Category Archives: supplements

Cody Powell Takes Home Two Congress Championships

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Cody Powell and Mo winning one of their two Congress championships this year.

Cody Powell and Moss Me Moe were perhaps the most dominating force in barrel racing and pole bending at the All American Quarter Horse Congress in 2011. The team took home the titles in the Senior Pole Bending with a smokin’ 20.087 and in the Youth Barrels 14-18 with a 15.108. We grabbed Cody for an interview as soon as he got home from his whirlwind week at the Congress, and he’s here to meet The Barrel Racing Blog’s readers today!  

Tell us about Mo. How is he bred, how old is he, and who started him?

Mo is a 9-year-old gelding. He’s got Easy Jet in him and had a lot of Thoroughbred in him which explains his height. He was started by Dave Eget in partnership with Tom Snyder of Blue Lakes Farm.

How long have you been running Mo?

I’ve been running Mo for 3 years going on 4.

About how long did it take before Mo started clocking like he did at the Congress?

It took me and Mo about 2.5 years to start clocking like we are now.

What would you say Mo’s running style is?

Mo’s running style is he likes to be driven hard to the pockets and runs hard. He’s pretty automatic but if you don’t ride hard, you won’t get a good run out of him. When I run Mo in barrels and poles, I try and give him as much free rein as possible. Hes pretty easy to stay balanced on.

What were your goals going into the Congress, and what do you think of how you ended up?

My goals going into Congress this year were to bring home the win since it was my last year as a youth at Congress. How I ended up was exactly how I wanted to! Two champion runs!

What has been your biggest win before the Congress this year?

The biggest win I had before this year at Congress was getting Reserve Champion in Novice Youth Poles 14-18 last year at Congress.

What bit do you run Mo in? Do you use the same bit for barrels and poles?

When it comes to running Mo, I don’t use a bit. I use a hackamore. He gets ran in it in both barrels and poles.

Do you have an pre-race routines or superstitions?

Before a race I usually practice the pattern a couple times but not that much because he gets too hot headed.

What feed/hay/supplements does Mo eat?

Mo’s feeding is he gets Natures Blend sweet feed with Dumor joint supplement. He also only gets first-cutting hay that we made this year.

Does Mo require any vetting?

When it comes to vetting, Mo only goes to the vet if he gets hurt.

Do you prefer running poles or barrels more? And which does Mo prefer?

When it comes to choosing a favorite between barrels and poles, I can’t. I enjoy them both. Mo on the other hand enjoys poles more I believe but who knows, I’m not a horse whisperer haha.

What does the future hold for your barrel racing and pole bending career?

My future in barrel racing and pole bending is to do well in the years to come. Wouldn’t mind being like the big-dog barrel racers and pole benders like Charlie Peoples, Troy Crumrine, and Jud Little, but I can live without being like them also.

What does the future hold for you and Mo, and will Mo ever be for sale?

The future for me and Mo is more racing and more bonding time as a great team. I doubt I will ever put him up for sale. If anything ever changed, the price tag would have to be able to change my mind into selling him. I like the horse too much to sell him cheap.

What do you do when you’re not barrel racing or pole bending?

When I’m not racing, I’m usually working around the barn or going on trail rides. I also enjoy hanging with friends.

The Best of the Best in Ohio on the News!

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Thanks again to our third place finisher Barbara Jimison for being an awesome PR rep and getting the Channel 13 news to the Best of the Best in Ohio last week! Check out the awesome video coverage by clicking right here. 

And now, here’s the second part of our interview with Anne Johnson! 
What does this win mean for you in your career?

This win gave me more confidence, and I plan on hitting some of the bigger shows next year. I’m even considering getting my WPRA permit and seeing how we can do on that circuit.

We hear you’re running the Sweepstakes at the Congress. What’s your gameplan for that pen?

The great thing about my mare is that surrondings and footing never really seem to bother her. I plan on just riding and working her as usual.

What bit do you run in?

