
- Salsa
- Tortilla chips (packed separately)
Instructions:
1. In a mason jar, layer the ingredients in the following order: salsa, ground meat, black beans, corn, diced tomatoes, and shredded lettuce.
2. Seal the jar and refrigerate.
3. When ready to eat, shake the jar to mix and top with tortilla chips.

Presented by: Rodeoclassifieds.com

Honest, loves to work, and easy to get along with mare. She would be a great experienced youth or open mare. Makes the same run every time. Runs left or right. She is a 2D/3D horse at smaller races and a 3D at bigger shows. Loves indoor pens. All the details including price: HERE

🍎Road Apples - tidbits from around the web this week

🍎A nightmare situation out of Comanche Texas where horses and their owner will attacked by African Killer Bees. Trigger warning if you’re got a bee phobia. All 3 horses passed away and the owner treated. HERE

🍎 Marci Powell shared her 10/10 approval and affiliate link for this soap sprayer/horse washer. Looks super handy. Apparently also available at Walmart if you’re up for that adventure.

🍎 In this reel Sharp Sports Medicine shared about processing the horses own blood and converting it with 𝐀𝐋𝐏𝐇𝐀𝟐𝐄𝐐 to be used for nebulizing for lung health. Not sure we can get this in Canada but interesting nonetheless!

🍎 Delaney Vet is continuing their “coffee talk” series. Next up is horse insurance May 28. Call the office by the 3rd to register. FB post.

Featured Ranch

Visit Allen Quarter Horses online at www.allenquarterhorses.com

Would you like your ranch or business featured? We’d love to promote yours, get in touch.

Mindset Minute with Michelle Davey

“You will become what you think about most; your success or failure in anything, large or small, will depend on your programming — what you accept from others, and what you say when you talk to yourself.” - Shad Helmstettler

Pay attention to how you speak to yourself, how you treat yourself and how you allow others to treat you. This dialogue shapes your reality and will influence what you’re able to create within it. You can start by being a better friend to yourself. Don’t accept treatment or conversations in your head that you would walk away from if they were happening in the chair beside you.

Meme of the week

If you liked this issue, please share with your friends! It is your support and shares that will build and keep this newsletter going. I appreciate your help so much.
If you have ideas to make it better, please tell me! You can reply to the email anytime and I’m all ears/eyes and I’m looking forward to making each edition worth your time.
I’ll never hold you or your email hostage so you can always find the unsubscribe button anytime you wish.

If you’re reading this because a friend forwarded it to you, click here to subscribe, we send out a new e-newsletter each week.

Interested in advertising or supporting The Arena Feed? Email Michelle - rodeohorses@gmail.com

Until next week,

Michelle

Smooth runs and fast times

Michelle Davey — Tue, 06 May 2025 17:07:46 +0000

Welcome to the 8th edition of The Arena Feed!

It was a profitable weekend in barrel racing land if you were in the money at the Yellow Rose Futurity and Derby. With go rounds and averages paying over $4000 to win, LTE’s were moving up quick.

The futurity average was won by Kirsty White and R Ace Of Spades who we have previously interviewed. Listen to that interview here.
Second in the average was Krystal Grad on CD Decked In Gold. We didn’t interview Krystal on this specific horse, but you can read her previous interview here.

In the Derby, it was Bailee Switzer with a clean sweep. Learn more about her and her mare Unleashedsumtrouble in the interview below.
Taking second in the derby average was Jayden Wilson and Fame Is Dynamite.
Complete Yellow Rose Results can be found on their FB page HERE.

On the pro rodeo trail Taylor-Jane Gardner and her stallion A Frenchmans Ledoux took their first pro rodeo win in Coleman and split ¾ in Drayton Valley. The CPRA did a nice interview with her to celebrate her big weekend. You can read that HERE

The win in Drayton Valley went to Brooke Wills and her seasoned mare Fames To Blame. We hear from Brooke below.

Welcome to all the new subscribers and thank you to everyone here already that’s been sharing and reading. You’re appreciated.

In this issue:
➡From The Arena Floor: Interviews with Bailee Switzer and Brooke Wills
➡Upcoming Events & Deadlines
➡Featured horse
➡Road Apples - tidbits from around the web
➡Featured Ranch
➡Mindset Minute with Michelle
➡Meme of the week

*Please subscribe by entering your email to see and read all the content. It’s free to read, but your subscriptions help me know how many people I’m reaching, which helps our riders and our sponsors.

From The Arena Floor with Bailee Switzer

Bailee Switzer and her mare Unleashedsumtrouble had a clean sweep of the Yellow Rose Derby in Claresholm, AB May 3rd and 4th. They won both rounds of the derby, won the average and also claimed the open win taking home almost $13,000 before any incentive money.

Thanks Bailee for taking the time to share with us readers of The Arena Feed!

Tell us about Unleashedsumtrouble. Who bred her, who owns her, who started her, who has been training er and what she is like to be around.

Billy and Marci Laye, who own LDS Unleashed, had sold a mare in foal to Bonnie and Nick Pana and Nicole (Pana) Hicks and "Babe" is the result. They started her and Nicole trained her for barrels and ran her during her 5 year old year and winter of her 6 year old year. I know she was disappointed she didn't get to show her as much as she would have liked because she cut her leg during her futurity season that year, but she certainly put her magic touch on her and made such a nice solid horse. I got the chance to own her this time last year. Personality wise, she is sweet to me, but she is most definitely the boss alpha mare. She is sensitive, has a lot of go, and is fairly "opinionated", so we work with those qualities and do our best to keep her happy!

Bailee, tell us about yourself. Where you're from, how long you've been barrel racing for and what you do when you're not barrel racing.

I am from Aneroid, SK. I have been residing in Arizona for the last 4 years while I went back to university to get a nursing degree and worked as an RN there the last couple years. I've been barrel racing since I was little, so for probably 30 years, and I couldn't imagine my life without a horse in it.

What has been your training and fitness program to get your horse ready for the season?

I've been fortunate that I haven't had a winter off season since I have been in Arizona for the last several years and the off season there is in July. She gets rode or ponied 5-6 days per week and pattern work maybe once a week. This winter I would try to compete once a week to keep fit, sharp, and have some timing down on my part. She got about a month break from competition when I left Arizona the end of March. I think we have both really enjoyed the wide open spaces up here in Canada and getting to just ride out of the yard and go for miles.

Tell us about your gear setup for your horse. What are you riding in for a saddle, pad, bit etc? Shoes or no shoes?

For headgear, she runs in the Stevi shank Boutin Bit, with a three piece mouthpiece that has a chain in the middle, and a loose cord curb strap. I've added a loosely adjusted Kim Smith Magic Tiedown which I really like the feel of. I ride in a treeless Bob Marshall Sports Saddle with a Tacktical felt pad. She has steel rims on all fours.

And how about his feeding and maintenance plan?

Stanton Equine Veterinary team keeps her feeling her best along with Kay Dee Munns-Olson osteopathy and Trevor Duhon farrier work in Arizona. She is on grass pasture, alfalfa hay, and alfalfa cubes, along with Purina Ultium Gastric Care and Platinum Performance GI. I also feed Race Today and Equilytes powder and paste from Vetline.

What are your competition plans for the rest of the year?

I plan to go to the CPRA rodeos with her and whichever derbies or big races work with that schedule.

Do you have anyone you'd like to thank or sponsors we can promote for you?

"Mom and Dad, best sponsors I ever had"
I don't have any sponsors but I really appreciate the team of people that go above and beyond to keep my horses feeling their best and my family and friends for all their words of encouragement and support in the highest of highs and lowest of lows. My mom has been my biggest cheerleader and #1 fan for literal decades and she deserves the biggest thanks. I am thankful to be back in Canada with the opportunity to attend so many high paying, well-run events and rodeos made possible by sponsors, producers, breeders, associations, committees, and volunteers. Last but not least, thanks "Babe".

Pedigree for “Babe” Unleashedsumtrouble

From The Arena Floor with Brooke Wills

Brooks Wills came out on top at the Drayton Valley CPRA rodeo this past weekend winning $3825.99. Congratulations Brooke and thank you for taking the time to answer these questions for inquiring minds!

Tell us about your horse. What's her registered name? Who bred her, who owns her, who started her , who has been training her and what she is like to be around.

Fames To Blame “Famey” is a 14 year old mare sired by Lions Share of Fame and out of SX Frenchman’s Peach. She was bred by Carisa Shearer and Stephanie Wheeler. Brian Wheeler trained and Futuritied her and later sold her to Ivy Saebens. They both had a ton of success on her. I purchased her in 2018 and she’s been with me ever since. Famey has an all business attitude. She doesn’t like to be messed with and She lets you know what she likes and doesn’t like but she loves to run barrels and has one of the biggest hearts. She never lets you down.

Tell us about yourself. Where you're from, how long you've been barrel racing for and what you do when you're not barrel racing.

I currently live in Dawson Creek. I’ve been riding since I was 2 years old and I’ve never stopped. When I’m not barrel racing, I like to work on our place or go see family and friends or spend time on the river.

What has been your training and fitness program to get your horse ready for the season?

I gave Famey 2 months off after the Maple Leaf Circuit Finals which is the most I’ve ever given her so it was really important to make sure she was in good shape before I started running her. I spent 2 months in Arizona exercising her and then when I finally felt she was ready, then I got to take her to 2 jackpots. I ride for 12 minutes but each day is different with how long I walk/trot/lope but always no longer than 12-15 minutes and I’ll usually do a sprint interval day as well. This changes a bit when rodeo season is busy and she makes more runs but it’s something I love to follow.

Tell us about your gear setup for your horse. What are you riding in for a saddle, pad, bit etc? Shoes or no shoes?

I ride in a Woodys Saddle. Professional Choice saddle pad. She runs in a Kerry Kelly Ticket bit without a chin strap. I’ll exercise at home in an Flaharty Hackamore. And she has Aluminum wedges on the front and barefoot behind.

And how about his feeding and maintenance plan?

Famey gets really good Alfalfa at home and on the road. She loves food. For grain she gets beet pulp, cool stance coconut meal, platinum performance and dermal support and Equinity. And then Every year she does a EPM/ dewormer cleanse from Old West Holistic Co. She gets Magnawave sessions a couple times a week, and lots of cookies! I spoil her haha. Fameys vet is Ty Corbiell with Cor Vet Services and he sees her every couple of months to make sure all is well.

What are your competition plans for the rest of the year?

I’m lucky that Famey has put me in a position that I can pick and choose what rodeos to go to. I know what she likes and doesn’t like and I usually skip lots of the spring rodeos because they’re too far away. We go to the close ones in May and then June gets very busy.

Do you have anyone you'd like to thank or sponsors we can promote for you?

Thank you to:
Cor Vet Services
XLR8 Canada
Pro Earth Animal Health Canada
Tim Cooper Custom Hats.

