Ashley Whyland….The Joys of Seasoning a Colt

Boy do I miss the rodeo road….seems like just yesterday during this time of year all of the girls were getting ready for the World Toughest Rodeos.  The things I don’t miss about rodeoing in the winter:  a 5 hour trip taking 12 hours to get home due to a freak blizzard in St. Charles, MO…..sleeping in the horse trailer with no living quarters and a ceramic heater duct taped to the blanket bar in Rockford, IL…… and having to say things like “yes this truck has 4wd, but NO I don’t have chains for it.” 

However, there is nothing like the thrill of an indoor rodeo.  You can almost feel the thunder in your chest as the crowd screams inside a coliseum.  Behind the scenes all of the girls would have their horses brought inside to keep warm, all huddled in the one spot that was covered in dirt outside the arena.  Each of us praying that they let us into the arena to ride during intermission because there was no where else to ride!  Oh the days…. 

But here I sit, waiting on the next jackpot.  The joys of seasoning a colt!  Atticus has been consistently running in the 4D with mistakes here and there but for as little as he’s been hauled, I’ve been tickled with that.  However he really pulled one out of the hat last weekend, running the 13^th fastest time out of 104 entries and winning a 2^nd place check in the 2D!  Knowing that a horse has it and seeing it shine through is the best feeling in the world.  One thing I know about Atticus is he has the most consistent and fluid first barrel, which I think is very important for a great rodeo horse, especially in our circuit of short pens. 

My plan for Atticus is to keep him consistent, because I think that is another key factor in a great rodeo horse.  I’m hoping that next year I can take him to a few local rodeos and see how he handles the atmosphere and ground, then go from there.

Until next time….make sure you wear your ear thingys before you go outside, brrrr it’s cold!

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OTRR Talks to Ashley Whyland about Seasoning her Young Horse, Honorabull

Ashley Whyland and Honorabull

Ashley, thank you so much for taking the time to sit down with OTRR again. It has been a while since we talked but I know that you have a young horse now and you have been seasoning him this year. Let’s talk a little bit about that process:

First tell us a little bit about Atticus:

His registered name is Honorabull and he is quite the character.  Atticus is one of those horses that are always in your pocket.  He LOVES attention.  He is a very laid back horse, but very codependent.  He either wants to be around a person or another horse at all times.  He is an own son of Bully Bullion out of a Jet of Honor mare.  I bought him from Laura Jane and Jeffrey Durfee.

 How long have you had him?

I have owned him for almost a year.  We bought him around Thanksgiving last year.

How old is he?

5

How far along was he when you got him?

Atticus had been hauled some when I got him, but was still green.  He has some great handle on him and they really had him broke the way I like one, so that has made it easy for me. 

Is this your first summer hauling him?

Yes, I have taken him to a few shows this spring/summer and now that it has started to cool down, we plan on going some more this fall/winter! 

I know that we all set goals for ourselves and our horses at the beginning of the year. Going in to a new year with a new horse, what are some things you want to accomplish?

I plan on taking things real slow with Atticus.  I want a horse to be sound and sane for the next 20 years.  He’s past his futurity year and sealing up his Derby year, so there is no reason for me to be in any hurry.  My goals are for him to be nice and solid going into summer of next year.  I plan to take him to some local rodeos to season him next summer.

Take me through a day at a one day barrel race with Atticus? Tell our fans about exhibitions, your warm up routine, etc..

The past couple of times I’ve run Atticus, I haven’t been able to get an exhibition in so we have run cold turkey.  It’s all about timing with us right now so my second run is always better than my first.  If I’m able to get there in time for exhibitions, I like to trot him through the pattern and let him see what all is in the arena.  Then I cruise him through, basically high loping the pattern not asking for any speed.  His warm up routine is basically like any other horse I have.  Walking for about 5 minutes, long trotting for about 5 minutes and loping for about 5-7 minutes.  After I get him warmed up, I work on his stop and pivoting off his hind end.  Atticus can get a little front-endy, so this helps him really concentrate on using his butt when I ask him.  What I look for is him to really plant his butt in the ground and when I ask him to roll back for him to be really snappy.  When I take Atticus in the alley, I make sure I come in from the right side so that he always catches his right lead going into the barrel.  His first barrel is pretty darn automatic which I think will be a huge plus in the rodeo pen.  He still needs a little help on his second and third barrels, but all in all Atticus knows his job really well.  I think the most important thing with young horses is knowing them.  Spending lots of time around them and knowing how they think, react, what calms them down, what hypes them up, etc. 

