Spencer Turner Update: PRCA Rodeo, St. Paul, MN

Spencer Turner

 

Date, Rodeo Name and Location

 Saturday April 25th I went to the Minnesota Horse Exposition PRCA rodeo in St. Paul, Minnesota

 

 

Which horse did you draw?

 I was drawn D8 Cat Power, I got a phone call 5 hours before rodeo saying D8 was hurt so I got 1A0 Blackhawk, then that horse didn’t perform well so I got on 2B7 Young Again

 

 

Stock Contractor?

The stock contractor in St. Paul was Barnes PRCA rodeo company from Cherokee, Iowa

 

 

How was your horse in the chute?

 Blackhawk stood fine and was OK in chute, Young Again was tied in when I got to him and he was leaning real bad and hard to saddle and then he leaned on me when I got on him and made it hard to get out on

 

 

Did you learn about the horse before hand?

 I knew D8 Cat Power, that horse has been to NFR several times and is an Outstanding bucking horse that they win tons of money on. I have been wanting to get on that horse for a long time and I was super excited to have the opportunity in St. Paul. After I got the phone call that D8 was hurt and I had 1A0 Blackhawk I was disappointed but there was nothing I could do about it. I had seen BlackHawk in Perry, Georgia a couple months ago and He looked like he could be fun and also a horse I could win some money on. I didn’t know a thing about 2B7 Young Again and only had a few seconds to ask the stock contractor about him before I got one him

 

 

 

Tell me about your ride, did you feel strong, did the horse perform the way you thought it would?

 A10 Blackhawk was supposed to be a good horse. I had seen him be really good. When I nodded and called for him the gate swung open and he came out backwards into the arena, then he decided he wanted to go back into the chute, banging my knee and leg pretty hard on the way back in. Once we finally got in the arena he just threw is head in the air and spun in a circle and didn’t kick. I was offered a reride and the reride horse was 2B7 Young Again, which I knew nothing about. The horse was already loaded in the chute. I hurried and got my saddle and tried to get ready as fast as I could. The horse was leaning and moving around in there pretty good so they had him tied in. I got on and he was leaning pretty bad and had my foot ran through the gate and my leg was kinda caught up. They took the neck rope off of him and we got him to stand up. I nodded and he came out of the chute good. It felt like he was really bucking good and I felt I was really riding well. I was really trying to be aggressive and kinda showy at the same time. I was a little worried I might be a little rusty cause I hadn’t been anywhere in a few weeks and had those mental blocks last time I rode. I surprised myself how well and aggressive I was riding. The horse bucked across the arena and hit the concrete wall. When he came off the wall he blew up real high and I spurred him in the top of the mane, he did that twice and I finished him great. It was getting close to buzzer, when I heard the buzzer go off I jumped off and walked back to chute Extremely happy, I noticed a flag on the ground and asked the judge why he threw it. He said that at the end of the ride, that my stirrup came off my foot (which is a disqualification). I couldn’t recall it coming off, but I didn’t argue with him because he is the judge and he gets paid for his knowledge and opinion. I didn’t get a score or win any money, but I felt that I rode really well and am Blessed that I didn’t get hurt on the first horse or when the 2nd horse hit the wall. Everything happens for a reason so I’m going to stay positive knowing I am still riding well. We will see what the next few weeks bring.

 

 

Comments about the rodeo? committee, hospitality, etc.

The rodeo adds $2000 in each event and there were 18 bronc riders entered. The rodeo is held in conjunction with the Minnesota Horse Expo so there are lots of vendors and horse shows going on at the fairgrounds. The coliseum holds more than a few thousand people and it was almost full so it was a good rodeo.

After we left, a friend suggest we eat at a little restaraunt called the Nook. It had been featured on “Diners, Dives and Drive Ins” on the Food Network. I introduced my girlfriend to fried cheese curds (I figured I could splurge a little bit on my healthy eating habits since I had a rough night). I thought the food was outstanding.  All in all it was a great weekend on the rodeo road even though I wasn’t successful in the arena. Every day that I am out here is a Blessing from the Lord

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Amber Mostoller Rodeo Update..Evans, GA

Amber Mostoller on Mighty Mouse

 

Date, Rodeo Name and Location

April 24th * Evans, GA * 5th Annual Rodeo Nights * IPRA Rodeo

 

 Which horse did you run?