I run and ride her in a hackamore. She is extremely well broke and sensitive so she responses to the slightest of pressure. And I believe in riding a horse in the softest bit possible.

What saddle do you run in?

I run in an NBHA trophy saddle I bought off of Dave Burgess about 7 years ago. I have had a whole bunch of other saddles but that one is my favorite. It’s really well made and fits perfectly. I finally won one of my own this year!

Does Jules need any tuning throughout the week?

No. She knows her job and does it well so the only riding I do during the week is to keep her in shape. We do a lot of trail riding so we don’t get bored.

Has she needed any major vetting?

Last September she got a really bad infection in one of her back legs. It swelled up to twice its normal size, and she wouldn’t stand or eat for days. We thought we were going to lose her. I really thought her racing career was over. I had picked out a stud and was ready to breed her. But my vet had told me not to give up yet. Around March it started to look really good so I started riding her again and took her to her first show at the end of April. We won by 5 tenths of a second! I have worked very close with my vet, Dr. Brandy Snedden of Flying Horse Vet Services, to keep her in tip top shape but other than those few months, she has never taken a lame step. She is one tough mare!

Equine Therapy with Dave Fries

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You’ve met Deena Fries on this blog–the woman behind some of the toughest barrel horses this side of the Mississippi. But now you’ll get to meet her secret weapon, who really is getting less secretive by the day. Dave Fries and his equine therapy have helped countless horses, and by reading this you can find out how Dave just might help you. 

Tell us all about your business. 

My business is called Equine Therapy by Dave Fries. My website is www.friesequinetherapy.com and on Facebook at “Equine Therapy by Dave Fries.” I got started almost 10 years ago now on the advice of a friend of ours (Speedy Graham) who actually used to work on our horses. He told me where he went when he started, and I then also went to the different training sources.

  • I currently offer the following services/ therapies to my clients:
  • Massage
  • Range of motion adjustments – and stretching
  • Infrared thermograpy
  • MicroCurrent Therapy
  • Infrared therapy (blanket set and hand held)
  • Infra-sound Massage
  • And a limited amount of In house rehab and therapy – utilizing any of the necessary therapies and following vet instructions and training tune-ups if needed by Deena.

I do it to help the horses – and make them feel the best that they can so that the work that we ask them to do is easier, and hopefully pain free. I have found that working on the horses gives me a great feeling of pride when I know that I have helped, and it was always a great way to ground myself and keep from getting overwhelmed, before I retired from my previous career.

How did you learn this type of horse care?

It all started with reading a lot about different therapies, trying some to see what worked best and then getting as much training as I could for any of the therapies. For the massage I went to Equissage and Mary Schreiber – in Round Hill, Va. She is one of the oldest equine massage schools and she gave me a great base. I attended a class/seminar put on by Dr. Kamen – initially for the animal adjustment techniques, and I have continued to learn and network with other professionals in the field. I went to Kentucky to become trained in the Equine Thermograpy, ( and member of EquineIR) after having become a Certified Infrared Thermographer and am able to take infrared pictures of the horses with a high resolution FLIR camera – which are then used to determine where there are hot and or cold spots (imbalances from side to side) and can also pick up problem spots up to two weeks before the horse is visibly lame. The thermography classes also covered a saddle fit process.

I use and am also completing the process to become certified as an instructor by Matrix Therapy Systems in Portland Oregon in Microcurrent therapy – utilizing the Avazzia Best Vet system. Which is a very portable and designed to give/receive automatic feedback and adjustments as the horse is being treated. MicroCurrent is great at treating tears and sprains – speeding the healing time, increasing cellular development, reducing pain levels and increasing the general well being.
I also have available a Thermotex Blanket and Neck set which provides infrared heat to the horses when they wear it. The Thermotex blanket has been show to help significantly when used pre-race (even helping bleeders), and is also great as therapeutic treatment at any time. I also have and use an infrared /laser.

How are you expanding your services?