Fames To Blame 2011 Mare

Upcoming Events:

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The 20th Twirl and Whirl in Brooks, AB set their dates for September 19-21st and announced $15,000 added. Info here

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I started a spreadsheet with many of Western Canada’s barrel races listed including 4 Provinces. It is a work in progress, please send changes or additions. Have a look HERE

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Use this post to buy and sell slots for the Red White and Gold Slot race in Biggar, SK

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Find info on each of the Canadian Barrel Futurities Events HERE

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Supernova Productions announced a move from Wetaskiwin, to Red Deer - Westerner Park for their event The Big Bang Aug 5-10, 2025

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Royal Crown Canada is back to Claresholm. Alberta 𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝟲-𝟭𝟭, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 With $𝟐𝟎𝟕,𝟓𝟎𝟎 added over the 6 days. Late fees now apply but you can enter right up to the event They run an open race as well as the signature events for Royal Crown Stallion eligible offspring. There are no late fees to the warmup jackpot.
Listen to our previous Royal Crown Canada interview in the last issue HERE.

Presented by: Rodeoclassifieds.com

🍎Road Apples - tidbits from around the web this week

🍎A Facebook user Dwayne wrote an informative post on fire safety for trucks and trailers that’s worth reading. HERE

🍎 Here’s a video demonstrating the Madigan Squeeze that I hope none of us need for our foals this spring but here it is if you need it.

🍎 Alliance Equine shared some pictures of a handy velcro hack for trailers. I’ve done this in my barn too and love it. See here.

🍎 Sharing this good foaling essentials and pH testing post from Elders Equine again so you have it handy if you need it HERE

Featured Ranch

Visit Allen Quarter Horses online at www.allenquarterhorses.com

Would you like your ranch or business featured? We’d love to promote yours, get in touch.

Mindset Minute with Michelle Davey

2 Good Things
There will always be something you wish you would have done different or something that went “wrong” in your run. But before you get into analyzing and picking things apart, it’s a good habit to look for the good first. As soon as your run is complete, make it a habit of finding “2 good things”.
We all have had those runs where it could be a stretch to find something good, but if you stayed on, your horse went in flat footed and your shirt stayed buttoned that could be the win. After you’ve found two good things, instead of picking things apart, have the mindset of finding what you can learn from what happened and what you’re going to work on before the next run. Perspective and your approach to things that didn’t go the way you hoped can make or break you. You are the architect of your mind and the conversations you have with yourself. Be mindful of the script you’re using and use one that supports yourself and builds you up for the next one rather than tearing you down. There’s no “good” and “bad” list. There’s the good and what you’re going to do different next time plan.

Meme of the week

If you’re reading this because a friend forwarded it to you, click here to subscribe, we send out a new e-newsletter each week.

Interested in advertising or supporting The Arena Feed? Email Michelle - rodeohorses@gmail.com

Until next week,

Michelle

Chasing dreams and taming dragons

Michelle Davey — Tue, 29 Apr 2025 16:34:08 +0000

Welcome to the 7th edition of The Arena Feed!

While our featured events were both run inside this past weekend, it does feels like spring is here as baby foals start arrive and the weekend was packed with rodeos and barrel racings.

This week we hear from Cati McArthur who won the Taber Spring Classic Pro rodeo and Justina Beauchesne, who won the 1D at the Mother Of Dragons jackpot in Stettler. You will find their interviews below.

Other notable winners this past weekend were Bradi Whiteside at Medicine Hat CPRA and KC Peters at the North Battleford CCA rodeo. I’ve linked both their names to the past interviews we did with them here for the Arena Feed.

Welcome to all the new subscribers and thank you to everyone here already that’s been sharing and reading. You’re appreciated.

In this issue:
➡From The Arena Floor: Interviews with Cati McArthur and Justina Beauchesne
➡Upcoming Events & Deadlines
➡Featured horse
➡Road Apples - tidbits from around the web
➡Featured Ranch
➡Mindset Minute with Michelle
➡Meme of the week

From The Arena Floor with Cati McArthur

From The Arena Floor with Justina Beauchesne

Upcoming Events:

Presented by: Rodeoclassifieds.com

🍎Road Apples - tidbits from around the web this week

Featured Ranch

Visit Allen Quarter Horses online at www.allenquarterhorses.com

Would you like your ranch or business featured? We’d love to promote yours, get in touch.

Mindset Minute with Michelle Davey

/*Please subscribe by entering your email to see and read all the content. It’s free to read, but your subscriptions help me know how many people I’m reaching, which helps our riders and our sponsors.

Meme of the week

If you’re reading this because a friend forwarded it to you, click here to subscribe, we send out a new e-newsletter each week.

Interested in advertising or supporting The Arena Feed? Email Michelle - rodeohorses@gmail.com

Until next week,

Michelle

Spring Fling

Michelle Davey — Tue, 22 Apr 2025 18:21:39 +0000

Welcome to the 6th edition of The Arena Feed!

Futurity fun was had this past weekend in Brooks, AB at the Spring Fling. This was the first Canadian Futurity and Derby sanctioned event of the year that counts towards the year end Canadian Barrel Futurity and Derby Championship. Contestants will be collecting points throughout the year at the 6 sanctioned events.

It was Bradi Whiteside and Gotatigerinthetank that took the Futurity Average win and Lisa Groves on ALG Cashflo, that won the derby average at the Silver Sage in Brooks. I have an interview with each of them below.

In addition to this current issue, you can always go back and read previous interviews you may have missed. Use this link to read them on our blog.

Welcome to all the new subscribers and thank you to everyone here already that’s been sharing and reading. You’re appreciated.

In this issue:
➡From The Arena Floor: Interviews with Bradi Whiteside and Lisa Groves
➡Event Spotlight: The Spring Fling Futurity and Derby
➡Upcoming Events & Deadlines
➡Featured horse
➡Road Apples - tidbits from around the web
➡Featured Ranch
➡Mindset Minute with Michelle
➡Meme of the week

From The Arena Floor with Bradi Whiteside

It was the 2020 gelding by Dually Cat named Gotatigerinthetank that took the average payout home at the Spring Fling Futurity and Derby in Brooks, AB April 20th, 2025. The gelding is owned by Ben Bamford and ridden by Bradi Whiteside. In addition to the average money and buckle, the duo also won the 2nd go and placed 4th in the first go. I was able to catch up to Bradi to learn more about her and this super star horse.

Tell us about Gotatigerinthetank - Nifty Who bred him, who owns him, who started him, who has been training him and what he is like to be around.

Leslie Schlosser bred him and my boyfriend Ben Bamford owns him now, he bought him off Leslie’s, daughter Allie Lait spring of 2024 as a green broke 4yr old. At that point he wasn’t started on barrels yet, I have been one to do the barrel training. Nifty is very kind horse to be around and super willing to learn.

Bradi, tell us about yourself. Where you're from, how long you've been barrel racing for and what you do when you're not barrel racing.

I am from Longview Alberta, I grew up riding horses and now make a living training horses and rodeoing.

Jordan Pancoast sponsored this beautiful buckle awarded by the Spring Fling Crew

What has been your training and fitness program to get Nifty ready for the season?

Nifty is also a head and breakaway horse so he does a lot of that during the week with a little bit of barrel work.

Tell us about your gear setup for Nifty. What are you riding in for a saddle, pad, bit etc? Shoes or no shoes?

I love riding Nifty in my Robbie Phillips barrel saddle and 3S saddle pad, he runs in a short shank 3 piece. He also has shoes all the way around.

And how about his feeding and maintenance plan? What fuels Nifty?

He is on the best alfalfa hay I can find and Purina Canada Elite as well as Natures Wave Eberglo vitamin/mineral supplement.

What are your competition plans for Nifty for the rest of the year?

The plan with Nifty will be for Ben to take him to head horse futurities and myself to take him to as many barrel futurities as possible maybe even the odd rodeo!

Do you have anyone you'd like to thank or sponsors we can promote for you?

I would like to thank my sponsors Canyon Rigging, Back On Track Canada, Eberglo, BI Canada, Kailani Sports

Gotatigerinthetank bred by Leslie Schlosser owned by Ben Bamford

Futurity Average Results

From The Arena Floor with Lisa Groves

It was Lisa Groves and ALG Cashflo that came out with the derby average win in Brooks. They didn’t pick up cash in the first round, but they ran tough enough that their amazing 2nd go run and round win allowed them to take the lead by .005 seconds ahead of TT Frenchs Kona in the average. What tight race!

I was able to catch up with Lisa after her win to learn more about ALG Cashflo and the program that has found them so much success already.

Tell us about ALG CASHFLO AKA "Moolah". Who bred him, who owns him, who started him, who has been training him and what he is like to be around.

ALG CASHFLO "Moolah" is a 7 year old gelding sired by Perks French Cash, that Aaron and I raised, with the help of good friend and the stallion owner, Bertina Olafson. His dam, HA Sweet N Low was a mare that we had purchased to ride first, then breed, who has turned out to be a tremendous producer.

"Moolah" got his initial start by Mark Nugent as a two year old, then spent some time with Emma Atkinson, who has since started a lot of young horses for us. Fast forward, our son Brody had a significant win at the 2020 TRC (Team Roping Canada) Finals, and purchased "Moolah" from us, on the agreement that I would stay on to train and run him at the Barrel Racing Futurities and events with added incentive money that he was eligible to compete for, while Brody worked with him on the heading side. In the summer of "Moolah's" 5 year old year, Brody was hauling a really nice gelding that belonged to Aaron and I, and "Moolah" was continuing to make steady progress as a barrel racing horse, so we made a trade.

"Moolah" is quirky - a true Gemini with a couple of personalities. He is quite spooky on the ground some days, and very soft and kind on other days. He does not like to be approached quickly. I take my time when I saddle him, as sometimes he will spook and get tight. He does not like objects on the ground (like manholes on the streets, puddles, barrels falling, lol). His bravery is in the arena, where he is all business and as consistent and honest as they come. He seldom knocks barrels (2 in his career so far, and as mentioned it scares him). I have never had a horse in my lifetime that runs the same trip, every single time, quite like he does. He's super easy to ride. I always know what I'm on, with no reason to question it.

Lisa, tell us about yourself. Where you're from, how long you've been barrel racing for and what you do when you're not barrel racing.

I live near the small community of Cadogan in east-central Alberta, with my husband, Aaron. We have enjoyed raising and training horses, with the help of our son's, Logan and Brody, for over 20 years now. We moved to this area from Saskatchewan, and both work in the oilfield industry; I have been a Reclamation Consultant since 2003.

I barrel raced mostly on my dad's rope horses from a young age, but I was a much better team roper than I was a barrel racer back then. I became a lot more serious about barrel racing about 15 years ago when Aaron and I started our program of raising young horses as Bar Diamond L Performance Horses. We were quite busy in the beginning, building our place, standing our stallion (Little Lenaroo), and working our regular jobs, so we had some horses that were ridden very successfully by other trainers. Then I decided it was time for me to step up and start training and showing my own. I love it - I'm hooked. We did downsize our broodmares a few years back and sold our stallion, so the breeding side is a lot smaller than it once was, but we intend to continue to raise 1 to 2 foals each year, in hopes that we can continue to enjoy the breeding of the industry.

When I'm not barrel racing, I am working at my real job and just trying to stay ahead with my horses. Aaron and I also enjoy hosting some barrel racing and team roping events at our place. I recently traded a young mare to my oldest son, for his older heel horse, in hopes that I will get back to the roping pen more in the future.

What has been your training and fitness program to get Moolah ready for the season?