I ran a new horse that I will be taking for a friend to run and sell.  He is a 13 year old sorrel gelding by the name of Peggy Bugs Streaker aka Streak

 

How was the ground, alley, warm up area, etc?

The ground is always pretty good by the time Saturday night rolls around.  The alley you approach from the left this year instead of the right but it was centered which is always nice.  They do not allow you in the arena at this rodeo to warm up so I warmed up Streak out back.  He is a very nervous horse and does not take a whole lot to warm up.  He warmed up pretty well though and I knew he was ready to run.

 

Tell me about your run, the good the bad and the ugly. Exactly how you felt about it.

This was my 2nd time ever sitting on Streak, but I have seen him run a lot and he has a very easy style to him.  He is however a little quirky to say the least.  Streak gets very nervous going in and my goal was to just keep him as quiet as possible and like all horses with a new rider I knew he was probably going to test me.  Going in the pen, I had a friend lead her horse beside me to keep Streak relaxed and he walked right up to the mouth of the alley way, flat footed and all.  About the time I was thinking wow what a good boy he is being he reared straight up in the air with me and spun around.  I lost my stirrups and thought I was coming off, but had a death grip on the horn and the reins. LOL As soon as he did that he stood perfectly still allowing me to regroup as if to say “ok you passed my test, time to get serious”, This time he trotted right up the alley way and took off like nothing had happened.  He was running HARD to the 1st and I grabbed him a little too soon and he turned as soon as I did and left me a little behind him leaving the 1st.  The whole way to the 2nd barrel I was just playing catch up and had the wrong hand on the rein the whole way…by the time I switched he was ready to turn and he turned the 2nd barrel and again was leaving me behind 🙂 We were headed straight for the 3rd barrel and he let me pick him up and move him over.  Streak had a little problem with the ground at the 3rd barrel and kind of hopped around it which made him pull out of it a little bit.  Our run was far from perfect but we were still not far out from placing.  Streak is very easy to run in the arena, he runs hard and turns even harder.  I am looking forward to getting some more runs on him to see what we can accomplish before he sells!

 

Comments about the rodeo?

I definately have a LOVE – HATE relationship with this rodeo lol  It is one of the bigger IPRA rodeos of the year with $3,500 added to each event.  I have been there the last 3 years and two years ago I would have won it on Mighty Mouse by 3 tenths and hit the 1st barrel.  Last year I would have won it on Rookie and hit the 2nd barrel.  I did leave all the barrels up this year (GO ME) lol  They have a great hospitality tent at this rodeo and really try to take care of the contestants.

 

 Anything interesting happen on the trip there or back?

This was a relatively easy trip to make compared to the rest of the trips this year lol.  I actually left Friday and drove to Mandy’s house (the girl that owns Streak) They only live 3 hours from Evans so it was nice to break the trip up into two sections.  It took me 8 hours to get to Mandy’s, and we left Saturday afternoon for Evans. After Evans I stayed the night at her place again and drove home Sunday morning.

 

What can you NEVER leave the house without?

Memphis of course!!!  Stayed tuned…Memphis gets a new summer hair cut this week.  Pictures coming soon 🙂

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Tracey Goodman Rodeo Update…Memphis, TN

Tracey Goodman at Fort Smith

 

Date, Rodeo Name and Location

4/18/2009 Circle Cross Crusade. WPRA sanctioned Bulls and Barrels! Memphis, Tn. My home town!! 
 
 Which horse did you run?

I ran Biscuit…ole Faithful!!
 
 
 Tell me about your run, the good the bad and the ugly, exactly how you felt about it?

About the run…well, I have nothing bad to say about this one. He worked his heart out and it paid off. The only thing, he coulda tightened up on was his typical bowing off of the 3rd. He does is almost every time though but this time wasn’t that bad. The good…well he sucked up every can, including the first. I am left with a knot on my knee from where he tipped it. I just watched it as we closed it off thinking “You better not fall barrel!!” lol.    
 
 
How was the ground, alley, warm up area, etc?

The ground was really good. It usually is at Memphis, no matter what they are having. The alley way was super tight because all of the girls were trying to stay outta the rain. It rained so hard all night! Luckily we had a covered pen lit up to warm up in. If not…I don’t think any of us woulda made it. lol. 

We were the first out. Well, my usual routine on Biscuit is an easy warm up and then hand walking him the rest of the time. He is usually running circles around me. I have to literally stick his nose in a corner and climb on. Then turn around and shoot him down the alley. Well, right before they called my name, he stops to use the restroom!! Now I have to wait on him. lol. I yelled for the announcer to stall for a minute because Biscuit was gonna take his precious time!! 
 