I am expanding my services – by learning new techniques and also being more available – it used to be that when I was working full time I had to try and schedule horses either before or after work which limited where and when I could go – and now that I “retired” I am available to travel further and work longer at a location. I am also interested in making the In House therapy a bigger portion – as it is certainly easier to have the horse here – where I/we are able to give extended and more intense therapy to speed the healing times.

What are the benefits to this expanded service?

The benefits of the expanded service – is that I can help more equine athletes hopefully feel better and perform better, by having been able to go for additional training, and learning new therapies that I am able to use to treat the horses.

We know you treat barrel horses, what other types of equine athletes can you treat?

I treat everything from a 28” mini – that drives, Race horses, Jumpers, Dressage horses, and everything else up to a set of pulling draft horses, there really is no equine athlete that won’t benefit from the assorted therapies.

How does your knowledge of the barrel racing industry affect your work?

The years of watching thousands of horses and riders compete has given me a great sense of form and movement and what is the most efficient way for them to move, and what happens when it falls apart and they get injured, so I am a BIG believer in preventative therapy, and stretching to keep the horse’s muscles fluid and flexible.

What are your goals for your business?

Ideally – my business goals (which will probably require me hitting the lottery) would be to have a one stop Equine Therapy Station – where anyone could bring their horse for treatment and we would have all of the best and brightest available to treat what ails them, having all of the specialists (vets, farriers, dentists, therapists, nutritionists, herbalists, and communicators) all available to consult at one place as needed. But more to the immediate side – my goal is to be able to treat and help as many horses as I can get pain free.

Meet Alaina Houpt from Equisport Therapy

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The acuscope machine

What’s this Acuscope thing you hear people (often top area barrel racers) talking about? It’s a treatment that is relatively new to our barrel racing world, but not new to the medical community. It’s been FDA-approved since the 1980s, and it’s catching on like wildfire across the horse world. One local woman is leading the charge in the Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia barrel racing communities, and she’s here at The Barrel Racing Blog to tell you all about how this treatment could very well help your horse. 

What IS Acuscope?
The Electro Acuscope Therapy System is an FDA-approved non-invasive microcurrent instrument that has been proven effective in providing pain management, accelerate the healing process of injuries by 50% or more, and also to optimize performance. The Acuscope normalizes the electrical current in the cells. The Acuscope works through the central nervous system.

How was it developed and how long has it been around?
The instrument was invented by Dr. Anthony Nebrinsky whose knowledge also assisted with the invention of the EKG, EMG, and U.S. Missles. In 1976 the first human calibrated Acuscope was born and the FDA approval came in the early 1980′s. The animal calibrated Acuscope came in the late 1980′s.

How does it help horses?
The Acuscope can help with a variety of equine issues. For instance: nerve damage, bone/tendon/ligament issues, pain management, and accelerated healing of injuries. It works amazingly well to help the horse heal itself with navicular syndrome/symptoms, strained/bowed tendons, any inflammation, healing of open wounds (you can see a difference in 24-48 hours), back soreness, arthritis, and laminitis, among many other issues.

What do licensed vets think of Acuscope? Is this something vets are skeptical of?
I have provided a few local vets with live demonstrations. The vets are familiar with microcurrent therapy but they have not seen the Electro Acuscope Therapy System in action. Some vets have welcomed it, while others have not yet opened up to outside therapies yet. Vets who have seen the benefits are Ruth Haislip DVM, Allen Schoen DVM, and Karl Yurko DVM. I am available for demostrations to any equine/small animal clinic.

How long does Acuscope take?
The Acuscope is first done with an initial series of 3 consecutive sessions within a 72-hour window. It is needed because the cells initially hold a charge for 24 hours until they are taught to hold a charge for longer, which results in the 72-hour window. The first of three treatments takes approx. 1 hour and it includes a hands-on evaluation, an Acuscope evaluation, and a treatment. The second and third in the series are all treatments and can range from 1-2 hours. Follow up appointments range from 1- 1.5 hours, depending on the horse.