We were fortunate to have spent some time in Arizona during the winter months, so it was wonderful to have him come home from there, and into spring so strong and fit. I was extremely cautious of how many runs he made during our time in Arizona, so I chose my pens and events wisely, for a total of eight runs in the time-frame that we were gone. In his interim, Aaron and Brody roped off of him for a bit and I rode him in the desert and just enjoyed my time on him. It was super cool watching Brody rope off of him at the Mike Cervi Memorial roping in Casa Grande. He worked great and they won some incentive money in a tough roping! I like the short sprints that the team roping offers and I was happy to give him a change of scenery from the barrel pen.

I do not work a lot in the arena on my finished horses, rather, I pasture ride them. Now that we're home and he's in shape, I have a three to four mile ride that is a combination of some hills, spots to long trol, and some flat stretches that I can sprint. We do that 3 to 4 times a week, when our schedule allows it.

Tell us about your gear setup for Moolah. What are you riding in for a saddle, pad, bit etc? Shoes or no shoes?

I ride in a 7/8" 5 Star pad and a Raylee Racer Blue Tree. His bit that I run him in is an Elliot Spur UP 04 with a MPC -13 (three peice, twisted with copper and roller). I like to ride him in a three piece snaffle to keep him free and on the strong side. Or whatever bit I grab off the hook - he's not super fussy, but doesn't need a lot of bit. Yes shoes, always. I find that rodeo conditions are really hard to manage without them.

And how about his feeding and maintenance plan? What fuels this handsome fella?

I base my feed program on good quality forages - my preference is a 2nd cut mix of grass/alfalfa, or Summit cubes when I'm in Canada. In Arizona, we feed four times a day, alternating between TEFF and #1 alfalfa. I do supplement him each day with top-dressed loose mineral (Zesterra is my favourite), electrolytes, milled flax, aloe juice, with soaked beet pulp. I also add Roan & Co. Breeze Up, but only pre-race.

"Moolah" sees a performance vet on a routine / monthly basis, whether he feels great or not. He gets maintenance as those veterinarians see fit. I am fortunate to work with a few different GREAT vets in Canada and the US. He gets Legends shots monthly. Sometimes I'll give an additional Legends shot prior to heavy weeks of competition, just to give him extra support.

"Moolah" stays comfortable during travel and times of rest with his Equipod, as well as his XLR8 products. He particularly enjoys his Velocity Sheet, magnetic hood and fly mask. He gets monthly osteopathy work all through out the year. We also try to work in some Equiscope sessions when the season ramps up and he is making a lot of runs.

What are your competition plans for Moolah for the rest of the year?

I will continue to compete at the CPRA rodeos, and excited to have received my invite to Cloverdale in May. This is new for us! I will continue to try to get to some Derby's that I can fit in, as long as they don't result in a lot of extra travel - he will see enough miles in the trailer getting to and from the rodeos. Last year, not really knowing where my season was going, I also held a CCA Card, and travelled to handful of their rodeos. I may change it up this year, and try to get to some WPRA Events in Montana and the northern states, instead. The journey is part of the fun for me - I'd love to see some new country.

Do you have anyone you'd like to thank or sponsors we can promote for you?

My biggest supporter is my husband, Aaron. He's my fuel sponsor, my entry fee sponsor, my feed sponsor, lol. Without him helping me, this would be impossible.

I would like to thank Sam Smith and XLR8 Equine Canada for having me be a part of their team.

Thank you to every single producer, sponsor, and volunteer that makes our Events happen - this lifestyle would be non-existent without you all.

ALG Cashflo pedigree owned and bred by Lisa Groves

Spring Fling Derby Average Results. Complete results available HERE

Upcoming Events:

If you want YOUR event listed free, please reply to this email or use the “hot tips” form on the website. Everyone is welcome to help me out and submit events ;)

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I started a spreadsheet with many of Western Canada’s barrel races listed. It is a work in progress as I add everyone’s info and links but you can have a look now if you want just the dates. HERE

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Find info on each of the Canadian Barrel Futurities Events HERE

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The Mother Of Dragons barrel race - Stettler, AB. FB Group HERE
It runs April 26th and it looks like an amazing lineup of prizes taking shape. The division winners win gorgeous crowns!
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Randa Nugent and Family Benefit
𝗪𝗲𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗔𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗹 𝟯𝟬𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝘁 𝗚𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗔𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗮 for a benefit race in support of Randa Nugent and her family. There will also be an online auction hosted on the linked page to raise funds to support the physical repair, vet expenses and emotional loss from the tragedy they experienced.

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The Rope & Race in Brandon, MB is scheduled for May 23-25. More on their FB page here. It is CBHI approved.

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The Prestige Barrel race is also noted as CBHI approved and scheduled for June 21-22 in Brandon, MB. There is a post running for those wanting to buy and sell slots. FB page here. Slot payments were due April 15th.

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Don’t Give A Buck Barrel Race and Roping is slated for May 17-19 in Virden, MB. The event kicks off with a wedding fundraiser jackpot for Janet and Ory, on the 18th, the 7th annual Don’t Give A Buck Barrel Racing $2500 WF approved JP in the 18th, concluding with a fundraiser team roping.

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Royal Crown Canada is back to Claresholm. Alberta 𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝟲-𝟭𝟭, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 With $𝟐𝟎𝟕,𝟓𝟎𝟎 added over the 6 days. Late fees now apply but you can enter right up to the event They run an open race as well as the signature events for Royal Crown Stallion eligible offspring.
Listen to our previous Royal Crown Canada interview in the last issue HERE.

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The entry deadline for The Yellow Rose Futurity and Derby held May 2nd - 4th at Claresholm, AB is fast approaching. April 1st was the first payment deadline for Futurity and Derby entries. May 3rd Open jackpot entries are also open and close April 30th.

Presented by: Rodeoclassifieds.com

For more information about each of these proven products, visit their ad HERE

🍎Road Apples - tidbits from around the web this week

🍎CorVet made a cool reel showing the prep that goes into a Prostride injection HERE

🍎 Helpful tips and spring grass warning from the Osteopathic Vet HERE

🍎 Enter to win a Runaway slot by following the steps HERE

🍎Kelley Drake and Kim Kramps and joining forces to offer a “challenge” style clinic which I think is a really fun idea. See more HERE

🍎 Sharing this good foaling essentials and pH testing post from Elders Equine again so you have it handy if you need it HERE

🍎Canadian students pursing agriculture related programs, don't miss out on your chance to apply for the 2025 Sam Hofer Memorial Scholarship. Deadline for submissions has been extended to May 18, 2025. This is a great opportunity to receive a $2,000 scholarship presented by Titan Livestock (Moose Jaw). Learn more HERE

🍎The ABRA made it big time into the Barrel Horse News. H. Robinson shared this post showing the finals were the 23rd high paying event with $273,650 paid out last year.

🍎Buying or selling a slot for the Red White and Gold slot race? Use THIS post.

Featured Ranch

Cottonwood Ranch - Bille Bird and Royden Spence Waskada, MB
Call Billie - 780 926 6097 to book

Would you like your ranch or business featured? We’d love to promote yours.

Mindset Minute with Michelle Davey

Have you ever considered having an alter ego? Maybe you have one. Does she have a name? Like Sasha Fierce; that was Beyonce’s alter ego’s name until she grew into the identity herself and embodied her own alter ego with such ease she doesn’t need to be intentional about it anymore.

Most competitors aren’t walking around on the daily with the same energy they bring to competition and for some, stepping into what it takes is quite a stretch from their natural “habitat”.

Creating an alter ego for yourself is a mindset hack that you can use to anchor into your ideal performance state. Some might even have a back of the trailer ritual they do to get there, maybe it’s the way you pull your hat down that sets the game face. It’s whatever works for you, but being intentional about the energy you’re bringing works and creating an alter ego for yourself is one way of getting there. Give it a try and have fun naming!

Meme of the week

There’s wax! Still no baby though.

If you’re reading this because a friend forwarded it to you, click here to subscribe, we send out a new e-newsletter each week.

Interested in advertising or supporting The Arena Feed? Email Michelle - rodeohorses@gmail.com

Until next week,

Michelle

Barrel Daze and a Royal Investment

Michelle Davey — Tue, 15 Apr 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Welcome to the 5th edition of The Arena Feed!

Canada was well represented in Washington at the Sand Cup and then the VGBRA Barrel Daze event in Moses Lake this past weekend. There were many Canadians in the money showing us just how strong our Canadian horses and jockeys are!
Krystal Grad and A Famous French Kiss continued their winning ways winning the Maturity Average, 2nd go and the SIP average. We interviewed Krystal and learned about Stevi last week, you can access it here.

The highest placing Canadian horse and rider in the VGBRA Barrel Daze Futurity was R Ace Of Spades and Kirsty White. You’ll find their audio interview below.

We also caught up with Randa Nugent to learn more about the Royal Crown Canada incentive program. She answers your burning questions and we learn more about what’s in store this year at their two event.

Both interviews are audio interviews that are approximately 30 minutes long. They will open in a web browser to listen (if you’re reading this by email).

In addition to this current issue, you can always go back and read previous interviews you may have missed. Use this link to read them on our blog.

In this issue:
➡From The Arena Floor: Interviews with Kirsty White
➡Event Spotlight: Royal Crown Canada with Randa Nugent
➡Upcoming Events & Deadlines
➡Featured horse
➡Road Apples - tidbits from around the web
➡Featured Ranch
➡Mindset Minute with Michelle
➡Meme of the week

From The Arena Floor

R Ace Of Spades added over $9400 to his LTE this past weekend down in Washington at the VGBRA Barrel Daze. Kirsty White and R Ace of Spades placed second in the second round, 5th in the open futurity average and 3rd in the stallion incentive program average. I caught up with Kirsty over the phone to talk about Ace and his surprise beginning, health battles and the heart of a warrior that has brought him to where he is at.

We had a bit of feedback and issues with the cell phone service but I feel like it’s worth it to be able to hear Kirsty talk about this special horse and what he means to her (rather than me transcribe it to text). Enjoy!

You can watch his 2nd go run here on his FB page.

Kirsty White & R Ace Of Spades

R Ace Of Spaces - 2020 Black Stallion. Sired by The Goodbye Lane ($11M progeny earnings) and out of Special Tack ($250K in earnings).

Event Spotlight - Royal Crown Canada

I was able to catch up with Randa Nugent of Royal Crown Canada to learn more about the Incentive and upcoming event in Claresholm, AB. We are fortunate to have so many great incentives in Canada but there are some differences to take note of between them.

I asked some questions that Randa was able to bring clarity to. She talked about how all horses are welcome to enter the Royal Crown races (whether it be futurity or open), it’s just that there is big incentive money (noted below) for horses by Royal Crown stallions making it much more incentivized to ride a horse by a Royal Crown Stallion. We also talk about how to figure out if your horse is eligible and how and whether you can still nominate your horse should a previously nominated stallion be dropped from the program. This is a tidbit I wasn’t aware of. The incentive also has big plans for their September event in Ponoka and we learn a bit more info about that in this conversation as well.

