Category Archives: top horses

Kaci Riggs: Charlie 1 Horse Hat Designer

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…and that’s just the beginning with this Texas cowgirl. Kaci Riggs has made some of the most popular and stylish hats in the barrel racing (and Western) world, and that’s a combination that’s not always easy to create. Her Charlie 1 Horse hats have popped up everywhere from the National Finals Rodeo to the IBRA Nationals, and every barrel race and roping in between. (And quite a few Best of the Best competitors looked fabulous in them this fall!) 

Kaci’s taken her knowledge of the fashion industry and combined it with her in-the-arena know how to produce some of the finest hats we’ve ever seen. Whether she’s jet-setting across the West or kicking the boys’ butts in the roping pen, Kaci is looking fabulous in one of her designs.   

Tell us about how Charlie 1 Horse started, and how you came aboard to create these hats.
Charlie 1 Horse started in 1978. It was HUGE during Urban Cowboy. Many, many celebrities have worn Charlie 1 Horse; the list is long. It’s so cool to look back at the old stuff. They are TRULY works of art. Richard Petty, Kid Rock and Eddie Montgomery still wear the old ones.

I was hired as an assistant to the Resistol designer, Bob Posey. In spare time, we worked on C1H styles. When I was hired, we just didn’t sell many of the fancy ones. I chose to make a few things I thought I could relate to and wear. I kept the competitive cowgirl in mind, but I also had to consider the business woman who needed to look fabulous at a Cattle Baron’s ball. We started seeing a lot of success within the barrel racing industry and fashion industry.

What is your background in the horse industry?

I grew up in 4-H, junior rodeos, high school, amateur and college rodeo…. I ran barrels when I was little. I rode English for a couple years. I started roping when I was 11; my dad needed a heeler ;-D

My senior year of high school, I qualified for the National High School Finals Rodeo in the breakaway roping. I placed at Nationals that year in Gillette, Wyo. and received some scholarship money. That helped me continue my education and attend Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, TX with additional rodeo scholarships. I qualified for the College National Finals Rodeo in Casper, Wyo. my senior year of college. Since college, I have always continued to rope. No matter where I was in my career, I have always continued to rope. I feel very fortunate that my career allows me to cross over into many disciplines of the equine industry. I’m passionate about the western lifestyle.

How does that background affect your designs?

My background really helps me to know how important the FUNCTION of a hat is. When you compete, you can NEVER have to worry about losing your hat. It has to fit, be comfortable on your head, stay on during competition and you have to feel good wearing it. It has to fit your personal style and not make you feel awkward…. And it has to be affordable. I believe your horse, your rig, your entry fees have a higher priority than fashion. That is why Charlie 1 Horse is committed to making the most FABULOUS~LOOKING hat at the most affordable price.

When you’re making a hat, what kind of cowgirl are you thinking of as you design it?

I’m thinking of a cowgirl with the most original style. She wants a look that is her OWN. She DOES NOT blend~in. She’s a leader; not a follower – she blazes trails…. She respects the lifestyle, but she likes to put a modern TWIST on her own personal look. Her appearance is important to her and her hat is how she expresses her eccentric personality. I have to make a hat that appeals to a variety of women – I personally prefer the more core-western styles, but I also design some that are completely outlandish. You gotta give ‘em what they want….

So far, what has been your favorite moment of your career?

Gosh, that’s tough… I enjoy each moment. I guess seeing it come full-circle is best. It’s really fun to see C1H published in magazines. I love when girls WIN BIG who wear our hats – I LOVE seeing C1H in win-picts. I love seeing the flag girls at the NFR totally blinged-out wearing our stuff. I love getting tagged in photos on Facebook of little-bitty girls that look SO gritty and tough wearing Charlie 1 Horse – it makes me laugh! I guess the most rewarding part is to see how happy the hats make people.

Tell us about your all-time favorite hat, either one you’ve made or otherwise.

Hahahaaa… that’s like asking a mother to pick her favorite kid! LOL!!! I really love the tonal trimmed felts. I’m not a HUGE fan of flashy…. I love the tacky leopard prints, but they’ve been hard to make. Honestly, my favorites change each season we launch a new line.