Do you run Atticus in different headgear? Did you go through some trials in finding the right headgear? I know that finding the perfect bit/combo/hack can be hard on a new/young horse?

Atticus will pretty much ride in anything.  He’s a light mouthed horse and doesn’t need a whole lot of bit.  However, I have found that a Reinsman Little S hackamore is the best to run him in.  It really helps keep him flatter in his turns.  I try to ride him in a different bit each time I ride at home.  If I need some work on collection, I’ll put him in a draw gag.

Tell me some things that worry you when seasoning a young one as opposed to getting on a horse you have been rodeoing on and knows the ropes?

Atticus takes a lot of the worry out of most situations.  He’s a horse that may get spooked by something or get upset, but he’s not going to have a total meltdown over it.  With young horses, the things you take for granted to walk past at a barrel race or rodeo may be a BIG deal to these colts.  One thing that I have found to work on the younger horses is if they’re acting cautious or spooky of something, I’ll just act like I don’t even notice it and go on.  Nine times out of ten, they’ll walk right on also.  It’s when the rider makes a big deal and tightens their reins/seat that the horses feel they have something to worry about. 

Of course, ground condition is something that comes into play also with the younger ones.  I have yet to take Atticus to any rodeos and he hasn’t been to any horse shows where there has been bad ground, so I have yet to see how he’ll handle.      

 We are going in to the Fall, will you continue to haul Atticus this winter or give him a break?

My plan is to go to one or two shows each month during the winter, weather permitting.  I normally try to keep the horses in shape the best I can without hauling them several times a week, but if the weather doesn’t allow that this year they may get a break until early spring. 

Stay tuned for more with Ashley and Atticus as they continue the seasoning process and start getting out on the rodeo road.

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Checking in on Ashley’s Favorites….

Luther running in my favorite bit!!

OTRR had a chance to chat with Ashley Whyland about what you will find in her barn! Check out what Ashley uses!

Saddle:  Cactus Saddlery – Charmayne James.  This saddle seems to fit a lot of different horses and it keeps me square in my seat with my feet forward.  It also has the bigger leather horn that I like. 

Pad:  I have used many different types, but I feel like certain horses need certain pads.  I’m currently using a Professionals Choice Heavy Duty SMX Air Ride pad.  Luther was very high withered and I found that either an Impact Gel or a Todd Sloan fit him well.

Bit:  My all time favorite bit has to be the draw gag.  I have one in about every different mouth piece made.  I think these bits help horses that don’t have a lot of natural collection.  But it’s not something I would use on a horse that doesn’t have any rate.  I also like to use these bits to bit one back in the round pen.

Headgear:  All of my horses get a draw rein tune up every once in a while.  I feel that they help a horse get their butt up under them and round their back.  I generally go with the “less is more” concept.  If they don’t need a tie down or any type of fancy headgear, then I don’t put it on them. 

Boots:  I have always used Classic Equine Legacy boots with Dyno Turn Bell boots on the front and polo wraps on the back.  I have recently switched to polo wraps on all four legs.  My favorite brand of polos are Classic Equine.  I feel like they have a little stretch, but not too much and they hold up very well.  I think it’s VERY important that you learn how to wrap before you start using polo wraps.  A lot of damage can be done by wrapping the wrong way, too tight, etc.

Feed & Hay:  Most of our horses are on a sweet mix from a local mill, except for my newest addition, Atticus.  He is eating SafeChoice by Nutrena.  All horses get 2 flakes of Alfalfa/Orchard grass hay twice a day and a loose mineral.

Therapy:  I love my PHT Magnetic products.  I also use Sore No More liniment under my magnets.  I recently bought a tub of Sore No More poultice that I LOVE!  I even used it on myself!  I like to wrap their legs after a run and when hauling.