How many times should you use Acuscope?
You should Acuscope according to your horse’s numbers/readings. The numbers/readings are retrieved by the instrument’s biofeedback system. The readings are the conductivity level in the cells reading the resistance, impedance, and chemistry of the cells. On my instrument you want the numbers to be between 98-118 to be a healthy reading. Low numbers are unhealthy, too high is hyperactive. A good rule of measure for how often to treat is after the initial series, we evaluate, and can treat again as early as a week or move out 3-4 weeks.

How much does a treatment cost?
The initial series cost is $150 (that’s all 3 treatments!) and follow up appointments are $55. Trip fee is modest and based upon location.

Are there any negative side effects of Acuscope?
There are not really any negative side effects with the Acuscope. The Acuscopes goal is to achieve a balanced healthy state. The instruments biofeedback modulation protects the horses cells from overstimulation. Sometimes a healing crisis may occur. That is where the issue gets worse before it gets better. But a healing crisis is something to work towards and treat because the horse’s body is healing itself.

How can someone get in touch with you to find out more?
I can be reached via cell phone: 724-504-2280.
Email: equisporttherapy@hotmail.com.
Website: www.equisporttherapy.webs.com
Facebook: Equisport Therapy

“It’s All in the Details” with Barrel Racer Deena Fries

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It’s the smallest fragments of time that separate the good from the great in the barrel racing world. Trainer Deena Fries has figured out the secrets to cutting those thousandths of a second off her time to make her one of barrel racing’s greats. We can all learn something from Deena’s attention to detail, and below she’ll go over some of the little things that help make her a top contender in the barrel racing arena and the training pen. Thanks to Deena for being a great sport and answering ALL of my many many questions all week! Next time you see Deena at a show, stop and say hi!  

What vet do you use for your horse?

Currently using Dr. Nicole Drummond, from New Bethlelem PA., as the primary provider. She is very progressive and into learning. She is able to do Accupuncture when needed (trained at the Xi Institute) and isn’t afraid to use or recommend alternative therapies when they would be appropriate.

What veterinary maintenance do you do to keep your horses healthy and sound?

Not much – I will inject when needed but with the therapies my husband does, I don’t need too very often.

What other maintenance do you do to keep your horses running?

I am very lucky here in that my husband is very interested and very good at holistic therapies – he does massage, MicroCurrent, adjustments and now has the ability to do Infrared Thermograpy (infrared pictures that show hot and cold spots) – Equine Therapy by Dave Fries (on facebook)

How many days a week are you on the back of a horse?

Typically 5-7 days a week – I might not ride every horse every day – but it depends on the training needs and goals, and show schedule.

What do you feed your horses?

Whole Oats and Flax

What supplements do you use?

Animal Element and Dynamite products

What splint boots do you prefer to use?

Classic Equine

What is your favorite saddle to ride?

Currently riding in two Roohides – but always looking for the best fit for the horses.

What is your favorite saddle pad?

I’ve been using Saddleright pads for the last 18 years or so – I think they do a great job. Another real nice thing about them is the lifetime guarantee.

What is the one rule you live by in the barrel racing world?

There’s a barrel race next week, forget about what happen this week.

When you’re not barrel racing or riding horses, what are you doing?

Harassing my husband to work on my horses, and searching the internet.

Finishing It Off Right: SILVER LINING HERBS (Plus, Yesterday’s Winner!)

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The winner of yesterday’s JR Wenger Custom Tack headstall and reins is Michele Dibert! Congrats Michele, I’ll contact you to get your address.

This is the last installment of my Favorite Things, and we’re finishing it off with a bang. If you remember, I recently wrote a product review of a Silver Lining Herbs supplement I tried on one of my mares, and the review was great. So I contacted Chance Schuknecht, distribution manager at Silver Lining Herbs, to see if he’d like to be a part of my Favorite Things week, and he jumped right in. 