What do you do when you aren’t busy making hats or working for Hatco?

I try to spend a lot of time with my family, but I’m sure my family would attest that I ROPE every chance I get! There are a handful of ropings that I like to go to each year. The Open to the World, the Windy Ryon, our Resistol Roping and the USTRC Finals…. I guess I travel a lot and spend a lot of time with friends. I’m all about a road trip…

What is one style tip that every hat-wearing cowgirl should know?

No matter what you think, if it’s creased right, you look GREAT in it. Women are SO UNCOMFORTABLE in hats. It drives me crazy…. They just aren’t used to wearing them, or they don’t wear the right one. I could pick a hat for any woman and I promise she would look great in it! A flattering crease makes all the difference. Don’t EVER just wear it straight out of the box. All brims need to be hand creased.

What is your favorite outfit to rock your Charlie 1 Horse with?

You didn’t really just ask me this…. Every day is a fashion show for me, you know. I’m all about dresses with cowboy boots…. Maybe funky tights? I love my cowgirl suit too!!! (CTC jeans & Barranada shirts) Whatever it is, it CAN’T overpower the hat!!! IT’S ALL ABOUT THE HAT. Sorry, but I just can’t answer this one directly…..

What is next for you and Charlie 1 Horse?

I have a new commitment and dedication to Hatco in product development for Stetson, Resistol, Wrangler, and Dobbs brands. Charlie 1 Horse will always be the most creative and fun line to design and will continue to surprise us each season. You will see a handful of fedoras with western twists (inspired by a fellow cowgirl fashion diva). They are for the cowgirl who wants to cross over into fashion without forgetting her roots ;-D I’m so excited about the new felts we will launch in January at Denver Market. Some can be found at NFR in December with ML Leddy’s.

Charlie 1 Horse has set some pretty high standards…. We will keep moving forward!

Our friends at Rod’s Western Palace in Ohio carry Charlie 1 Horse Hats, as do many fine retailers across the U.S. For a great deal on a Charlie, download and print this coupon! 

On the Road with Dawn and Clea (Part 2)

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Champion Anne Johnson and Show Me Some Glory

Well now for The Best of the Best

I could type til heck wouldn’t have it but I am going to give you the run down on the show and we want to tell everyone THANK YOU THANK YOU from the people who bought T-shirts to the people who sponsored a class, we could not have done it with out you!

If you were not there here is how it rolled: We arrived early on Friday as we wanted to get all the auction items set up and ready for what we were hoping to be a nice-size crowd. We knew the stalls were sold out so it was a sign that the crowd was going to be a half decent size. WOW we had no idea…

Chelsea Toy was getting in to the airport at 1:30 and we had to get her picked up and back to the ranch so she could meet The Best of the Best Riders and help with the auction. We pulled into the one-horse airport and as Chels walked out she looked like a walking fashion cowgirl diva! She can rock the hip western look FOR SURE. (Editor’s note: I’m shaking my head at you two, who also looked fabulous.) 

Meantime back at the ranch! We wait for the NBHA 07 Friday Night Show to be over – and it was a long night – but Marley and her family hung right in there.

Well it is after 11 p.m. and we are ready to start – Oh did we tell you that earlier in the day Channel 13 from Toledo came out and interviewed us for a small piece on the nightly news? Then at midnight the SUPER REPORTER who worked 19 hours came back out to film the riders and get more intel for the morning show! It was awesome. We owe Barbie Jimison for emailing and calling the station about the event! U ROCK BARB! We love you for that and love you for the fabulous person you are!

So we gather every one in the back of a borrowed Dodge truck because there were so many vehicles on the grounds that everyone was blocked in. At one point Clea took this picture from the top of our trailer which did not even show a smidgen of the people there. They were parked out on County Road B just to come watch The Best of the Best!

So with the Rickly Family in hand and Chase Marshall driving, we enter the arena to the announcing of Ellen McKee. The music is playing and she is introducing Marley THEN… you guessed it things were going way too good. We had issues with the announcing system. As Clea and I look at each other like ARE YOU KIDDING ME!? We just roll with it. Hollie Horn – A very special friend – read a heart-warming writing that she wrote from Marley’s view. Of course I cried – that is what I do – and yes you guessed it Clea did too! Thank you Hollie your words will be with us forever. We love you!