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Ashley Whyland chats with OTRR

Ashley Whyland on Luther

It’s been a long while since I’ve update on OTRR, but to be quite honest barrel racing hasn’t been on the agenda a whole lot this winter!  I sold BLY Valiance Hooker last fall and I look for her to have a successful career with her new owner.  Here is the reality and truth of it, when your first barrel horse is such a great horse, a winner, a pleaser….it’s hard to jump on the next one and be happy with it.  Hooker is a very nice mare, but she just wasn’t the horse for me.  So I decided to move on…I vowed that I would take my time finding my next horse and get EXACTLY what fits me.  It didn’t take long for the right horse to fall into my lap.  A good friend of mine’s daughter was starting her career and had a 4 year old gelding that she had to part with.  So “Atticus” made the long trek from Texas to Indiana.  He is an own son of Bully Bullion out of a Jet of Honor daughter.  So far, Atticus is proving that he is exactly what I want to send down the alleyway.  Although I don’t think rodeos will be in our immediate future, I plan to haul him to jackpots this year and get him nice and solid.  Then we will see what the future holds for him!  I am VERY excited to start the year off fresh with a new horse and see what is in store for us!

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Ashley Whyland is back on the road!!!

Ashley Whyland on Luther

 

We loaded up and headed out to my first rodeo back in a LOOONNGGG time!  This was a bulls and barrels at a local county fair.  No big deal, but it was my horse’s first rodeo.  I was running Freckles, my boyfriend’s horse.  I have made a handful of runs on him, but he’s a lot different than what I’m used to running. 
 
They opened the arena about 30 minutes before the rodeo was going to start and let us ride.  I could tell that Freckles was taking it all in, but was a little jazzed up about the atmosphere.  They had very loud music playing and it was a very small arena.  Behind the arena were the fair rides.  Directly behind the 3rd barrel was a HUGE Ferris Wheel (and I’m not exaggerating.)  Every spoke on that sucker was lit up like a slot machine!  It was a lot for a horse to take in and I knew it would only be worse when it started to get dark.
 
I was up in the slack, which I thought would be a good plan for my horse.  However, that put me to running in the dark.  I decided to let my horse rest up by the arena after I warmed him up.  I wanted him to get a GOOD look at that monstrous wheel that he was probably thinking was going to come unbolted and chase him. 
 
After watching the performance I discovered the ground was VERY hard and not many horses were standing up on it.  Freckles is a big horse and I really wasn’t for sure how he was going to handle the ground.  It was also a small pattern.  Freckles has a very long stride, so I knew I could clock if I just got 3 clean barrels.  I let him cruise in and he nailed the first barrel, had a pretty good second and I had him lined up for the 3rd and then all of the sudden, he bolted right!  I decided to lope him out. 
 
I wasn’t upset with Freckles, I felt like he handled it very well, considering!  I was also told that there was a bull barrel setting to the right of the 3rd barrel and that could have been what made him pick up and dart right!  There were a couple of other horses that did the exact same thing. 
 
It is definitely challenging to go back to the rodeos and not be on a rodeo seasoned horse.  I guess things like the Ferris Wheel and things sitting in the arena are things that I took for granted before and I didn’t have to worry about them.
 
I would normally say “Off to the next one…”, but I’m not sure when the next one will be.  We haven’t bought any cards for this year, but I am contemplating buying my card back for next year!

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OTRR talks to Ashely Whyland..

Ashley Whyland on Luther

When your horse starts giving you problems, is there one person in particular that you may call on to bounce ideas off of or help you fix the issue? Tell us about them!  Me and my friend Lindsey Hostetler talk to each other a lot about our runs.  We critique each other and give ideas to help each other.  Of course, my boyfriend, John Brown, even if I don’t ask, he’ll tell me what I’m doing wrong!  Haha! 

 What type of saddle do you prefer to ride in? All girls have their preference!  I love my Cactus!  It’s the Charmayne James saddle and it fits me great and fits most of my horses!

 We asked about your most memorable run, not tell us about your most embarrassing.  That would probably be when my ex-horse Chris turned the 3^rd barrel and I gave him his head and he just kept on turning.  Then ran to the fence and the barrel setters where all standing there.  They all jumped up and scaled the fence and the whole crowd was laughing…

 Do you get nervous before each rodeo run?  If you aren’t nervous, you aren’t human.  No seriously, I think it isn’t fun anymore when you’re not nervous.  Of course, the more comfortable you are with your horse, the less nervous you are.