Chance represents a company that is truly dedicated to keeping horses healthy. The representatives for this company have an all-around understanding of equine nutrition, and they’ll spend the necessary time with you teaching you about how to optimize your horse’s health and in turn maximize her performance. With years of experience in the industry, Silver Lining Herbs has become a trusted partner to some of the top barrel racers today – including WPRA World Champion Sherry Cervi and Brenda Mays who pilots Jethro, 2010 AQHA Horse of the Year. Read on to find out what the team at Silver Lining Herbs can do to help your horse feel great and work great, too.

When was Silver Lining Herbs founded, and why?

Silver Lining Herbs, the business, was founded over 10 years ago by Mickey Young to help the horse and dog, although the Silver Lining combinations have been around for over 30 years.  Mickey’s Father, Lavern Young, was a cattle rancher and range rider for the Bureau of Land Management for over 20 years. Lavern grew up in close proximity to the Navajo Indians, from whom he learned a great deal about medicinal herbs and their beneficial uses for both human and animal. All of these life experiences came together to form a commitment to seeking health naturally, a commitment shared by Lavern’s wife Ruth Young, who became an herbalist in her own right, respected throughout the community for the quality of the herbs and advice found at her store.

Growing up on his family’s ranch, Mickey saw firsthand the powerful effects that herbs can have on humans and animals, and learned how to blend the right combinations to support various systems in the body. When he became a rodeo champion and then rodeo stock company owner, he applied his knowledge of herbs to over 200 head of horses and bulls, and proved the effectiveness of his choices over and over again as they remained healthy high performers in the face of a heavy travel schedule. Mickey was so successful in keeping his stock in optimum health that he provided over 60 head of rough stock to the National Finals Rodeo.

Now retired from the rodeo stock business, Mickey still team ropes, and works to build Silver Lining Herbs. The next chapter of Silver Lining history is being written now, as daughter Shayna has taken the reins as CEO, and new growth opportunities arise. But wherever the future takes Silver Lining, you may be certain of one thing: providing the best possible resources for natural health will always come first. Every horse and dog deserves to have the best health possible, and that’s what Silver Lining is all about.

Why are Silver Lining Herbs particularly helpful to the barrel racing community?

Silver Lining Herbs are very helpful for barrel racing horses as they support the horse to have a healthy body.  Herbs are the purest forms of vitamins and minerals and the easiest assimilated at the cellular level.  Therefore, the horse recognizes our products as food and they go to work right away.  Silver Lining’s product line has products for every issue a barrel racer might see with their horse from our #32 NoLasix that would support a bleeder to our #39 Endurance that supports the heart and lungs of a horse.

If someone has a question about which combination of herbs will be best for their horse, how can he or she reach Silver Lining Herbs for help? How will you evaluate each horse’s needs?

Silver Lining Herbs has a Health Hotline, 866-543-6956, that is there to help the horse and dog owner match the proper products with the issues the owner may be facing.  You can also go to our website, silverliningherbs.com and look through our horse issue and product reference chart. We know if you put the right products with the right issue you will see positive results 100% of the time.

What is your best-selling product?

Our best selling product is our #37 Kidney Support. We believe this is because of the education we have given to the horse community. One of the jobs of the kidneys is to cleanse the impurities out of the water system and assist in blood purification. If this is not happening those impurities have to go somewhere else, like the joints, muscle fibers, tendon fibers, attach to a bone causing deposits, etc.  Therefore, a horse could benefit from our #37 Kidney Support if a horse is stocking-up, tying-up, sore over the loins, has arthritis, calcium deposits, hard time collecting itself, hard time stopping, is running past a barrel, milky urine, and the list goes on.

Which professional barrel racers do you sponsor?

We are very proud of the barrel racers we endorse. Especially the fact that we had Benda Mays’ horse, Jethro, and Sherry Cervi’s horse, Stingray win AQHA Horse of the Year and Reserve AQHA Horse of the Year respectively. Both these horses have been on Silver Lining Herbs since birth. Their success, soundness and health is no accident. We also have Add Waddell, Sheena Robbins, and recently signed Cassie Moseley to our team.