We start the calcutta and things roll right on. We are now ready for the race to begin. Marley gets a few photo ops and then hits the hay! THANK YOU MARLEY and the entire family for staying up for the race to begin.

As the Best of the Best race starts we are anxiously awaiting the 1st horse to cross the timer line, but first we must give our attention to Eddie Gibson. He got the race started with singing our national Anthem and a moment of prayer for a safe trip for each participant. He did an awesome job and we were so blessed to have him with us! THANK YOU EDDIE

And the race begins!

Haley Patterson running her horse Val is the first to enter the pen Poker Face by Lady GaGa playing in the back ground Haley lays down a 16.213 – A great start to the race. Next to enter the arena is our rodeo gal Ashley Hopkinson with a fitting song Country Girl with a deep first barrel she clocks a 16.864, Nice Job Ashley! Next to run before the drag is Taylor Schnitkey running to the song Stockyards. Taylor lays down a respectable 16.621 These ladies set the pace for the next drag

Next in on the top of the drag is Regan Henning who chose the song Dynamite to blaze up the shoot to and that she did. She showed that her 2010 Congress win and many other races on her horse Story Tellen Flower is why she was in the Best of the Best. She puts the winning time at this point of 16.101 on the board. Next in to try to take the lead is Abi Ringer jamming to Eye of the Tiger she has a little difficulty and clocks a 17.229 but always nice to see Abi roll into the arena to do her best. Last in the drag is Rhonda Dowell on her horse Levi. Rhonda made us proud with a clean 16.763 Rocking to Bruce Springsteen’s Glory Days. These are all of our glory days! Any day here is a Glory Day!

6 horses down and 18 to go! The mood in the back is great. The young riders are so pleased to be with the veteran riders and most said after the race – they were just happy to be invited and be able to run with the best in ohio! Made our day!

Drag 3 in rolls Justin Theado and his smoking Paint horse An Angels Treasure. He came in like a fighter plane running to Top Guns theme song. This team posted a smoother than Tom Cruise run of 16.334. WAY TO GO JUSTIN. Next in would be Natalie Davidson on Jeter Bug and although she is sweet enough she came in with Pour some sugar on Me playing in the back ground for about 16.353 seconds. Mikayla Conklin would be next in with “I like it” from Madagascar and although the song was rocking unfortunately so was one of Mikayla’s barrels. She gave it a great effort and showed she belonged right there with the rest of the Best!

Drag Time number 4 – Reagan still leads it with Haley 2nd.

Enter Crystal Haskins who had to substitute her horse Dixie because of injury issues for a young horse her and her husband Josh have trained. She rolled in to Rock & Roll all nite and put a talented 17.186 on the board. So proud of you being there Crystal. In next is one of the youth that will be sure one to watch over the years to come Hannah Shirey on Pierre her song Bad to the Bone fits her to a T. Hannah clocks a 16.460 with a deep barrel. Way to go banana! Next enter the ever talented Penny Baker with a little CCR Down on the Corner playing. Penny and Matrix scream up the shoot with the crowd cheering and lay down a time of 16.280. Time for our favorite tractor driver Tom Theado.

Lisa Bowser and ACDC’s Thunderstruck is the next to run. Her great horse Chaney carried Lisa to a 16.708. Next in would be Macie Davidson running to Lady Gaga’a On the Edge of Glory. This little gal and her horse Tuff are on the edge and tough. Macie ran a 16.020 but unfortunately with a barrel down it became a NT. Macie you and your partner are going to be a team to be reckoned with. Tausha Schneider and Ted were jammin to “I Like Big Butts” (I know you all are singing this right now!) as she blazed through the timers with the same luck as Macie she would have a NT. Both of these gals from down Salem way were still a joy to watch.

Drag Time- Reagan is still sitting in on top the leader board.