PSA: Entries without late fee ends April 18th. Royal Crown Canada Website HERE
Listen below to get the inside scoop:

Randa Nugent & Royal Crown Canada

Upcoming Events:

If you want YOUR event listed free, please reply to this email or use the “hot tips” form on the website. Everyone is welcome to help me out and submit events ;)

The “Spring Fling” Futurity and Derby - Brooks, AB April 18-20, 2025 Entries open, late fees now apply. Link here under discussion.
$3,000 𝐀𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐅𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 $2,000 𝐀𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐃𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐲 $1,000 Added 4D Jackpot

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Find info on each of the Canadian Barrel Futurities Events HERE
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Entries are open for The Mother Of Dragons barrel race - Stettler, AB. FB Group HERE
It runs April 26th and it looks like an amazing lineup of prizes taking shape. The division winners win gorgeous crowns!
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CBHI announced and exciting 2D Slot Race to be added to their weekend. More info HERE The CBHI Flagship event is October (9TH-12TH) 2025 in Ponoka, AB. The have indicated this event and their approved race derby age is continuing to be 7 & under.
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Heart of the Horse 2025, August 22–24 at the Cypress Centre in Medicine Hat, Alberta. This year features Pat Parelli, the master of natural horsemanship, and Amber Marshall, star of Heartland, alongside a colt-starting competition, demos, Canada’s Top Ranch Horse Competition, and much more! Info HERE
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The Masterson Method and Relational Horsemanship unite as Jim Masterson and Josh Nichol join forces in a unique event held near Red Deer, AB April 29th and 30th. Learn to identify physical issues and ride in a way that supports long term change. Register HERE
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Horse Expo Canada - Red Deer, AB Features Barrel Racer Connie Combs. The event runs April 25-27th.
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Ride Like A Mother Barrel Series in Grunthal, MB have set their 2025 dates. You can find out more here (FB) The first one is July 10th.
****

Randa Nugent and Family Benefit
𝗪𝗲𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗔𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗹 𝟯𝟬𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝘁 𝗚𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗔𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗮 for a benefit race in support of Randa Nugent and her family. There will also be an online auction hosted on the linked page to raise funds to support the physical repair, vet expenses and emotional loss from the tragedy they experienced.

*****
Lipstick & Cowboy Boots has a list of barrel racings that are not sanctioned and located in BC, AB & SK on their website.

*****
The Rope & Race in Brandon, MB is scheduled for May 23-25. More on their FB page here. It is CBHI approved.

*****
The Prestige Barrel race is also noted as CBHI approved and scheduled for June 21-22 in Brandon, MB. There is a post running for those wanting to buy and sell slots. FB page here. Slot payments due April 15th.

*****
Don’t Give A Buck Barrel Race and Roping is slated for May 17-19 in Virden, MB. The event kicks off with a wedding fundraiser jackpot for Janet and Ory, on the 18th, the 7th annual Don’t Give A Buck Barrel Racing $2500 WF approved JP in the 18th, concluding with a fundraiser team roping.

*****

Royal Crown Canada is back to Claresholm. Alberta 𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝟲-𝟭𝟭, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 With $𝟐𝟎𝟕,𝟓𝟎𝟎 added over the 6 days. Enter before April 18th to avoid late fees. They run an open race as well as the signature events for Royal Crown Stallion eligible offspring.

*****

Presented by: Rodeoclassifieds.com

10 year old AQHA Stands 15hh Runs 2D-3D dependent on rider. Can easily be 1D with more aggressive rider. Has dragged logs, ridden through snow banks, creeks etc.
Patterned on poles. Ideal high school or college horse prospect. 15K more info and videos HERE

🍎Road Apples - tidbits from around the web this week

🍎Canadian Barrel Horse Incentive is raffling a Coulee Equine conditioning package. More info here to purchase.

🍎Carnduff Dash For Cash has a few tickets left in their Flexineb raffle. More info here.

🍎CBHI announces that they will have a $5000 added Diamond Classic Incentive Sidepot at their fall futurity. More info here

🍎 Canadian Cowboys Association announces they are no longer offering the option for non members to pay an extra $50 fee to enter a rodeo. They suggest a permit (or full card) and note changes to that HERE.

🍎 An infographic on how to tell if a horses is in pain HERE

🍎 Do you like seeing things cut open? Watch an equine melanoma tumor be cut open HERE

🍎 Breeders Elite announce lifetime eligibility nominations available to some horses (whose sire or breeder dropped from the program. Learn more HERE

🍎Are you an equine anatomy geek? You might like this reel on the cranial nerves.

Featured Ranch

Allen Quarter horses is owned by Rhonda and Don Allen from near Turtleford, SK You can learn more about their operation and stallions at AllenQuarterHorses.com

Would you like your ranch or business featured? We’d love to promote yours.

Mindset Minute with Michelle Davey

As humans, we are armed with very powerful brains. But it’s often our “thinker” that gets us into trouble. It is actually very challenging to “think” our way out of an anxious, angry or frustrated state as the energy of that emotion runs through our body.

We can however override the state that our mind has created in our body (butterflies, tension etc.) by sending messages from our body back up to our brain. It’s a two way street therefore we can override patterns by going in the backdoor through the body.

Using your brain to affect your body would be considered a top down approach and using your body to impact your brain, is a bottom up approach.

Tools you can use that can override your brain include (but not limited to):
- Conscious breathing like box breathing
- Softening your gaze and taking in objects in your peripheral vision
- Wiggling your toes
- Doing a body scan and bringing your attention to different areas of your body.
All of these techniques send messages of safety back to your brain without having to talk yourself into a better state or being tough on yourself.

Meme of the week

If you liked this issue, please share with your friends! If you just tolerated it and have ideas to make it better, please tell me! You can reply to the email anytime and I’m all ears/eyes and I’m looking forward to making each edition worth your time.
I’ll never hold you or your email hostage so you can always find the unsubscribe button anytime you wish.

If you’re reading this because a friend forwarded it to you, click here to subscribe, we send out a new e-newsletter each week.

Interested in advertising or supporting The Arena Feed? Email Michelle - rodeohorses@gmail.com

Until next week,

Michelle

From the Sand Cup to the Ice Breaker

Michelle Davey — Tue, 08 Apr 2025 16:32:52 +0000

Welcome to the 4th edition of The Arena Feed!

This week we hear from Krystal Grad and Rylee McKenzie. I asked them both a training type question so we don’t have a separate “ask the trainer" section this week. I can see there is a lot knowledge to be gained by reading the interviews as well. Krystal was the runner up Maturity champion in Washington at the Sand Cup and Rylee was the futurity side pot champ at the Thorsby, AB Ice Breaker jackpot this past weekend. Thank you gals for your contributions to this newsletter and barrel racing community.

Please note the in order to see all the content on the web version you must login by providing your email. It is free.

In this issue:
➡From The Arena Floor: Interviews with Krystal Grad and Rylee McKenzie
➡Training Tips with Krystal and Rylee
➡Upcoming Events & Deadlines
➡Featured horse
➡Road Apples - tidbits from around the web*
➡Featured Ranch
➡Mindset Minute with Michelle
➡Meme of the week
*if you are viewing on the web without subscribing, you won’t see the whole newsletter. You must subscribe and approve your email to view all content.

From The Arena Floor

A stand out as a 5 year old, As Famous French Kiss is back to her winning ways at 6. Her first outing of 2025 found her in the winners circle winning 2nd in the Average and over $3000 USD at the Sand Cup in Washington. I was able to catch up with her trainer and rider Krystal Grad between events down there as she is set to run again this coming weekend at the VGBRA Futurity and Maturity.

Can you tell us about this A Famous French Kiss and her background?

My dad, Keith Grad, bought a few broodmares in a package deal from the states and one of them was a Lions Share of Fame. He called and told me about her and asked who I thought we should breed her to. At that time I had Queen Flingtima in for training, now owned by Karli Cowie, and I thought a lot of Fling! I loved the ASOF, and especially crossed on a Dash Ta Fame mare. I had heard a lot about French StreaktoVegas and had asked a few of my friends down south what they thought, and they said they were fast and they liked to turn, and that they were exceptional on DTF. So that’s who I suggested!! A year later, Stevi was born!! She was a little spitfire and my Dad was through the moon with her. I never get overly excited until I get to swing a leg over them, but she excited me. Dad wanted her to go through my whole program, so I called my best friend of 30yrs, Amy Finnerty and made sure Jesse, her husband, would take her when the time came. 3 yrs later Dad dropped this little brumby looking thing off at their house. I called Amy and asked how she looked and she said, well she stands camped out and she’s a little…unkept!! lol 2 weeks later she called me back and told me that I was gonna love her and that she is exactly my style! Jesse had her for a month and then she’s been with me ever since. I didn’t ride her for the first bit, and didn’t even really look at her. I just wanted her to settle in and get comfortable with her new home. When we started working with her, she was wild!!! She looked like she came out of the bush, she stood like she was crippled, and she was snorty as heck!! I knew Jesse wouldn’t have sent her home unless she was safe, but she sure made me question that at first!! Haha I got Kyle to work with her a bit in the round pen and get her a little more trusting and not so scared. I rode her a few times that summer and then took her to Arizona with me that winter. The next spring Dad was asking for videos but I couldn’t even lope a 20ft circle in a smooth let a lot a 5 ft circle. She was so aggressive that when you asked her to shape up she would just get gritty and try to turn on her front end! She had so much grit and confidence in what she thought was right! I spent a lot of the following summer doing dry work on and off the pattern. A lot of dry work on and off the pattern. She was so aggressive that every time you touched her she would shut her feet off and try to turn. She needed to learn how to be patient and how to handle the bit. To this day, when she gets mad about doing something she doesn’t want to, she still leaps all 4 feet off the ground, to try to get out of it. Lol 😂 she is very opinionated! At this point I was still unsure about what Amy had told me. That fall I finally decided to let her work the barrels more and she started to show me what Amy and Jesse saw in her. She worked so great and I was thinking ok maybe we got something. Crackout came, she spent the next few months colty and watchy and didn’t really try to to hard to run. The middle of March I took her to a Brooks jackpot and threw her to the wolves and stayed out of the way. She absolutely blew me away! So we entered Washington. The weekend before I left I went to Wilson’s Slot Race where she was a second off of where she needed to be and all I could think was “thank God she’s Dads! I hope I can win some of his money back in the open rollovers!!” The first weekend in Washington she was colty and we had some things we needed to figure out in her routine and how to approach my barrels. We made a little money still not quite where we needed to be consistently. The Wednesday night jackpot they have I decided to run her once more before VGBRA…she won it by 2/10ths and I felt like I had our routine down. She went on to win Reserve in the SIP futurity. It felt like overnight we just finally understood each other and the rest was history!! She won over $202k between April and September, pulling a check 98% of the runs she made!! She is what dreams are made of and she has changed our lives so much! She is truly truly special!

I read that Stevi had a bit of a setback/injury last year that she is coming back from this year. Would you share about that and what her recovery and rehab has looked like?