Comments about the rodeo.

This rodeo (Bulls and Barrels) was for a really good cause. It was a Christian based event and free admission for everyone. There was a HUGE crowd! Earlier, before it had started, there was a long table set up in the arena for the contestants to sign autographs and talk to the kids and take pictures. My poor little hand was worn out after that but it makes your heart feel good to see kids so happy!! 
 
Anything interesting happen on the trip there or back?

Nothing really interesting happened seeing as how I was only 30 minutes up the road from the arena. lol. But Biscuit and I didn’t really see eye-to-eye on the whole being caught thing! He wanted me to chase him across a 25 acre pasture. Not hardly!! Not me! Maybe I woulda chased him on the the 4 wheeler. Not in the Luchesse’s though. haha. 
 
What CD is in your cd player in your truck right now???

I think there is some BLACK BETTY in there. And maybe a little Jamie Johnson! Gotta love my J.J.

 

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Ashley Whyland: PRCA Rodeo, No Coggins and Neighbors Crawling through Windows…..That’s Rodeo!

Ashley Whyland on Luther

 

I entered Richmond, KY PRCA rodeo, which was basically right out my back door compared to most of the rodeos in the Great Lakes Circuit.  It was only an hour and a half.  I was riding another horse for a girl, so I decided to throw her in the trailer to see the sights along with Luther.  A rodeo is the ticket to get one used to the sights and sounds! 

 

I pulled in early and to my delight I was greeted by the state animal inspectors.  I reached for my binder with all my horse’s information in it and handed over Luther’s coggins and health certificate.  Then as I discovered that I left the mare’s papers at home, the color drained out of my face.  I started to panic.  I explained to the gentleman that I had left them at home and PLEADED with him to let me call home and see if they could read him off the numbers.  He reluctantly agreed.  We pulled over to the side and I called home.  No answer!  What was I going to do!?  I called my mom’s cell phone and found out that they had gone out to eat.  I was REALLY in a full blown panic then!  I had heard stories before where they had taken the horses from the owners for not having their coggins.  There was NO WAY they were going to take Luther from me!   

 

My last and only resort was to call the neighbors.  We had crank out windows that we never locked and the screen in my bedroom was broken from when my sister used to sneak out (I swear it wasn’t from me!)

 

They agreed to raid my room for the papers!  The woman was heavy set and the husband was skinny and short.  She had to put him on her shoulders, all the while standing in a raised flower bed, and push him into my window.  Looking back, I cannot BELIEVE they did this for me!  I told them where to look and OF COURSE, they weren’t there!  They literally turned my room upside down looking for them. 

 

The inspector came back over and asked if I had gotten a hold of anyone.  By that time, I was in tears.  I told him what was going on.  He asked me to let him talk to them.  He said, “So are you having any luck?”  My neighbor Angie answered, “Honey, I’m a 250 pound woman and my husband is a 150 pound man.  I had him on my shoulders and launched him into her bedroom, while I was standing on a flower bed raised 4 foot in the air.  If that girl had us do this, I KNOW the papers are in here somewhere.”

 

The inspector started laughing then said, “Well I’m glad you found them!”

 

I looked at him, puzzled.  He leaned in the truck and whispered to me, “I trust that you have the papers somewhere or you wouldn’t be putting your neighbors through all of this.  Fax me the papers first thing Monday morning, but don’t you let that other horse get out of the trailer tonight AND don’t you tell my partner that they didn’t find them.”

 

I couldn’t thank him enough that night. 

 

My run wasn’t great at all.  I made the excuse that I had too much on my mind!  But it didn’t matter; every girl from my perf got outrun, because the ground dried up the next day.  That’s rodeo! 

 

I got home and the papers where nowhere near where I had told them to look, OF COURSE!    

 

Lesson learned, NEVER go anywhere without your health papers…..

 

 

*Please check out Ashley’s new website: www.ashleywhyland.com You can learn more about Ashley and follow her as she hits the rodeo road again!!

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Tracey Goodman Rodeo Update.. Lauderdale, MS PRCA

Tracey Goodman and Biscuit

 

Date, Rodeo Name and Location

4/17/2009 Lauderdale, Ms. PRCA
 
 
 Which horse did you run?

I ran Biscuit. This pen is kinda tricky, especially for a lefty that won’t let you set him up. For us, we had to run straight to our 1st barrel. Not a good thing and a huge disadvantage.
 