In what ways do you give back to the barrel racing community?

We are always supporting trying to support barrel racers with sponsoring several barrel races across the country.  Additionally, we are educating barrel racers on a more common sense way of approaching horse care by holding seminars at barrel races and barrel clinics.

What are your goals for the growth of Silver Lining Herbs?

Our goal from the beginning has been to help the horse and dog.  We know that we can’t change the life-death process, but we can make the quality of life as good as possible.  Silver Lining Herbs believes we can achieve the highest quality of life by providing high quality natural products free from chemicals. Also, we are constantly working to make it easier for our customers to get our products through their local retailers, as we are stocking new dealers weekly throughout North America.

Silver Lining Herbs recently launched a line of new gels to help improve your horse’s health. One for arthritis, one for tendons and one called Peak Performance, you can win your choice of one of their new gels by answering this question below. I’ll draw tomorrow morning for our final winner of the week!

Question: Comment with the title of your favorite story from The Barrel Racing Blog’s archives.


Update: Silver-Lining Herbs Review

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I’ve been testing Silver Lining Herbs’ #29 LCR supplement since mid-January, and I’m excited to tell you about my experience with the company and its product.

I’ve said it more than a few times – I have a mare that has gut issues. We’ve struggled with them for the better part of a year. I’m lucky to have folks who want to have their products tested, and every time I get a new supplement in for testing, my mare improves. My problem is that I’ve been inconsistent, and haven’t kept her on one supplement after my testing period has been over – you know, the woes of being 23 and not exactly made of money!

So, when Chance at Silver Lining Herbs approached me about using his supplement on my mare, I jumped at the opportunity. Chance explained to me that I should switch my mare to oats (from SafeChoice), an option that was the more natural route for her gut. He also explained that LCR has in it herbs that will fight the bacteria in her ulcers and that will help soothe her stomach irritation. At this point it was mid-winter, and my mare’s coat was very dry and dull, and I was getting worried about her overall condition.

Here’s what Chance told me about the herbs in LCR:

Cascara to help with digestive activity

Chamomile to help relieve intestinal stress and promote circulation

Goldenseal as an antibiotic and anti‐ulcer agent

Licorice root as a tonic that works specifically on intestinal ulcers

Marshmallow for it’s soothing and mucilaginous qualities

Myrrh to clean and heal the stomach

Pau d’Arco as an antipyretic

Plantain as a diuretic to help eliminate the toxins through the urinary tract

Rose Hips as a healing aide and stress deterrent

Shepherds purse to regulate the bleeding

Slippery Elm to coat and soothe the intestinal tract as well as help with healing

Yarrow as a tonic and to smooth and tone the muscle.

I switched my mare  to oats, and my LCR arrived a week or so later.

Within two weeks, her demeanor had totally shifted in our daily workouts. I’ve always had to be very careful when loping and schooling barrels with her. Since she’d been off her other supplements I’ve tested, she had gotten worse – she’d throw mini fits and get hot.

With the LCR and feed switch, I was amazed. I’m not going to say I’ve seen miracle results, but I can say for sure that her personality has changed and she’s gotten much more “chill” in general. Her coat has also gotten shinier and her mane and tail are healthier.

As for going into the pen, we’ve been working for a year at limiting her opportunities to act up going into the pen, and with her personality change she’s gotten better about that, too. We still don’t flat-footed walk into a pen, but we aren’t taking 30-40 seconds to get in now, either.

Overall, I’ve been thrilled with the results. I’m looking forward to continuing (I promise this time, I’m budgeting for it!) to use Silver Lining Herbs products, and I truly look forward to working with the company’s reps for great advice on my horses’ overall nutrition.