Yes, at ABRA Finals, I felt like that finals run she was a bit wild in her run. She made a few moves that are uncharacteristic but I just thought it was the energy in there and that’s something we both have struggled with. We both tend to try to hard sometimes. The following weekend we went to Fizz Bomb in Wyoming. She worked ok there, still placing but usually I have to dial her down a tick, and there I was having to make her more aggressive which was super odd to me. We ran in the slot race there Saturday night and she worked ok but just didn’t have no aggressiveness in her turns. She felt sound but my gut was telling me something wasn’t right. Sunday morning, bless her heart, I phoned Dr Tracy Pederson and told her what I was feeling and said I thought we needed to ultrasound and X-ray her front tendons and feet. She got me in Monday morning and we looked over her, deciding it would be best to MRI her front feet. We found a slight slit on her deep digital flexor tendon in her left foot. Between Tracy and Ty Corbiel, my regular vet, we decide to do 3 rounds of IRAP in both her coffins, and her pastern on the left. We MRI’d her again in February to find it fully healed and started to bring her back slow.

And how about you Krystal, tell us about yourself, your family and where you're from. What do you like to do outside of barrel racing and training?

My husband, Kyle Chappel and I live in a little farming community in southern Saskatchewan. Kyle works for Saskatchewan Crop Insurance and we have 2 very active kids…Keltyn, who is 14, is heavily into football and baseball. Kyle and Keltyn about put on more miles than Klancee and I, going to places like Florida, Vegas, Texas for football. When he’s done football season he starts baseball. Klancee, who is 9, definitely follows in my footsteps! She lives and breaths horses and barrel racing. She comes with me to all the futurities and we try to enter her in places that give her an opportunity to run for a lot of money. With her running Stella, my good horse, I’m trying to teach her that we don’t want to waste those runs as well as teach her the value of being smart about money, especially if she wants to live this lifestyle. Last year she won a little over $15k and hopefully we can keep her on that track and keep building her experiences and giving her opportunities! There’s not a lot outside of barrel racing and training it seems, but I do like to golf in the summer with Kyle and the kids. I try to get to as many of Keltyn’s games as I can. I love watching him play. I love watching both my kids. Their drive and dedication to their sports are inspiring to me. They make me want to be the best version of myself and I find that keeps me grounded as well as drive. Until I had kids I felt like I was just going in circles without a purpose, but those 2 gave me a purpose. I wanted to show them that with hard work and dedication, anything is possible and they both believe that to be true.

What was your riding and fitness plan as you brought Stevi back into riding and running shape this spring?

We started off with slow short rides in straight lines. We kept her in straight lines for about 4 weeks. I like to do a lot of interval timing with my horses, so after the first 2 weeks of light riding, I started her back on that slowly building up to where she was at most of the year last year, over following 6 weeks. These last 3 weeks we started with big circles down into small circles and back out while doing the interval timing, working toward loping and holding small 5-7ft circles. This not only builds her muscles back up but her lungs too. Speed work is usually done within this to help her air but we had nowhere where I thought was good enough footing for that so we just did our best with what we had to work with.

What are your futurity/derby plans this year in general and for Stevi in particular?

I like to go south quite a bit through the summer. There are so many great futurities and derbies with alot of incentives and added money. After Washington we will head home to let the horses regroup and get ready for the Yellow Rose and Royal Crown Canada. Beginning of June we plan to head to Colorado for the Colorado Classic and maybe see if we can work in the Calgary Qualifier somehow. If I have some time I might take her to a few rodeos just to challenge her with something new and see how she handles it. Essentially we will focus on the big paying events hitting Glacier Chaser, Royal Crown in Wyoming, Fizz Bomb. We would like to find an American Qualifier to run her at also in there. With having other client horses in the trailer too, we have to make sure we show them the best too so we will try to find places that benefit both for the most part!

Do you have a set feeding and supplement program for Stevi? Could you share?

Yes, the horses that are hauling, they have a set feed program. I have a great nutritionist that checks in on my horses. Stevi in particular, at home is on full feed Grass/alfalfa. On he road I buy irrigated hay from reputable hay sources, so I’m not dealing with dust, mold or any other contaminants. I mix off Timothy with 2nd or 3rd cut alfalfa, as well as feed Danco cubes! Buckeye Nutrition, is my main source of vitamins, minerals and fat. Stevi gets 1lb of Gro and Win, 3lbs of Safe N Easy, 1lb of Ultimate Finish 25, and as much soaked beet pulp as she can eat…usually 2-4lbs. I also feed MVP Amino 15x, MVP natural vitamin e, equine choice probiotic, KER electrolytes, and Tight Joints Plus.

You ride and train many different horses, but for Stevi specifically, what is your go-to saddle, tack and gear setup you use on her?

She’s in a Raylee Racer red tree, 5 Star pad and Alliance boots. At races I will warm her up in an Elliott 3 piece twist rope gag…she’s a little opinionated and needs something to break up her rib and get her soft without getting into too much of a disagreement. The rope gag does that for me. I run her in a Cameron Schoenberg Cam twist with a chain in the middle. At home I ride her in whatever I’m using for that day but I do ride her in the rope gag a lot! Her shoes I have her in a 3D pad to promote heel growth every other month and in a rim on the fronts and a modified plain shoe on the hinds. The modification is just a small rim that my farrier puts in on the toe. I use Equistreams around her front ankles to promote circulation and cloud boots to help with traveling or standing on concrete.

If there was one piece of advice you could give someone that has a goal of one day competing winning at futurities and derbies/maturities, what would it be?

Don’t be scared to step out of your comfort zone and challenge yourself. The futurity industry is intense, mostly because it’s where a lot of us are trainers and it’s our job, so it’s not a social thing for most of us, but it is an industry with so much opportunity to grow and learn. What a perfect place to watch and learn so much. Some stuff you will learn you don’t want to do and some stuff you will learn you do want to do! Take the opportunity to sit and watch time onlies, ask questions (when the trainers aren’t working is the best time)! Remember hard work and dedication will always make you better than you were the day before and eventually, when it all comes together, you will start to see all of that come to fruition!

As a final question, do you have anyone you'd like to use this space to thank?

First and foremost, Kyle…without him I would not be able to do what I do. He is the glue that holds it all together!’ The support and encouragement he and the kids give me…I’m just beyond blessed!
My sponsors are all companies that have products and services available that I use and believe in. It take a team and I’m thankful for the best! #silverliningherbs #bealegend #coyoteeflatsequinetherapy #brandedbyb #chadrobinsonfarrierservices #elliottbitnspur #drakeequineproducts #frontierwesternshop #rayleeracer #corveterinarianservices #northbattlefordfountaintire #healthistraw #allianceequine #rhinestoneacres #triplegfarms #ororosquad #tightjointsplus #teammvp #experiencethedifference

Best Of Barrels Only produced the Sand Cup and you can find their FB page and results HERE. There were several Canadians in the money!

A Famous French Kiss - Owned and bred by Keith Grad

From The Arena Floor 2

The Thorsby Ice Breaker at Thorsby, Alberta had a great turnout for their event April 4th and 5th. The Saturday open saw Lacey Caldas and Slick Sallee take the win. Full results HERE
Today we are hearing from the futurity side pot champion Rylee McKenzie who rode Batmans Raven Dash to the win.

What can you tell us about your horse. His background, how long you've had him, who has done the training etc.

Batman’s Raven Dash, is sired by tac fame. He is owned by Crystal Ochran. He came to me as a 3 year old and we put a winter on him into his 4, gave him a break through the summer and then got back on him in September of his 4 year old year into now his 5 year old year.

Tell us about yourself. What do you do when you're not riding and barrel racing? Where are you from, how long have you been barrel racing for?

I’m from St. Paul, Alberta. I’ve been barrel racing for 30 years, and training for 20 years now, and publicly for 15 years.

Have you been riding all winter? And what has been your horse's fitness program leading up to this spring race?

Yes, I have been on this horse since September through the winter. We do a 20-30 minute conditioning program that involves long trotting and loping. We gain fitness by consistent effort into their fitness. He has been to a hand full of jackpots and has been consistently in the 1D at the majority.

What are your barrel racing plans for this horse for 2025?

His plans are to go to the futurities.

Would you share your tack and feed list that keeps your horse running at top speed and health? Saddle, pad, bit, shoes or no shoes? Feed & supplements etc.

He is on free choice hay, and is supplemented with Purina ultium, alfalfa cubes and platinum performance. Saddle is a SK elite, best ever pad with a BOT line. Currently no shoes but will be getting some today for the spring run.

You've made a winning run; what does homework look this week for your futurity horse as you prepare for the next race? Do you make adjustments based on the run you just had or go back into the same program that you were doing before?

He will get mostly dry work before our next futurity, with a couple days of slow work on the pattern with the same program he has been on, since in training.

As a final question, do you have anyone you'd like to use this space to thank?

Huge thank you to Crystal Ochran for allowing me to campaign this great boy, and for giving him every opportunity to be successful.

Thank you to my sponsors, SK Equine Canada, Equisports Therapy, Broke cowgirl tack (stabilizers), and Andria’s custom creations.

Batmans Raven Dash owned by Crystal Ochran, bred by Connie Cassidy

Upcoming Events:

If you want YOUR event listed free, please reply to this email or use the “hot tips” form on the website. Everyone is welcome to help me out and submit events ;)

Entries are open for The Mother Of Dragons barrel race - Stettler, AB. FB Group HERE
It runs April 26th and it looks like an amazing lineup of prizes taking shape.
*****

Randa Nugent and Family Benefit
𝗪𝗲𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗔𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗹 𝟯𝟬𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝘁 𝗚𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗔𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗮 for a benefit race in support of Randa Nugent and her family. There will also be an online auction hosted on the linked page to raise funds to support the physical repair, vet expenses and emotional loss from the tragedy they experienced.

*****
Lipstick & Cowboy Boots has a list of barrel racings that are not sanctioned and located in BC, AB & SK on their website.

*****
The Rope & Race in Brandon, MB is scheduled for May 23-25. More on their FB page here. It is CBHI approved.

*****
The Prestige Barrel race is also noted as CBHI approved and scheduled for June 21-22 in Brandon, MB. There is a post running for those wanting to buy and sell slots. FB page here.

*****
Don’t Give A Buck Barrel Race and Roping is slated for May 17-19 in Virden, MB. The event kicks off with a wedding fundraiser jackpot for Janet and Ory, on the 18th, the 7th annual Don’t Give A Buck Barrel Racing $2500 WF approved JP in the 18th, concluding with a fundraiser team roping.

*****

RESULTS
Dunmore Equestrian, Dunmore, AB hosted their second race April 6th in the new building. Results HERE

The Thorsby Ice Breaker at Thorsby, AB Full results HERE

Presented by: Rodeoclassifieds.com

15 year old gelding Been there, done that and seen all the sights and different types of ground. Has an extensive list of placings at various different races and rodeos over the last few years. Lots of videos and stats sheets. Big strong gelding, point and go. Full ad HERE

🍎Road Apples - tidbits from around the web this week

Featured Ranch

Allen Quarter horses is owned by Rhonda and Don Allen from near Turtleford, SK You can learn more about their operation and stallions at AllenQuarterHorses.com

Mindset Minute with Michelle Davey

The Story of the Chinese Farmer

Once upon a time there was a Chinese farmer whose horse ran away. That evening, all of his neighbors came around to commiserate. They said, “We are so sorry to hear your horse has run away. This is most unfortunate.” The farmer said, “Maybe.” The next day the horse came back bringing seven wild horses with it, and in the evening everybody came back and said, “Oh, isn’t that lucky. What a great turn of events. You now have eight horses!” The farmer again said, “Maybe.”
The following day his son tried to break one of the horses, and while riding it, he was thrown and broke his leg. The neighbors then said, “Oh dear, that’s too bad,” and the farmer responded, “Maybe.” The next day the conscription officers came around to conscript people into the army, and they rejected his son because he had a broken leg. Again all the neighbors came around and said, “Isn’t that great!” Again, he said, “Maybe.”
The whole process of nature is an integrated process of immense complexity, and it’s really impossible to tell whether anything that happens in it is good or bad — because you never know what will be the consequence of the misfortune; or, you never know what will be the consequences of good fortune.
— Alan Watts (is given credit for writing this but it is said to be a Chinese Fable)
“You never know what will be the consequence of the misfortune; or, you never know what will be the consequences of good fortune.”