Tell me about your run, the good the bad and the ugly, exactly how you felt about it.

Well, Biscuit really worked for me perfectly on the 2nd and 3rd. Like I said earlier though, the side gate was a small issue just because he isn’t a horse you can take in and set up. If I could, things would have went ALOT better. ha! Anyways, we go hauling in there and I’m picking him up the whole way. He passes the 1st like he didn’t even see it. When he did see it though, he worked to get around it, then we had  a really nice 2nd and 3rd. The ground was already pretty deep by the time we ran so it felt like he was in slow motion but that little horse sure does try his heart out. 
 
 
How was the ground, alley, warm up area, etc?

The ground was super deep! The alley was, like I said, a side gate off to the left and during the performance, there are people walking all around it and through it as if there aren’t 1200lb horses running in and out! I am just thanking the Lord I got up in slack or I would have had a few law suits on my hand! haha. The warm up area…there wasnt really one, just loping through the trailers parked everywhere. Everything was muddy too, but hey, thats rodeo!! 
 
Comments about the rodeo.

This is an awesome rodeo to go to for entertainment purposes. There are TONS of people there!! Loud, loud crowds too, which Biscuit loves! Lecile Harris was the clown and he is great, very funny guy to listen to. Everything ran really smooth but parking is kinda hectic but he, we lived through it.   
 

Anything interesting happen on the trip there or back?

I was on my way to meet the girl I hauled with to Lauderdale. We were going to drop my trailer off at a friend’s house and I would get in with her. While I was talking to her on the phone, she starts hollering and hangs up on me. I have no idea what is going on at this point. She calls back a little while later and says the two of the propane tanks on her trailer had come off. One went rolling by her in the middle of rush hour traffic and the other was stuck under the axle of her truck…right by her muffler!! OH MY! The police and fire dept had to come out! It was the perfect way to start off a trip!! ha!

Then the whole way down there, her little jack russell pup would nip at me. I got my butt kicked but that little 5 lb dog! 
 
What CD is in your cd player in your truck right now???

When her and I haul together, I don’t think we ever listen to music. She does when I fall asleep and its 3 in the morning! What a great hauling partner I am! LOL.

 

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On The Rodeo Road Fans asked….

Spencer Turner, Winning Ride at IFR 2009

 

Who is someone that has influenced your riding and rodeo experiences?

 

There have been a lot of friends that have helped influence me in my riding and rodeoing. I look up to cowboys and cowgirls who are generally good people, and have good attitudes about life and rodeo. I try to associate with good positive thinking Christian type people.

 

I am influenced by guys that have been rodeoing a long time, also by guys who are very successful. I try and learn a little bit from everybody. I don’t try to “be like or ride like” anybody in particular. I take a little bit from the way a lot of guys ride and live and just make my own style and life and be my own individual. Everybody rodeos differently, and you have to find your own style or niche and go with it, I have learned a lot about rodeoing just from learning what works or doesn’t work for other people.

 

 

 

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Tracey Goodman, shares BIG News with On The Rodeo Road!

Tracey Goodman and Biscuit

Just  in from Tracey Goodman…..

Branson and I met several years ago. He was just someone that I ran into every once in a while as he would come and watch his sister barrel race. Anytime I would see him, we would say hi but it never really went any further than that. He seemed like a nice guy though. Then I started seeing him at the rodeos here and there. Still…nothing but a simple hello, maybe a little small talk. In the fall months of 2007, I ran into him at the big fair in Memphis. We talked and hit it off pretty well. Soon after that we started dating. Now, a year and a half later, here we are planning a wedding together! 

The Engagement!!

My whole family shows up to Branson’s parents house for Easter lunch after Church. It’s rare that I get to see all of my family together on a holiday so I was thrilled to have them all under the same roof at one time! I really thought I had done well getting everyone together seeing as how Branson had asked me to invite them out. Little did I know, they already knew about the whole thing!!