Thoroughbreds vs. Olympians – the evolution in speed of man and horse

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My friends at Silver Lining Herbs contacted me earlier this month about a story they featured on their blog – SilverLiningHerbs/blog.com – that tracks the changes in man’s speed versus the change’s in horse’s speed since 1896. Though I’ve never shared a company’s story like this before, I found the points brought up in this feature very interesting, and I thought you all might, too. Let me know what you think!

May 6, 1896 marked the first Kentucky Derby victory on the standard course of 1.25 miles, as Thoroughbred Ben Brush crossed the finish line with a time of 127.8 seconds.  The very same year, Edwin Flack of Australia earned the first Olympic Gold medal in the men’s 1500 meter run with a time of 4:33.2 – that’s 273.2 seconds.  In the years following these monumental victories, a casual observer might suspect that Olympic 1500 meter times and subsequent Kentucky Derby winning times would follow a long-term pattern of decreasing times as training methods and nutrition improved.  That is almost the case.

After analyzing the winning times of each race over the course of 112 years, a surprising pattern appears.  The Olympic 1500 meter times do in fact steadily improve, while the winning times of the Kentucky Derby remain strikingly even across the time span.  This poses an interesting question: Why are human beings progressively improving their speed in comparison to horses?

Mark Roozen, DVM says the major difference comes down to available improvement in genetics.  “The comparison of human versus equine on race times must be more defined as human versus thoroughbred. The simple reason for the divergence of record times relates to the available genetic pool for improvement. By design the thoroughbred industry has a closed gene pool. Hence, any performance improvement must come from other non – genetic factors like nutrition or training.”

In Stephen Budiansky’s boo The Nature of Horses he explains that “…it is hard to make horses better because they are naturally built to operate at the very limits of what heart, lungs, and muscles can do.”

Budiansky goes into further detail on the subject, pointing out how horses generate nearly four times the expected energy output for a mammal its size when exercising at maximum capacity.  So by nature horses are ahead of the curve, not to mention that race horses have been bred for generations to be the best they can be.  Humans, on the other hand, continue to grow bigger, faster and stronger at a (comparatively) very rapid pace.  Which leads one to wonder, at what point will human beings reach their genetic plateau?

 

This article by provided by Silver Lining Herbs, a leader in horse supplments and dog supplements.


Black (Horse) Friday Shopping List

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Last year’s Barrel Racer’s Letter to Santa was such a smashing success, I thought it would be silly not to write another one.

Dear Santa,

This year I’ve been even better than last year! I spent every penny I have (seriously) on taking care of my three horses, and I got a big-girl job working in the horse industry helping others learn more about caring for their own horses. I’ve run less, trained more, and learned what it means to have to go to barrel races only after all of my bills are paid.

So, I think I’ve been a pretty good girl. Here are five things I’d love to see under my Christmas tree.

1. Last year, I asked Santa for a year’s supply of LubriSyn. This year, in the supplement category, my horses’ needs have changed a bit. What I really need is a year’s supply of Oxy-Gen GI products, everything from JailBreak GI to FirstAide to Xtreme GI Care.

2. In the tack department, I got the tack set of my dreams last year, made by Cowboy Couture. So, this year, I’m asking for spur straps from the same maker. Renee Clair Bearss’ spur straps are the perfect addition to my blossoming Cowboy Couture collection, and I’d bet money she’ll know how to make them match my red-and-black zebra stingray tack set.

3. Know what would go perfectly with my red-and-black stingray tack set and spur straps? A red Gypsy Tail of course! I’ve got pink already (as in the photo below), but I haven’t gotten myself a red one yet. Yes, I sell these awesomely fun horsey hair extensions, but that doesn’t mean I buy every color I want. If I did, I’d not sell any and run up my credit card bill into the hundreds by owning every color. Have you

 