Meme of the week

If you liked this issue, please share with your friends! If you just tolerated it and have ideas to make it better, please tell me! You can reply to the email anytime and I’m all ears/eyes and I’m looking forward to making each edition worth your 5 minute read.
I’ll never hold you or your email hostage so you can always find the unsubscribe button anytime you wish.

If you’re reading this because a friend forwarded it to you, click here to subscribe, we send out a new e-newsletter each week.

Interested in advertising or supporting The Arena Feed? Email Michelle - rodeohorses@gmail.com

Until next week,

Michelle

Master of many horses

Michelle Davey — Tue, 01 Apr 2025 21:29:14 +0000

Welcome to the second edition of The Arena Feed!

This week we get to hear from two trainers that seem to be the master of riding multiple horses for multiple people. We have an interview with Cassandra (KC) Peters and our trainer tip with Shelby Spielman!

Special reminder that today April 1st, is the first payment deadline with no late fees for the Yellow Rose Futurity and Derby

Please note the in order to see all the content on the web version you must login by providing your email. It is free.

In this issue:
➡From The Arena Floor: Cassandra “KC” Peters talks about her remuda of horses and plans for the season*
➡Training Tips with Shelby Spielman*
➡Upcoming Events & Deadlines
➡Featured horse
➡Road Apples - tidbits from around the web*
➡Featured Ranch
➡Mindset Minute with Michelle
➡Meme of the week
*if you are viewing on the web without subscribing, you won’t see the whole newsletter. You must subscribe and approve your email to view all content.

From The Arena Floor

I was able to catch up with KC (Cassandra) Peters on her way to Washington with a trailer load of horses. She has 6 horses in the trailer and is excited about how they are working and the fun to be had at the Sand Cup Futurity and VGBRA Barrel Days events over the next two weekends. In this audio interview she tells us about each horse, her background in barrel racing, the tack she likes and the strategy she uses running so many horses at each event.

If you are reading this on email (rather than in a browser), it will open the web view version to listen to the interview.

KC Peters Interview

Are you a pedigree fan like me? I’ve included the pedigrees of the horses KC has in her trailer today! It may be easier to see them on the web view.

Training Tip with Shelby Spielman

Dear Shelby,

How do you adapt to jockeying such a variety of horses? And not just different horses, but horses trained by different people. Are you intentional about considering what they need before each run or are you adapting on the fly to them or are they adapting to you? You make it look easy, but I know it's not so inquiring minds want to know what's going on in your mind before your runs.

I’ve been lucky to get to jockey some really great horses. I feel like the more horses I get to feel/make runs on the more I improve as a rider. I think there is something to be learned from every trainer and horse.

I do try to be intentional. They are all individuals and I try to always treat them that way. It would be nice if one style fit them all but most of the time it doesn’t. It’s usually easier on both myself and the horse if I prepare us both to compete and win by keeping the things we’ve specifically worked on together in my mind.

I feel like I can learn a lot about how to adapt to certain horses by watching other people time only and train.

For instance, I’m lucky enough to get to ride with my sister in law Colby Bonnett quite often and I’ve learned a lot from simply watching how she works her horses… in return I feel like that helps me when I need to jockey her horses.

I’m not sure I make it look easy but I do think I’ve been very lucky to get to take rides on some great horse power and when a horse is already a winner, it usually can make anyone look good 😊

~ Shelby Spielman

Upcoming Events:

If you want YOUR event listed free, please reply to this email or use the “hot tips” form on the website. Everyone is welcome to help me out and submit events ;)

Horse Expo Canada - Red Deer, AB Features Barrel Racer Connie Combs. The event runs April 25-27th.

*****
Ride Like A Mother Barrel Series in Grunthal, MB have set their 2025 dates. You can find out more here (FB) The first one is July 10th.

****

Randa Nugent and Family Benefit
𝗪𝗲𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗔𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗹 𝟯𝟬𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝘁 𝗚𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗔𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗮 for a benefit race in support of Randa Nugent and her family. There will also be an online auction hosted on the linked page to raise funds to support the physical repair, vet expenses and emotional loss from the tragedy they experienced.

*****
Lipstick & Cowboy Boots has a list of barrel racings that are not sanctioned and located in BC, AB & SK on their website.

*****
The Rope & Race in Brandon, MB is scheduled for May 23-25. More on their FB page here. It is CBHI approved.

*****
The Prestige Barrel race is also noted as CBHI approved and scheduled for June 21-22 in Brandon, MB. There is a post running for those wanting to buy and sell slots. FB page here.

*****
Don’t Give A Buck Barrel Race and Roping is slated for May 17-19 in Virden, MB. The event kicks off with a wedding fundraiser jackpot for Janet and Ory, on the 18th, the 7th annual Don’t Give A Buck Barrel Racing $2500 WF approved JP in the 18th, concluding with a fundraiser team roping.

*****

The entry deadline for The Yellow Rose Futurity and Derby held May 2nd - 4th at Claresholm, AB is fast approaching. April 1st is the first payment deadline for Futurity and Derby entries. May 3rd Open jackpot entries are also open and close April 30th.

Presented by: Rodeoclassifieds.com

10 year old AQHA Stands 15hh . Runs 2D-3D dependent on rider. Can easily be 1D with more aggressive rider. Has dragged logs, ridden through snow banks, etc.
Runs barefoot, no maintenance required. Patterned on poles. Big people pleaser, he would excel working in pasture, feedlots, etc.
Fancy broke Intermediate rider recommended as he has a big motor Full ad here.

🍎Road Apples - tidbits from around the web

🍎 The Bob Feist Invitational shared a tribute to Mel Potter than celebrated his contributions to the horse world. Watch on FB here.

🍎 The AQHA as released a new pedigree resource. It draws on the database of all registered quarter horses. Put in your horses registered name and have it out put their pedigree (including sire and dam colors). (It’s like allbreedpedigree.com but draws from AQHA rather than created by users).

🍎Speaking of AQHA, they voted Monday to continue the rule where a young stallion’s frozen semen can only be used 2 years after his death. Trisha Aldridge, owner of Adios Pantalones, shared the letter she wrote to AQHA. No matter which way you think the rule should go, it’s a moving read abut the stallions story to becoming a legend of the future. Melanie Smith of Solo Select Horses shared the speech she wrote that was also very good. She reminded us that internet comments don’t count as votes and we need more people to speak up and come to the meeting next year to change the rule. Voting was very close.

🍎 An interesting video and dissection of the horse’s thoracic spine and it’s function.

🍎I missed sharing this gem of a post earlier. Nancy Leischner shared on FB how she times her Lasix at rodeos, but there are also many more great barrel racing tips and reminders in the comments of the post from her and others.

🍎And to add balance to that post, Shannon Kerr shares what she does to not have to give Lasix here on Tiktok.

🍎 Energy Equine Shared their best practices for safely introducing horses to fresh spring grass HERE on FB.

Featured Ranch

Cottonwood Ranch is owned and operated by Billie Bird and Royden Spence of Waskada, MB. Both stallions ship cooled well, but there is also frozen semen stored in Alberta for your convenience. Email or text Billie at billie@cbventures.com ~ 780 926 6097

Mindset Minute with Michelle Davey

It can be really hard to solve problems when we are in the middle of them. A powerful way to shift our perspective is to view the situation from the outside in. I call this the “Outside In Exercise”.
Here’s how to do it:
Imagine yourself and the situation/scenario you’re looking to overcome on a stage in front of you. If it’s something in the arena, you can imagine yourself sitting in the stands looking into the arena at the issue. You’re now looking from the outside in. You want to see the situation going down in front of you as if it’s someone else experiencing it. From your wise “outside in” perspective, you can look at all sides of the situation and offer a more objective analysis of what might be tried to solve the issue. What would you tell someone else in this same scenario? It is easier to see solutions once you remove yourself from the emotions that cloud your thought process to finding a solution. Even if you’re just pretending it’s not you, it is easier to find solutions from the outside in. It’s your opportunity to use your couch jockey wisdom on yourself!

Meme of the week

For real though

If you liked this issue, please share with your friends! If you just tolerated it and have ideas to make it better, please tell me! You can reply to the email anytime and I’m all ears/eyes and I’m looking forward to making each edition worth your 5 minute read.
I’ll never hold you or your email hostage so you can always find the unsubscribe button anytime you wish.

If you’re reading this because a friend forwarded it to you, click here to subscribe, we send out a new e-newsletter each week.

Interested in advertising or supporting The Arena Feed? Email Michelle - rodeohorses@gmail.com

Things are starting to thaw

Michelle Davey — Tue, 25 Mar 2025 21:18:38 +0000

Welcome to the second edition of The Arena Feed!

Please note the in order to see all the content on the web version you must login by providing your email. It is free.

In this issue:
➡From The Arena Floor: Carlene Reimer takes the Spring Thaw Win!*
➡Training Tips with Kelley Drake*
➡Upcoming Events & Deadlines*
➡Featured horse
➡Road Apples - tidbits from around the web*
➡Featured Ranch
➡Mindset Minute with Michelle*
*if you are viewing on the web without subscribing, you won’t see the whole newsletter. You must subscribe to view all content.

From The Arena Floor

March 21st - 23rd brought the Cinch Spring Thaw Timed Event Challenge to Ponoka, Alberta. The barrel racing was run in a 4D format and we saw Carman, Manitoba’s Carlene Reimer and Turn Quick On Red win the 1D first open go and the finale with a 17.052 and 17.177 respectively. The pattern was a standard set. I was able to catch up with Carlene and learn more about her and her horse “Riot”. Here’s what she had to say:

Tell us about your horse. His background, how long you've had him, who has done the training. Age and anything else you'd like to share.

I’ve had Riot since he was a yearling, I picked him up from Jacqueline Rooks program JR Performance Horses in Elkhorn Manitoba. He’s from her late stud Mr Red Rock Leo Bar and out of Moons Little Gal. I had him started as a two-year-old at at Freddie McKerchar and Molly Kelleher’s with intentions of bringing him into his futurity year but I ended up having my 3rd baby that summer instead and sent him to Julie Spruyt for a couple months. He got out to a couple races with her then came back home to chill till a couple fall races.

Carlene and Riot in Ponoka at the Spring Thaw - Photo courtesy of the Spring Thaw Watch one of this duo’s runs HERE on the Spring Thaw page.

Tell us about yourself. What do you do when you're not riding and barrel racing? Where are you from, how long have you been barrel racing for? Family etc.