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Ashley Shares about Mental Toughness……

Ashley Whyland on Luther

 

Mental toughness is a big part of barrel racing. Everybody has down days and bad runs. How do you keep yourself mentally tough? Some athletes have a phrase or a saying that they continually say in their head that keeps them focused, what is your secret? 

I think one of the biggest things is KNOWING you’ve done your homework at home before you head to a rodeo.  If you know you’ve done everything you can do at home to prepare for the run, then you will be confident.  One of my favorite quotes is “Live each day like there will never be a tomorrow”.  I think it’s important to live each day like it will be your last.  It will make you put your all into things!

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On The Rodeo Road Wanted to Know…..

Ashley Whyland on Luther

 

Ashley, how early do you like to get to a rodeo?

I like to get there at least 2 hours early, sometimes earlier.  I think it’s very important for my horse to get out and stretch his legs, maybe take a nap, have a bite to eat and get used to the surroundings.  Depending on where I’m going, I may spend the weekend there and get there a day early.  I love going out and seeing new places, different towns, restaurants and all that.  Every town/city has something they’re special for!

 

Thanks so much Ashley! Stay tuned for more of your questions answered from the OTRR Team!

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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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On The Rodeo Road Sits Down with Ashley Whyland..

Ashley Whyland on Luther

Lets talk about Luther for a second, tell me how you came to get Luther? 

 

I wanted a barrel horse, but I knew nothing about them honestly.  Some friends of mine had a horse I was going to buy and the weekend I was going to pick him up, he coliced and died.  Call it fate, I guess.  They knew about Luther, but knew he had basically been “turned out”.  When I went to go meet him he was in a dry lot and was starved.  Of course, I had to have him.  The people that had owned him didn’t live at the farm and were depending on the neighbors to throw over hay for him.  It was a long road to get him back up to par.  But I think it happened that way for a reason.  I’m not sure if I would have been able to ride him if he was the horse he turned out to be in the end, when I went to buy him.

 

How about when you were on the road, did you have any special routines with Luther? Warm up? Blankets? Supplements? 

 

 Luther was always on some sort of joint supplement and my favorite for him was Necessity.  We had a bout of Ulcers and I then put him on GastroPlus by Total Health Enhancement.  They then started to sponsor us.  As far as a warm up routine, I always found a place that I could at least long trot him.  He LOVED warming up on the trotting tracks where he could lope straight.  And as far as blankets, Luther LIVED with his PHT magnetic blanket.  I really think that thing made him young again.  He would bounce out of the trailer and trot off on the end of his lead.  Not many horses 20+ years old do that after 8 hour long trips.

 

When you would get ready to leave for a rodeo, was there one thing you had to have with you? We know you forgot your boots once, so I am sure you always made sure you had those, but what about something special you always threw in the truck? 

 

Yeah, I didn’t forget my boots after that!  I guess the one thing that we couldn’t live without on the road was Lue’s magnetic blanket.  Like I said, it was a necessity.  And coggins and health certificate, FOR EVERY HORSE IN THE TRAILER, I’ll have a story about that soon…. 

 

What was your favorite rodeo, when you were out on the road? 

 

I think I’d have to say Dover, OH.  Their hospitality was GREAT.  We would always go and stay the weekend for that one.  JBarJ always puts on some great rodeos in our circuit!

 

Before you run, what did you do to prepare mentally? 

 

I ALWAYS imagine a perfect run.  If you go out there with “I can’t hit the first barrel” on your mind, you’re more than likely going to hit it.  If I had a problem I needed to fix, I always though about WHAT I needed to do.  Luther had a tendency to cut in on my pocket at the first barrel and go past it to make up.  So I had to literally look at the third barrel and drive towards it and then let him drop in about 10-15 feet away.  Another thing, don’t let your competition get the best of you.  I like to be off someplace else instead of watching the girls before me run.  I may walk my horse around while I’m imagining my run and then when I hear my name called, it’s game time! 

 

 

 

 

 

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