Cheyenne Niekamp which is Lisa Bowser’s daughter was thrilled to be running in the company of the other riders and did an outstanding job on her horse MP Sugar Baby posting a 16.466. Well now we have Anne Johnson, all 96 pounds of her, running to Smooth Criminal, and she would prove to be at this point the best. On a run that almost wasn’t due to a mailing issue Annie and Show Me Some Glory was shown the money after posting her 16.022. This would move her into the lead. Morgan Henning would be next to run on Perky and running to Welcome to the Jungle (which seems fitting now as they do live by Zanesville) but the barrels would prove to be a little tipsy and Morgan would leave the arena with a NT

Drag time Now we know that Anne is sitting first and Reagen second.

Katie McGrain – a local to this arena – comes in the arena to Katie Wants a Fast One and a fast one she would have running a 16.372 would get her in the top 10! Next in is a favorite of ours Brad Shirey running to Mr Good Time and the song fits. He and Schrek would post a NT for the race but would still prove to have a great time for the weekend. Sarah Boucher and Happy would be next in and unfortunately would have the same issue as Mr Good Time a downed barrel marking a NT. Both of these Besties had a little bad luck in this race but are still on our list as the best!

Last Drag Right now it sits Anne, Reagan, Haley

Some always say that you leave the best for last… WE like to think that all the riders in the race are the best. We will tell you that the next 3 riders are the best in one sense or another.

As Ellen announces Kelly Bowser the tune Wild Thing starts to play! If you have ever cheered for Kelly while riding you will see him talk to you and cheer back as he rounds any barrel. Kelly and Snoopy would have the same fate as Brad and Sarah but would leave the arena with a smile. Next would be the million dollar man Troy Crumrine running to I wanna be a Rockstar – HE IS!! Him and Hoosier would following the past 3 riders footsteps to receive a NT! Last in would be a crowd favorite and a local to the area and arena. Barbara Jimison had the tune Girls Just Wanna Have Fun playing as her and her horse Miss Secret Memories (CC) would come in the arena in style as this team always does and they would post a time good enough to take 3rd in the race overall!

THE RACE IS OVER! The night was long but the outcome was to say the least unforgettable!

Annie wins it all and not far behind is Regan Henning, Barbie Jimison, Haley Patterson, Penny Baker and Justin Theado (Kudos to Justin he was the only male rider that left them all standing and finished 6th! Rock on Justin. For his win, he earned THREE shirts from Panhandle Slim!)

Everyone got in for the group photo and prizes were handed out. After the group photo everyone scattered as it was late and I assume everyone wanted to get to bed – well some of you – we still had some salsa from JPT Salsa Company to hand out. Well let me tell you this was a prize that everyone would want so the next day we tracked every rider down and they got their salsa! Thanks Jodi and Peyton!

The Calcutta paid off greatly for a few! For those of you who have never been involved in a calcutta at a barrel race here is how it works.

A horse and rider team steps up to the auction block and the auctioneer starts to place bids on the horse and rider. Whomever buys the horse stands to win a fist full of money of their horse/rider team comes in 1st 2nd or whatever places they are paying in the calcutta payout.

Mari Guido hit the jackpot with buying Anne Johnson for $120.00 and won over $900.00 Dave T spent a couple hundred and won twice that and Mr. Loder took a chance on a Best of the Best team and came out ahead by $250.00.

As you can see if you have never participated in a calcutta auction you might want to in the future. May just put a little cashola in your pocket!

Daryl Karnes was our auctioneer and we were so happy to have him be part of the event. THANK YOU DARYL

Our total amount that we collected on behalf of Team Marley was $2,877.50 which we thought was pretty darn good for something that was put together in 40 days. It was not the ark but it was touched by the hand of the Good Lord, just like everything is! We want to thank everyone for their support in this race, and we are already looking forward to a bigger and better show for next year. We know we will be doing a 4 or 5D and some additional races as well as The Best of the Best! Might be only Ohio might be Ohio plus another State! Stay tuned for with The Barrel Racing Blog for all the details!

Well Chels – that is it for the Best of the Best Blog! There was a million things we could have listed, said or told you about but we must get this one in and the one for congress started! We feel like we are back on track and not chasing our tails!