I’m from Carman Manitoba! I have my amazingly ridiculously supportive husband, Jordan Reimer and 3 kids 1 boy 2 girls.. (Stetson 6 Oaklynn 3 and Sage 1.5) ,and I have a hair salon on our property just out of town so I’m a hairstylist by trade. I would like to move towards taking on client horses at some point here and going more so that direction. I used to do the little gymkhana’s here and there when I was in 4-H as a kid and I am got an actual competitive barrel horse I believe when I was 21 (Barbra Jean). Of course, you only know what you know and I realize now how forgiving of a mare she was as I was learning how to actually jockey a barrel horse and had to learn on the way. If I’ve been gone for the weekend racing somewhere, I like to give the horses the next day off at home to just kick out the pasture and let them be a horse. I run a barrel series called Denim & Dust here in Carman on Tuesdays in July and August so if I’m not busy riding, I’m busy doing some type of Horse thing haha. My three-year-old daughter Oaklynn has taken quite a shine to the Barrel Racing life already and is excited to get out with her pony Snowball this summer and start her own Barrel racing season. I’d rather kids enjoy coming to the barrel races with us as it’s like a camping weekend for them and you make so many connections with other brawl racers and their kids but it’s just a fun weekend for the whole family. My husband doesn’t come from any type of horse background or even a farm background, but he has taken this venture head on and has not regretted any of it. He’s quite the horseman himself, especially for not having a background in it. It honestly blows me away! I have just about every single person who knows Jordan and sees his dedication to this Barrel racing life say how fortunate and lucky I am and they’ve never seen such a strong supportive husband before and I know without a doubt they are darn right. God and him truly hold our family together threw the craziness!

How did you feel about your first run at the Spring Thaw? And how about your second run? How was the whole experience there at the event?

So our first run was on Friday for the barrels for buckles and he went to town and used his body so well around all the barrels clocking a 17.0 on a standard. I was so thrilled and it was so smooth with straight lines. One of my goals is to be a quiet jockey whenever I can be and I feel I was able to do that and let him do his job there. I was just so thrilled with him! He’s not a super big horse but that guy has a stride that will cover ground and a work ethic! It was a great experience, there was a fellow named Trevor, who was super great to get a hold of to ask questions and a little girl Naomi, who is helping to make sure everyone was situated with plug-ins and box stalls. Smiling faces like that always make a great welcoming experience.

Have you been riding all winter? And what has been your horse's fitness program leading up to this spring race?

I like to give the horses a couple months off to just be horses chill and try to make it through another Manitoba winter. I had some goals to all of a sudden join the WPRA cause I had a friend tell me she was doing it so I figured; why not me too then! But we were still super icy and in -40 weather here the next few weeks so I sent him to a friend (Clarissa Neufeld) to start legging him up for me and her indoor arena. She had him for 3 weeks then I was able to bring him home and work with him for another couple weeks before the first pro rodeo. Riot gets worked six days a week usually if we’re not hauling somewhere.

Pedigree for Quick Turn On Red

What are your barrel racing plans for the 2025 season. I saw you placed at Valley City, ND pro rodeo. Do you have plans to pro rodeo this season?

We have some big slot races that we are planning on heading back to this year out in Alberta and Saskatchewan and a few in Manitoba. We are pretty much booked every weekend for the spring/summer months here. Yes, we placed 3rd at our first pro rodeo this season down in the states and we are going to be off to Fargo this weekend and Minot next weekend as well. We’re going to try to hit some pro rodeos here in Canada and head out to the Calgary qualifiers as well! This whole pro thing is so new to me and also intimidating so I know I need to have my A game on at all times if I’m going to compete at that level.

Would you share your tack and feed list that keeps your horse running at top speed and health? Saddle, pad, bit, shoes or no shoes? Feed & supplements etc. Inquiring minds want to know what helps you run a 17.0!

Love me my five star saddle pads. I currently run in a Burns saddle. At home here, I have two different Elliot bits that I’ll work him in depending on what we are working on. The bit I actually ran him in was a Dean Hoover bit that I won at a slot race last year. It’s got a little bit more gag to it and gives me a little bit more grace in case I get a little bit to handy lol I know a lot of people will ‘bit up’ for when they go to make a run, but I actually do the opposite with Riot. I feel that it actually forces me not to rely on the bit, but to actually rely on my body and how you use my body with him versus my hands. I know that doesn’t work with every horse though. So this typically BLOWS peoples mind, but I run him barefoot! I had a few people comment on him not having shoes on last year when I headed out to Alberta for the first time but he won 2nd at Breeders Elite Incentive and top 5 in the Derby Sweepstakes so I think he likes it that way lol I’m very picky about feet and I have this really awesome farrier Patrick Cleaver who’s been absolutely wonderful! He’s a pretty lean boy so he gets Step 8 high fat Buckeye Grow N Win & Performance 40 Beet pulp & alfalfa pellets
Supplements… He gets Technavet Galozyme probiotic made right here in Manitoba and also their awesome re-zorb electrolytes! Honestly, if the horse could talk and he wanted something else as well I’d get it for him cause he’s a worth it lol

As a final question, do you have anyone you'd like to thank?

First and foremost, I thank God for the opportunities that He has placed before me I never would have dreamed of doing with I am today without Him and I will try my hardest to be a good steward of what he continues to bless me with. My husband Jordan is my MVP if you haven’t guessed from this interview yet. lol There are so many people that play a role in my success when it comes down to childcare like my Mom, Dad and in-laws so I can get my horses worked or just to words of encouragement and prayers for safety. I also have this really cool friend Amy Vanderveen who will drop anything she can to come watch me, cheer loud and take some stellar photos! There’s truly too many people to thank but you know who you are.

Training Tip with Kelley Drake

Dear Kelley,
How do you know when a horse in training is ready to be asked for more speed and what tells you it’s time to back off?

I start adding speed to horses when I feel like they are “broke” that they can lope the pattern with ease and one hand confidently. During the process of adding speed, at any time they start to fall apart I will back off the speed and take them back to the basics and slow things down and re build their confidence. It is our job to make sure a horse is confident with speed so we have to prepare them for that. Once a horse is solid on the pattern I will often take them out to the field and sprint them and teach them how to run with me on their back and not get scared. I’ll teach them to run then come back to me. Once they can do that without getting worried and stay relaxed then I know I can input that into the pattern and add that speed.
~ Kelley Drake

Upcoming Events:

If you want YOUR event listed free, please reply to this email or use the “hot tips” form on the website. Everyone is welcome to help me out and submit events ;)

*****
Rocking W Barrel Productions - Rick Wiebe Memorial Weekend has announced their dates as June 14-16. The event will be held at the ranch near Morden, MB. More info HERE

****

Laciee Shock reminded The Runaway slot owners their payments are soon due in this POST that provides a link to the spreadsheet where you can check your status (and see who owns a spot if you’re looking for one).

*****
There was a barrels and rough stock winter series that ran over the winter in Oyen, AB. You can see the final points and results for the barrels HERE

*****

Grace & Grit Futurity and Derby are having a $1000 gift card draw. You can buy tickets here The event itself is held at Saskatoon, SK June 5-8.

*****

Don’t Give A Buck Barrel Race and Roping is slated for May 17-19 in Virden, MB. The event kicks off with a wedding fundraiser jackpot for Janet and Ory, on the 18th, the 7th annual Don’t Give A Buck Barrel Racing $2500 WF approved JP in the 18th, concluding with a fundraiser team roping.

*****

Supernova Productions $10,000 cash raffle still have some tickets available $7000 for first prize, there are 5 prizes, tickets are $40. More info here.
Entries are listed as open for the $50,000 Shakedown Oct 3-5, 2025 in Calgary. The Big Bang, Aug 5-10 in Wetaskiwin, AB also has entries open.

*****

Presented by: Rodeoclassifieds.com

Luna Sioux Darling (Tally) 2012 chestnut 15.2 HH. She is an honest, loves to work, and easy to get along with mare. She would be a great experienced youth or open mare. Makes the same run every time. Runs left or right. She is a 2D/3D horse at smaller races and a 3D at bigger shows. Loves indoor pens. Full ad here

🍎Road Apples - tidbits from around the web

🍎Have you seen the results from a CT Scan or MRI? Check out the imagery from a clinic out of Sweden HERE. They show a broken pelvis that is pretty graphic.

🍎 Things were blazing fast at the first Canadian pro rodeo of the year in Rimbey, Alberta. A four way tie for first place and eleventh place being only 1/10th off the fast time! First place was split by Shelby Spielman, Lynette Brodoway, Lisa Warfield and Janet Moen all running a 14. 82.

🍎After surveying their breeders, The Breeders Elite were excited to announce this week that their derby will now allow 8 year old horses to run in it (rather than the traditional 7 year old cap). See more HERE

🍎Brazilian Horse Trainer shares whether or not he uses lasix HERE

🍎Not a Canadian Event, but a good one to follow, The Road To The Horse starts this Thursday. Here’s a link on how to watch.

🍎Not sure how tight to make your back cinch? Here’s a perspective to consider.

🍎 Love a satisfying hoof abscess video? Here’s one for you.

Featured Ranch

Mindset Minute with Michelle Davey

Trying harder is not often the answer or solution to any perceived shortcoming. More often than not, it ends up creating a "harder" energy that results in ramming and jamming, frustration and resistance from your body and being. This energy and frequency transfers into your horse resulting in tension and resistance.

Try smarter, try with more ease, try with kindness, try differently, try from a step back, try with more consistency. Keep trying, but don't make your trying hard, that just makes all the things more hard.

If you liked this issue, please share with your friends! If you tolerated it and have ideas to make it better, please tell me! You can reply to the email anytime and I’m all ears/eyes and I’m looking forward to making each edition worth your 5 minute read.
I’ll never hold you or your email hostage so you can always find the unsubscribe button anytime you wish.

If you’re reading this because a friend forwarded it to you, click here to subscribe, we send out a new e-newsletter each week.

Interested in advertising or supporting The Arena Feed? Email Michelle - rodeohorses@gmail.com

That new, new!

Tue, 18 Mar 2025 21:56:58 +0000

Welcome to the first edition of The Arena Feed!
We are easing into the newsletter and the barrel racing season. I’m not here to knock your socks off in the first issue, but to make a nice run through without anyone spitting the bit and running off on me.

I have a lose vision for what this newsletter will include each week so expect that it will continue to morph into something amazing. I hope you’ll stick around for the ride, just like any barrel horse, this is a work in progress.

I look forward to your feedback, your contributions and “hot tips” to help me pull this off each week. On the website I have a form you can use to submit ideas or you’re always welcome to use one of the emails to reply to. Let me know what you’d like to see more of, what I missed that I must include next week, or who you’d like to hear from.

In this issue:
From The Arena Floor: The New Dunmore Equestrian Facility
Training Tips with Andrea Udal*
Upcoming Events & Deadlines*
Road Apples - tidbits from around the web*
Mindset Minute with Michelle*

*if you are viewing on the web without subscribing, you won’t see the whole newsletter. You must subscribe to view all content.

From The Arena Floor

The Inaugural race in Dunmore March 16, 2025

Event producers Alex Hanson and Nic Wittig hosted the very first barrel racing at the new Dunmore Equestrian facility on March 16 at Dunmore, Alberta.

The event was declared to be a huge success by both the hosts and the competitors.