 

Ok, so Branson’s mother, Mrs. Dana has gotten this amazing Easter egg hunt all planned out. There are supposedly a few eggs with money and great prizes in them so we were gonna be on a mad dash for the eggs! The rules are, don’t open the eggs until you get back in the house and everyone will open them at once. During our “quest” involving “children” ranging from 22-32 years old, (let me remind you that it is pouring rain.) Ready…set…go…Mrs. Dana points out where a bright silver egg is hidden…I get it and on my way hunting more eggs. Well, to make a long story short, after several minutes of running around in the rain like a bunch of kids, we all dry off, go in the house and determine who has the silver egg. ME!! ME!! ME!! Ok, so I am supposed to open it first. There is a note in there the states, “Don’t put all of your eggs in one basket, but in this case you might want to. Swap all your eggs for the one golden egg!”. Scanning everyone’s basket for the golden egg, I spot it in Branson’s basket. He acts upset that I am about to “steal” that big sucker!! So, I pull a chair up, not knowing what to expect, take the ribbon off of the golden egg and there is a small ring box. I open it…WOW!! Its beautiful!! I boo-hoo like a baby! He gets down on one knee and I say yes! The rest is just…PLANNING!! haha. 

 

 

The HAPPY Couple! 

 

 

     

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On The Rodeo Road Fans Asked Spencer…

Spencer Turner, Winning Ride at IFR 2009

 

When you get to the rodeo, do you hang out with all the guys and visit, or do you have a routine to mentally prepare for you ride?

Funny thing about that is, I always tell myself that I am going to find a spot off by myself and get things together and warm up and mentally get ready, kinda gather my thoughts and do my own thing. But most of the time I get to a rodeo and there are friends I haven’t seen in awhile so I end up hanging out with them or I talk broncs with the other bronc riders (you can never talk too much bronc riding). Then a bareback rider usually asks me for help so I help them during their event. At some rodeos they have a deal where the fans and kids can come and do a “meet and greet” with the cowboys and learn about rodeo, so I usually volunteer to do that which kinda cuts into my time to prepare, but I think that it well worth it, because if it wasn’t for the kids and fans we couldn’t be out here doing this. Sometimes my plan does work out where I go off by myself and get ready.

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On The Rodeo Road sits down with Tracey Goodman…

Tracey Goodman at Fort Smith

 

Tracey is here to talk to us about preparation for the rodeo season, both mentally and physically.

 

 

 

Tracey thank you for taking the time to talk with us today, tell me what you do to prepare for the next rodeo season, do you ride colts, or take time off all together?

Well, when I am taking time off, I like to keep my main focus on my main horses while squeezing colts and other horses in. I will still haul to jackpot barrel races and other smaller stuff just to keep everything fresh.

 

 

In that time off, do you give your horses off completely, or do you still ride on a regular schedule? If so, what does that schedule look like? Do you use this time for tuning, or just letting them get some daily exercise?

I don’t think my horses every really get to take time off.  They don’t get worked extremely hard anyways but things can get lighter on them. If there is something that needs “brushing up on”, then I will take the time to address that.

 

 

How long out do you begin working them again, for the rodeo season?

Luckily for me, my main horse could probably sit for 3 months and make a run just as good, so he doesn’t have to have his legs worked in the ground on a regular basis. I would atleast like to try to start a light workout probably a month before hand. But like I said, my ponies never get to be off fully!! 

 

Tracey, mentally what are you doing to keep your mind right, are you going to jackpots, or just taking some time off all together?

I have been going to a lot of barrel races. Barrel races aren’t really my thing. I don’t like having to sit through 300 horses and then wait on my run!! It can get boring. I do like to go to smaller barrel races though. That gives the younger horses of mine something else to look at and get the feel for.

 

 

Do you do anything to physically prepare for the season, since your horses are getting in shape, do you do something physical as well? It might sound crazy but I like to ride my horses bareback a lot. Its keeps me “with them” a lot more I believe. Plus, it keeps my legs in pretty good shape! lol. It sure beats going to the gym to work out.  

 

 

As far as your rig, and getting it ready to hit the road, what is your routine?

Before we go anywhere to stay overnight, I like to have clean sheets on the bed in the trailer. Also, tires need to be good, water tanks need to be full and shavings need to be down in the back. My trailers tend to get turned upside down after some time off just from getting in them and using stuff…but I try to organize things a little better before I go.

 

 

 

 

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Ten Things Tracey Goodman must have…

Tracey Goodman at Fort Smith

 

Top 10 things you must have for yourself before leaving for a rodeo?

 10. Clothes.

9. Boots.

8. My insulated crocs.

7. PJ’s.

6. Magazines or anything to keep me sane!

5. My hat to run in.

4. My camo/bling hat to hide my hideous hair’do for the drives home!

3. Belt.

2. ID!! Ooopss…usually I DONT have it.

1. Credit cards!

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