Have a great week and we miss you dearly!

Until next time – remember “don’t forget to have your pet spayed or neutered.”

Dawn and Clea

On the Road with Dawn and Clea

Have a great day…… Dawn

On the Road with Dawn and Clea (Catch Up!)

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The ladies have much to catch up on after a few months off (“off” sounds like they’ve been slacking, but that’s not the case). Check back throughout the week to get the full story, and for now, here’s part one!

‘Bout damn time huh!?

Seems like forever since we’ve been writing on the blog between getting ready for The Best of the Best and all the stuff after The Best of the Best that we finally finished the following.

We were at Vail Meadows in September as it was Stacy Hartman show, and because she allowed us to piggyback The Best the Best on her show Sept. 30, we definitely wanted to support her other shows. We sold Kisses and Clet’s puppies at Vail Meadows. I cried like a baby! But they all have great homes and we are happy about that!

The next weekend found us at the Hollow in Wooster, Ohio, at the “Wayne County Saddle Club.” Christine Scott and her sidekick Bob put on a great show; if you haven’t been to Wooster for a while by next year the ground should be awesome. They’ve done a lot of work to the ground and put countless hours in to the club grounds. It’s definitely worth going if you like a big outdoor pen. For those of you who used to run at Wooster and run the wee hours of the morning, I think that’s a possibility to have “that-days-gone-by  show” there again. It brought out a lot of different people, and they Calcutta’d which was something you don’t see to often.

Chase Marshall graced us with his presence. During his run going to the first barrel, we were screaming “All the way, all the way!” Sure enough he went all the way to the fence, and he came out laughing. We said, “Have you been schooling your horse to get past the first?” With a chuckle, he said, “Yes…” We say, “You are the first man who ever listened to us!”

Chris and Bob did a great job at the show and had a nice turn out. With all the hard work it should be a great place to show and bring back all the cowboys and cowgirls who used to run there. Keep an eye out for shows there in 2012.

The following day after Wooster we went to Simmons Equestrian Center. It was nice to see some old faces and visit a little with people we don’t see that often. We sold Homer so we delivered him to Lora White. Clea hated that horse LOL Melissa Kelly was there too I loved seeing her. She was asking about The Best of the Best and how that was going. Mari Guido was selling some of our T-shirts to help with The Best of the Best which we thank you so much Mari. It was a really good weekend. No to much traveling and home each night! Sometimes those weekends are great ones.

Next would be The Best of the Best weekend. Oh wait we went to Oklahoma for a weekend. We were headed to Jud Little’s for his barrel bash but with The Best of the Best weekend after being in Oklahoma we decided to leave the horses at home, bypass the Barrel Bash and just head to Oklahoma to pic up our new little gal “Classic High Hope.” We visited with a couple friends, got to see the quarter horse races and then headed on home. It was a good trip and honestly we now say, “Oh hell we can just run down to Oklahoma and pick that horse up!” LOL

Check back tomorrow for more on The Best of the Best! 

 

Pete Oen Talks About His Stand-Out Congress

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Pete and All Fame No Bull

The classic headline, “Local Boy Makes Good,” would be fitting for this story. Pete Oen is originally from Wapakoneta, Ohio, but has gone on to become one of the most revered trainers and competitors in the barrel racing and futurity world. This year, he came home to Ohio and put on a show at the All American Quarter Hors Congress, taking home the Sweepstakes Finals win and being crowned the Reserve Sweepstakes Champion, aboard the stand-out gelding All Bull No Fame. So, what better place for Pete to talk about this Congress than the only place that covers barrel racing in Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia: The Barrel Racing Blog.

We’re thrilled to have Pete here for the first (but not the last) time!

Tell us about the horses you ran at the Congress (names, bloodlines, age, owners, running styles).