Alex Hanson reported: “There’s always hiccups that can happen at any event, especially in a new facility, but we didn’t run into any issues at all. We wanted to keep things low key and fun and I believe we did just that! There have been some clinics and practice nights held there but we haven’t had an actual jackpot so we were all eager for that. It was nice to have an ABRA jackpot and an Open jackpot to welcome anyone to the facility for a chance to compete.

I’m a firm believer that good ground is safe ground. And the Dunmore Equestrian board and volunteers did a wonderful job giving us safe ground. It’s incredible to be able to send your horse(s) in the arena with full confidence in any pen, mind you the first event a facility has had. If that doesn’t speak volumes to the time and effort put in, I don’t know what does. Palliser Sales donated a tractor for us to use to keep the playing field safe and we are all grateful for that.

The response from competitors and spectators was overwhelmingly positive. I’d be a rich woman if I had a dollar for how many times I heard “this is so awesome” throughout the day. I hope that all the Dunmore volunteers know how appreciative we all are. It’s something words can’t describe and I don’t even think “thank you” is enough but I hope all the smiles and positive energy in the building made them realize how grateful we all are. It was very cool for some of the younger girls to run in the same rake as a Canadian Champion and an idol to so many of us (Lynette Brodoway). There were lots of talented horses and we had such a range of competitors from a tiny pee wee just learning to do the pattern by herself, to seasoned rodeo horses, to colts just starting out, to well respected horse trainers, to ladies that have supported local races for years. There was just such a good vibe in the arena all day.

I caught myself repeating the words incredible, grateful, and positive. But if I could sum it up, those would be the 3 words I’d pick.

We had a ton of help at the first jackpot, from Jordan Pancoast announcing to Shelley Dankwerth timing to Kelly Creasy on the tractor to Keely Derzaph on the gate and anyone who jumped in to grab a barrel. It seemed like we never had to ask for help, the barrel racer dads were one step ahead! Susan Rex who is ‘The Buckin Photographer’ isn’t there to just take pictures, she jumps in to help as well. The support of the facility is so great to see. Kareen Warren, Dalton Kraft and Addison Kraft were there earlier in the week to help Nic and I mark the pattern as well. It takes a village and I feel lucky to involved with this one- they’re truly the best.

I would also like to personally thank the Dunmore Equestrian Board of Directors and volunteers that spent countless hours getting such an incredible facility put up. The area is so lucky to have a building like that available to use for such a variety of events.

Nic and I are already planning some fun “themed” races for next fall/winter inside. But before we get too ahead of ourselves, there’s another ABRA/Open Barrel Race on April 6, there’s a High School Rodeo the end of April and a few more barrel racing and ropings being planned. It will be nice in the summer to get out of the elements if needed, or to have a “rainout” facility if we can’t be in the outdoor arena due to weather conditions.

There’s plenty of open riding opportunities so I highly recommend to anyone if you’re passing through to stop by and check it out. There’s always something going on there and you can see the schedule at dunmoreequestrian.com/calendar.”

1D winner was Lynette Brodoway on JB Monkey Do.
Alex Hanson pictured below.
You can find full event results here.

Alex Hanson turning a fast one on that new ground in Dunmore.
You know you have great help when the producer can run at her own jackpot!
Photo by Susan Rex - The Buckin Photographer

Training Tip with Andrea Udal

Dear Andrea,
How do I know when my horse is ready to start on the barrel pattern? What do they need to know?

The biggest thing I want is balance in their body. They need to be able to trot and lope collected with no leaning or dropping in a straight line or in a circle.

Good posture is key, so they can’t be hanging on my hands with the bit or not hollowed out through the back. When I make a transition, I want their ribs and their body to stay correct, not hollowing or dropping. I want them to be able to increase and decrease speed without losing shape or form.

They need to be comfortable with contact, being in my hands with me squeezing their body together like a coil and not getting behind or ahead while keeping their body together.

Also, I think cadence is very important. They have to be able to hold their body together and hold the same cadence. The body has to come together as a unit, not getting out of time, shape or form when we make changes in position or change speed.

Andrea Udal - U1 Barrel Horses

Upcoming Events:

I’m going to level with you here. I don’t have the personal capacity to post and track and report on every event in the 4 provinces of Western Canada each week. I do have some ideas in the works to make things easier for us all, but none of them are ready to roll today.

Here are a few events we will highlight today. If you want YOUR event listed free, please reply to this email or use the “hot tips” form on the website.

*****

AJ Maddox & Supernova Productions is running a cash raffle right now. $7000 for first prize, there are 5 prizes, tickets are $40. More info here.
Entries are listed as open for the $50,000 Shakedown Oct 3-5, 2025 in Calgary. The Big Bang, Aug 5-10 in Wetaskiwin, AB also has entries open.

*****

Royal Crown Canada is back to Claresholm. Alberta 𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝟲-𝟭𝟭, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 Claresholm Agriplex With $𝟐𝟎𝟕,𝟓𝟎𝟎 added over the 6 days. Entry forms are on the website and can be found here. They run an open race as well as the events for Royal Crown Stallion eligible offspring.

*****

The entry deadline for The Yellow Rose Futurity and Derby held May 2nd - 4th at Claresholm, AB is fast approaching. April 1st is the first payment deadline for Futurity and Derby entries. May 3rd Open jackpot entries are also open and close April 30th.

*****

The Westman Challenge Series held at the ACE Arena in Brandon, MB has recently announced they have expanded the dates for getting a series membership changing the jackpot count you need for their finals. You’ll also need an MBRA membership.

*****

The Carnduff Dash For Cash crew are hosting a series of jackpots at the Carnduff , SK Ag Society grounds (in addition to the Dash for Cash July 19/20). These jackpots are not sanctioned and you can find the dates here.

Randa Nugent and Family Benefit
Join us 𝗪𝗲𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗔𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗹 𝟯𝟬𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝘁 𝗚𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗔𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗮 for a benefit race in support of our friend Randa Nugent and her family. There will also be an online auction hosted on the linked page to raise funds to support the physical repair, vet expenses and emotional loss from this tragedy.

🍎Road Apples - tidbits from around the web

🍎A new world record standard pattern time was set this past week in Brazil. 𝟭𝟲.𝟬𝟴𝟬 ran by ANDERSON CARREIRA and Black Cat Lider (Link to allbreedpedigree). Watch the run here.

🍎 Ever wonder how to get your fleece cinch cleaned really well? Check out this video from Classic Equine. I have heard a similar tool works well on saddle pads.

🍎I watched and recommend a great video remembering and celebrating Frenchmans Guy. You might want to grab a tissue first. Find it on YouTube here.

🍎New product alert. TST Pulsate has launched their new PEMF Equine Therapy blanket, designed, hand crafted and assembled in Alberta, Canada! 🍁

🍎Canadian company Alliance Equine showed us how to wash our sport boots this week. 🍁

🍎Life Data Labs shared a video of farrier Shane Westman making a hoof boot with the help of a cutting board that looked pretty slick.

🍎 Sharp Sports Medicine veterinarian Dr. Sharp demonstrates how he teaches his clients to practice an IV needle in this video and demonstrates where and how to give IV medications in this one.

Mindset Minute with Michelle Davey

There’s nothing wrong with you if you get nervous before competitions. It is a normal nervous system response to doing something that doesn’t have a known outcome. Your nervous system likes to know exactly what is going to happen and finds security in that. That’s why as your horse gets more consistent, you may find you get a little less nervous.
But barrel racing isn’t about knowns and the same, same every run so it rattles our nerves. The key isn’t to reject your nervousness but to learn how it works and to learn how to regulate it to find your ideal performance state. You might be surprised that your “nerves” will help you achieve that perfect state in the right dose.

That’s it for the first issue of The Arena Feed. If you liked it, please share with your friends! If you didn’t like it, please unsubscribe 😜. If you tolerated and have ideas to make it better, please tell me. You can reply to the email anytime and I’m all ears/eyes.

The Arena Feed

Memories and Stampedes

From The Arena Floor with Sandy Stewart

From The Arena Floor with Shayna McCannell

Upcoming Events:

Presented by: Rodeoclassifieds.com

🍎Road Apples - tidbits from around the web this week

Featured Ranch

Mindset Minute with Michelle Davey

Meme of the week

Red, white and wet!

From The Arena Floor with Sonda Marks

From The Arena Floor with Denise Munford

Upcoming Events:

Presented by: Rodeoclassifieds.com

🍎Road Apples - tidbits from around the web this week

Featured Ranch

Mindset Minute with Michelle Davey

Meme of the week

Rodeo road seasoning wins

From The Arena Floor with Janet Moen

Audio Interview with Janet Moen

Upcoming Events:

Presented by: Rodeoclassifieds.com

🍎Road Apples - tidbits from around the web this week

Featured Ranch

Mindset Minute with Michelle Davey

Meme of the week

Team Loretta for the win!

From The Arena Floor with Janae McDougall

Upcoming Events:

Presented by: Rodeoclassifieds.com

🍎Road Apples - tidbits from around the web this week

Featured Ranch

Mindset Minute with Michelle Davey

Canadian bred, home raised for the win

From The Arena Floor with Traci MacDonald

From The Arena Floor with Jane Corey

Upcoming Events:

Road Recipe Of The Week - Keeping it Simple!Roast Beef & Horseradish Wraps

Presented by: Rodeoclassifieds.com

🍎Road Apples - tidbits from around the web this week

Featured Ranch

Mindset Minute with Michelle Davey

Meme of the week

Big wins on a big weekend

From The Arena Floor with Kennedy Smith

From The Arena Floor with Angela Mastad

Upcoming Events:

Road Recipe Of The WeekEgg Salad or Tuna Salad (simple, but easy to forget it’s an option so here’s your reminder).

Presented by: Rodeoclassifieds.com

🍎Road Apples - tidbits from around the web this week

Featured Ranch

Mindset Minute with Michelle Davey

Meme of the week

From the Dustbowl to the Rope & Race

From The Arena Floor with April Callander

From The Arena Floor with Twila Hayes

Upcoming Events:

Road Recipe Of The WeekPulled Pork Sliders (Substitute with chicken if you prefer)

Presented by: Rodeoclassifieds.com

🍎Road Apples - tidbits from around the web this week

Featured Ranch

Mindset Minute with Michelle Davey

Meme of the week

Canadian College Champ

From The Arena Floor with Lacey Terpsma

Upcoming Events:

Road Recipe Of The WeekChicken Caesar Wraps

Presented by: Rodeoclassifieds.com

🍎Road Apples - tidbits from around the web this week

Featured Ranch

Mindset Minute with Michelle Davey

Meme of the week

Royal Crown Canada Queen

From The Arena Floor with Taylor Cherry

From The Arena Floor with Jennifer Neudorf

Upcoming Events:

Road Recipe Of The WeekTaco Salad Jars

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Road Recipe Of The Week - Keeping it Simple!

Roast Beef & Horseradish Wraps

Road Recipe Of The Week

Egg Salad or Tuna Salad (simple, but easy to forget it’s an option so here’s your reminder).

Road Recipe Of The Week

Pulled Pork Sliders (Substitute with chicken if you prefer)

Road Recipe Of The Week

Chicken Caesar Wraps

Road Recipe Of The Week

Taco Salad Jars