4. What I do really need is a new saddle. I’ve been saving up for one for quite a while, but with three horses to feed, savings are a bit, well, slow. So, I figured I’d ask Santa. Though I’ve been a loyal Martin Saddlery lover for years now, I think it’s time for a change. I still love my Martin and will keep it for years to come, but I’m ready to move onto a Charmayne James Barrel Racer by Cactus Saddlery. Cactus has the best customizable options, and of all of the saddles I’ve sat in at trade shows recently, it put me closest to the horse while still fitting me properly. Santa, I need a 14”, if you were wondering : )

5. Last but not least, I’m asking for a few essential items of clothing. I can always use some new tops from Cowboy Militia, my all-time favorite maker of Western wear. Their tops are super affordable, too, so Santa, you won’t break the bank here. To go with my CM tops, I’d love a new pair of Cruel Girl Utility Jeans. While I’ve already gone through two pairs of the first version of these jeans, I’m yet to get the Cruel Girl Utility II Jeans. If they fit just like the first version, I’m sure I’ll buy pairs and pairs of them just to have as back ups. These have been, and will be, my favorite jeans for years to come!

Cowboy Militia Glory Top

Cruel Girl Utility II Jeans -- Available at Rods.com

 

Ok Santa, I think I gave you a great starting point to shop for me and many other barrel racers like me. We all love our horses, our Western style, and our hot tack, and we are women who know what we want.

I’ve tried to be good all year, but I’m sure I’ve messed up more than a few times along the way. That’s part of being human I’m learning, and I’ll keep trying to be good Santa!

Love,

Chelsea

IPRA World #1 Tiffany McClure Goes On the Record (Day 2)

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We all know life up and down the rodeo road is tough, so just how does someone leading the running for the IPRA World Championship manage it? Find out how Tiffany McClure’s horse runs, the supplement she relies on, the item she won’t leave for a rodeo without and the people who’ve helped her get this far, and much more! Plus, at the very bottom of the interview you’ll find two runs that helped put Tiffany and Dink on the map.

How is your current horse bred? (Name, age, sex, bloodlines?)
Dink is a 10 year old gelding with Dinkys Red Man bloodlines.
Cash is a 12 year old gelding Dash For Cash bloodlines.

Tell us about your current horse’s style. How does he/she approach a barrel, turn, act in the alleyway, etc?
Dink sits and uses his hind end most of the time when turning a barrel, when the ground is hard he will use his front end. He is great in the alleyway.

What was your most memorable run this year? (Why, where, etc.?).
St. Tite, Quebec. It was the biggest and most exciting rodeo I have been to and I won 2nd in the short go!

What run this year would you like to forget? (Why, where, etc.?)
New Windsor, IL the ground was horrible and my horse fell for the first time with me.

Do you train your own horses?
I have in the past but I didn’t train any of the ones I am running now.

What do you look for in a barrel prospect?
How they are bred and built. I like bigger and wider horses.

What supplements do you rely on?
I feed Actiflex 4000.

What vetting do your horses require?
Just general maintance. I get them injected if they need it, their teeth done, etc.

What is one thing you’d like to change about barrel racing?
I wish the ground was perfect everywhere.. lol

What is your favorite thing about life on the rodeo road?
Being able to make money doing something I enjoy and being able to spend time with friends.

What are your ultimate goals in barrel racing?
Make the NFR.

Who do you haul with?
Normally my boyfriend Chris and my dog Prissy.

What will you never leave home for a rodeo without, other than the obvious horse, saddle, etc.?
My phone.

What is your favorite bit?
Twisted wire ring bit.

What saddle, saddle pad, and splint boots do you use?
Caldwell and ProRider saddles, Cutter Collection pads, and Classic Equine boots.

What are your favorite jeans to run in?
BKE & Big Star

What type of hat do you wear?
Cruel Girl

Who has helped you get to where you are today?
I would like to say a special thank you to Roxanne Dawson and Billy Smith. They have continuously helped me along the way and always put me on great horses! Also the Neal family for all of their support this year. Chris entered me and made sure I got there all year. And of course my Mom for doing everything she could to make sure I was doing what I love!