Both of the horses I competed on at the All American Quarter Horse Congress are by the great, late Dash Ta Fame. Famous Blue Eyes is out of a daughter of Disco Jerry (TB) and All Fame No Bull is out of a daughter of Bully Bullion. He is a full sibling to Famous Silk Panties, all-time money leading barrel racing horse in the history of the event. They are both 4-year-old futurity horses this year. Famous Blue Eyes is now owned by clients of mine from Quebec, Canada Charles and Catherine Jobin. They purchased her this past spring from me. I own All Fame No Bull myself. Famous Blue Eyes is more of a push style horse and All Fame No Bull is very much a free runner.

What classes did you place in at the Congress this year?

I ran Famous Blue Eyes and All Fame No Bull in the Junior Barrels and the Barrel Racing Sweepstakes. All Fame No Bull was Reserve Champion and Famous Blue Eyes placed 7th in the Junior Barrels. All Fame No Bull fell completely down in the first round of the Barrel Racing Sweepstakes, which was our first run of the week. I was concerned about the rest of our barrel racing competition, but it sure got better. He ended up placing 6th in the second round of the Barrel Sweepstakes, bringing him back to the finals in the 6th fastest position as well after both qualifying rounds. He won the final round posting a 14.890, the fastest run of the week of all classes! Unfortunately we had an exact tie for the average and the Champion of the Sweeps, first time in the history of the event. We didn’t want to run our horses again, considering they are only 4 year olds and that was their 4th run so far that week. We had no say in what was to be done. The AQHA rule is that there is to be a run off in the event of a tie for a championship. There really wasn’t any time to regroup or prepare for the run off. I was to run first. My horse gets a bit on the silly side after a run and it takes him a bit to calm down.

We saw you run in one of the most dramatic finishes in Congress Sweepstakes history. What was going through your head going down the alleyway to make your run in the run off?

As I mentioned there was not much time for this to take place. As I got back on him and headed to the alley I told myself to “make a strong, clean run” and “See what happens?” Unfortunately I got a little bit past the first barrel and tried to make up some time, cutting it a lil close at the second barrel, knocking it down. So, unfortunately the outcome was that we were crowned the Reserve Champs. Still completely something to be proud of, because we ran two clocks that proved to be the Champions.

What is it about your horses’ styles that made them so good for the Congress’ tough arena?

I thought All Fame No Bull had a bit of an advantage over Famous Blue Eyes going into the competition before it even started. He can handle firmer ground than her, and he doesn’t mind running up into a wall, as she tends to like it a bit deeper and the barrels off the walls.

What was your strategy going into the Congress this year?

They only strategy I had going into the congress was to try and prepare my horses to be at their peak performance, and to make sure they were healthy and strong. The Congress is not always the easiest thing to prepare for… The ground can change from day to day or from 50 riders to the next 50 riders.

What was your goal for the 2011 Congress, and did you reach it?

I didn’t really have a goal for the Congress. We always want to win so I guess that was my goal. I really wanted to place in the top proving my horses and not letting them down. And this is a big family- and back-home, old-friends kind of crowd I no longer get to see very much. So I wanted them to see the talent that both of my horses have and see how much I have grown as a trainer and competitor.

What is your goal for All Fame No Bull’s career?

I don’t have any real “goals” for All Fame No Bull. I would love for him to win something big before the year ends. He as been reserve champion on 3 occasions at big competitions. He is a great horse and I think he needs a Championship to his name! Most important of all is for him to continue to be a great barrel horse for many years to come… Bo Hill, good friend of mine has set a goal for me… to win $100,000 this season. Famous Blue Eyes has won $37,000 and All Fame No Bull has won $30,000 so far. I will have to let you know if my horses and I reach it as a team.

Tell us what it’s like going off on your own training venture. What have been the biggest challenges, and what’s been the biggest reward?

I have been a bit on edge and unsure going out on my own this past year. It sure has been an experience. My biggest challenge I thought was getting people to send me horses to train. Fortunately that has not been a problem. Guess someone is looking out for me… Best thing is that I have the two very best horses of my barrel racing career and have won the most money in a single season of my career this year!!! A special thanks goes out to my parents, sister Carey, Kyle Leleux and Bo Hill. I am proud to tell everyone that my horses came from Bo Hill and Jeff Switzer as they raised and started both of them.

What colts do you have coming for 2012 that you’re truly excited about?

I have a couple nice colts for the 2012 season. I have the full sibling to Famous Nadine, his name is Power Fame. He is entered in the $100,000 slot race at the BFA World Championships in December of this year.

What has been the biggest win of your career?

The biggest win of my career is difficult for me to determine. I would have to say it’s placing two horses in the top 10 in the same year at Old Fort Days Futurity. Famous Blue Eyes placed 5th and All Fame No Bull placed 9th. I was the only one who placed two horses in the top 10 this year. But a close second is between this Congress Sweepstakes win or Reserve Champion at the Jud Little BFA futurity. All which I consider where we ran with the “cream of the crop!”

Tell us about the greatest horse you’ve ever run.

The greatest horse I have ever ran is All Fame No Bull. He is truly a gifted athlete and has talent that with all the training in the world, you can’t teach other horses!!! And to top that off he is unbelievably fast!

How did you get into barrel racing, and how did you learn to train?

I started barrel racing when I was 6 years old and it has been an addiction I can not go without. My parents’ best friend was a horse trainer and we used to go ride at their house. Next thing you know we had horses and we were doing what we thought was the right thing. We learned things the hard and easy way over the years of barrel racing. I learned to train a lot by trial and error as a youngster. Then I worked with a couple of the professionals that were older and more advanced than me for several years. Ultimately ending up where I am today, on my own doing what I love most, training barrel horses!!!

What are your ultimate goals in barrel racing?

I have set some really high goals for myself. I may never reach them, but if you are going to set goals, set them high. They are to win an AQHA World Championship, BFA World Championship Futurity, NBHA World Championship, and other high profile events throughout the World. Possibly extending into foreign countries such as Italy, Brazil, and China.

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.

Best of the Best in Ohio Barrel Race Videos and Photos

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Yikes! I’ve been so swamped at works folks, I’ve been MIA on here lately. And my cohorts on the editorial end have been even busier catching up with everything. Dawn and Clea have been working, running and making some around-the-barn improvements, so we’ve all let you down lately.

We’ll be catching up for sure in the coming weeks, but for now, we’ve got all of your multimedia coverage from the Best of the Best in Ohio Barrel Race! Again, we want to send a huge Thank You! to our awesome sponsors, Greeley Hat Works and Rod’s Western Palace, Rock and Roll Cowgirl and Panhandle Slim, Chick’s Saddlery, Cowboy Militia, G4 Ranch, and everyone who sponsored our Chinese Auction!

Champion Anne Johnson and Show Me Some Glory

Reserve Champion Regan Henning and Story Tellen Flower

Third-place finishers Barbara Jimison and Miss Secret Memories

Highest-placing male, Justin Theado and An Angels Treasure (6th place)

And now, check out their winning runs! First is Anne Johnson.

Here’s second place winner, Regan Henning:

And here’s Barbara Jimison’s third place run:

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!

Best of the Best in Ohio Winner Anne Johnson

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Anne and Jules during the calcutta (Congrats to Mari Beth Guido for her winning bid!)

Anne Johnson smoked the competition on her breeding stock Paint at the Best of the Best in Ohio Barrel Race, after she won the Open that same night. We’ve got her here on The Barrel Racing Blog to talk all about her awesome run, what the competition was like, and even some of her secrets to success! Stay tuned over the next two days. Plus, we’re busy counting all the money raised for United Cerebral Palsy, and we’ll have those figures ASAP! 

Why did you decide to run the Open Friday night?

I have never ran at the WB before and I really wanted a chance to get in the arena to check things out before the big race. And the more runs Jules makes the faster she gets so I knew my second run would be faster than the first.

After your win in the Open , how was your confidence going into the Best of the Best?

Getting that first run out of the way really helped. My horse seemed to like the ground and the pen so I felt like I could just go out and have fun!

Walk us through your run, barrel by barrel. How did Jules work and what was each turn like?

It’s really tough looking back on my run because after I turned first barrel I knew I had a good one going; it was all about pushing her after that. She worked just like she always does, down in four-wheel drive position…but even this run surprised me. She really ran her heart out. I think she wanted the title as much as I did.

Did you think your time would hold?

It was really hard to tell. The competition was so tough, however extremely supportive. One good run can change everything, anyone that has ever ran a 4D knows that. So basically I just stood next to Hannah Shirey and Justin Theado and waited it out. It was nice to be amongst friends back there.

What was the best part of your win?

I guess knowing that we could do it. Anyone who puts time in on a horse knows that there is no better feeling than a win, a goal reached or problem conquered. And all the support from everyone.

Phew, Checking in After the Best of the Best

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From left to right: Me, Clea, Marley and Dawn

Wow, it’s Tuesday already!? These last few days have been a whirlwind, and I’m just now barely getting to catch my breath.

All I can say is THANK YOU from the bottom of our hearts! Dawn, Clea and I can’t express how much we appreciated everyone coming out, hanging with us through the night, spending your hard-earned money and cheering on the Best of the Best in Ohio Friday night! Dawn and Clea are still counting the oodles of money we raised to go to United Cerebral Palsy, and Team Marley is so grateful for all of your donations! We can’t wait to see you rocking your Best of the Best in Ohio shirts at the Congress, the BFA, IBRA Nationals and every show along the way.

We can’t forget to say a huge congratulations to Anne Johnson on her smokin’ run Friday night that earned her the win out of our 24 horse field! For her win she earned $500, a gorgeous new hat from Greeley Hat Works and Rod’s Western Palace, a championship jacket from The Barrel Racing Blog, a trophy halter from Chick’s Saddlery and a gift certificate worth $100 for a pair of Rock & Roll Cowgirl jeans.

Anne also won the Open that night but improved her time by three tenths to win the Best of the Best just a few hours later. After that, she packed up and went home for the weekend :)

We’ll have photos from Puhl’s Photography as soon as Brent heads home from IBRA Nationals this week – talk about one busy guy!

Again, thanks to everyone who came out and supported our race!

Meet the Best of the Best in Ohio: Cheyenne Niekamp

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Cheyenne Niekamp is one of our outstanding youth competitors that’s earned a spot in today’s Best of the Best in Ohio Barrel Race. Cheyenne and Tink have been a force to be reckoned with in youth and open competition, and they aren’t limiting themselves to just barrel racing. Cheyenne has rounded out her horsemanship in other areas, and will be using all of her riding ability today in Swanton. 

Tell us about the horse you’ll be running in The Best of the Best in Ohio Barrel Race. (Name, bloodlines, style, age, owner, any other fun details.)

My horse’s name is MP Sugar Baby a.k.a. Tink. She is by Brays Moon Bug and Tammys Okie Starlet. We got Tink from Doug Chaney as a 2-year-old, and my dad, Kevin Niekamp, trained her. She is a push-style horse and makes up her time around the barrels. Tink is 9 years old and I have had the joy of riding her for most of her career. My papa, Earl (Jr.) Bowser owns Tink.

What is the biggest race this horse has won?

The biggest barrel race Tink has won is probably the youth at the 2011 IBRA State/Perferred show, but she is always a high contender whenever she runs.

What is your biggest win as a barrel racer?

Mine is the same because Tink is the best horse I ever rode, and my first at that.

Have you ever run at the WB Ranch before? (If so, what did you think of the facility and the ground, and how did your horses work there?)

Yes, I have ran at the WB before, but only a handful of times. I think they have a nice facility and good food. Tink and I didn’t do very good the last time we were there, but she surprised me at how fast she shut the clock off.

Tell us one little-known fact about you or your horse. 

A little unknown fact about Tink and I is that I took her to the Auglaize County Fair this year for the second time. She did great! We got 4th in trail, reserve champion in speed and control, 3rd in cones and barrels (barely ran), reserve champion in poles (that was her second time running poles), 2nd in the ribbon race, and 3rd in the egg and spoon.

This race is all about charity – What’s the biggest cause you believe in and why?

I support Relay for Life because everyone knows or has known someone with cancer. I’m a part of this club at my school and we always have a lot of fun raising money for it. My favorite fundraiser event is the Polar Plunge, where we get people to donate money so we can jump in cold water. Thanks, and Good Luck To Everyone!