Check out the last part of our interview with WPRA Barrel Racer Lisa Novak… Seasoning a Rodeo Horse

You dont want to miss Part One and Part two of this interview!!

Is there a certain line of horses you are drawn to? Cow bred? Race bred?

 Most defiantly!!  I love the firewater flit bugs alive cross!  I am an aggressive rider so a worky, turny horse fits my style and that seems to have been a good match for me.  I tend to stay away from race bred horses.  All though you can have a worky type race bred horse it usually doesn’t seem to be the standard that goes with them.  Cow bred horses are nice if they are crossed with the right lines as well but if I had a choice its Fire water Flit and Bugs Alive all the way for me!

When hauling a young horse, what is the most difficult thing you face?

Ground conditions and environment seem to be the biggest hurdles for them in my program.  Some horses never learn to handle all types of ground and some never settle on the road with their surrounding environment.  You just have to learn what to stay away from to make your horses experience and yours easier!

What attributes do you look for in a younger horse that you believe will be a rodeo mount in the future?

I think the biggest attribute is self confidence.  This will get a horse that extra step in and out of the arena.  Along with that I like a horse to be gritty and have a big heart!  Those two combined can make an average athlete a champion!

What signs do you look for in your horses to know they are mentally ready to handle rodeo competition?

Again I go back to self confidence.  As they get more confidence in themselves and their surroundings they become more mentally prepared themselves.  I also like to follow their progress and know that each time we make a run in a rodeo arena something has improved.  As the summer progresses I look for consistency as well.  Inconsistency tells me that they are not ready.  It may be mental or physical so I need to step back and look at the entire picture and see what I need to do to help get my horse to the next level.  I may need to make changes in my warm up or just how soon I get there and allow my horse time to settle.  What ever it may be I need to figure it out so by the end of the year I feel my horse is ready for the new season.

For someone wanting to start their own horse, season them and hopefully head to the rodeos… what is some advice you would give?

Be patient, be prepared, and don’t be afraid to ask for help.  Patience is a must.  Rushing into it will just cause more problems and make it harder for you to achieve your goals.  Be prepared and make sure you do your homework.  Study at home and work on your weaknesses and polish your strengths.  Then when you get to the barrel race you will be prepared.  Don’t be afraid to ask for help.  Sometimes a problem you are struggling with is easy for another person to see.  I always like to tell my students that they should always be willing to ask for help and listen.  Keep a large file in your mind and put the advice you were given in it.  It may or may not work on the horse you are riding but if it doesn’t just file in your folder because you may need to pull it out sometime down the road!

Big goals for 2011??

Well I have some really nice horse now that I have put a lot of time and preparation into so I am going to haul them pretty hard this year and see where they end up.  I usually sell them when they get to this point because I like to see others do well on my horses and see them be successful. But this year so far I have held off on selling and am looking forward to getting back in the thick of things!

OTRR would like to give a huge THANK YOU for Lisa taking the time to answer our questions!! We always look forward to her being a part of OTRR!

 

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Lisa Novak on Seasoning a Rodeo Horse.. Part 2

If you missed part one of this interview, please check it out here.

What are some of the problems you have run into when seasoning a rodeo horse?

Each horse has their own hurdles and fears they have to work through.  Some of the more common ones I have experienced are getting used to the cattle and bulls.  Usually after a month or two on the road they tend to start ignoring them.  Ground is a big issue with younger horses.  Some panic when they get on bad ground and others just learn to take care of themselves.  Some have a hard time running in deep ground and others have troubles on hard ground.  One thing about the great Lakes Circuit…. You can count on having an entire spectrum of ground types!  As a horse continues to be seasoned I notice them becoming more confident in their surroundings and rodeo atmosphere and that’s when I know we are getting close to being ready!  My old Cash horse was more happy on the road in his pen next to the trailer than at home in a stall.  Some horses never settle on the road.  You just have to figure out how to deal with them.

Some horses have quirks, what are some you are willing to put up with? 

If they are a winner I will pretty much put up with anything!  I have been lucky to have very well behaved horses.  Some horses develop quirks because of a pre existing problem.  If you pay close enough attention to them you may be able to stop it before it gets to be a habit by fixing what the root of the problem is.  I have had many cribbers and I can honestly say it has never affected them.  Pawing at the trailer is very annoying in my eyes but I have noticed that the more they stand at the trailer the less they do it.  Each horse has their special little quirks and if you haul more than one together it is a task just to haul them correctly so they will all settle on the road and be happy but with patience and persistence you can usually make everyone happy including yourself!

Mental toughness is so important in the rodeo game.  When seasoning a young horse that isn’t your “trusty old mount” how do u stay mentally tough?

 HA! It’s been years since I have been on that trusty old mount.  For the last 4 years I have been on several different horses and the biggest thing I can say is that you have to suck it up and have faith in your preparation and training.  When it doesn’t work shake it off and forget it because there is always another run in the future!  Young horses thrive off of their riders confidence so if you are insecure about the run you are about to make your horse is also going to be insecure.  You have to teach yourself mental control and confidence in your own abilities.  Experience in the rider will pass on to the inexperienced horse.

When seasoning a “newby”, what are some things you will do to keep them content on the road?

If I know I have an extreme newby in the trailer with me I usually start by taking short trips and not staying overnight.  Usually I haul them when they are youngsters to jackpots and just leave them tied to the trailer all day.  This way they can take in all of their surroundings and learn without having to worry about concentrating on competition as well.  You usually try to start this preparation early so when the day comes to make a serious trip they feel like they are comfortable and ready to haul.  Sometimes it helps to haul their pasture buddy or stall neighbor with when we start out to help them feel more at ease.

To keep a horse in TOP condition and prepare a young horse for the road, how many times a week do you ride?

I try to ride as often as possible.  I do like to give them the day after a show or weekend off so they can recover from the trip.  I don’t like to ride hard every day but I do like to just get on and school.  I will usually only pick one or two days a week to do serious work and concentrate on the barrel pattern most of the other days I like to just do basics and ride through the woods.  This keeps a horses mind fresh and willing.  I think a horse can get burned out quick if their life consists only of work.  I know I would!  Trail rides are a great way to physically work a horse while allowing them to relax and enjoy themselves.  I would take long trotting around the field over loping circles in the arena any day of the week!

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Lisa Novak is back….

We are so happy to have WPRA Barrel Racer Lisa Novak back with us to talk to us about seasoning a rodeo horse. If you missed our interviews with Lisa in the past, please check them out here! Lisa has a long list of accomplishments and we welcome her input here on OTRR.. so on to the interview.

Do you haul year round? And if so.. what is your routine for getting them in shape?

It all depends on my goals for the year, the weather and the horses I have coming up.  Usually after Nov.-Dec. I give all my horses some time off.  They all need it and it is very good for them both physically and mentally.  I have a friend with an indoor down the road that I haul to which makes it a little easier.  I also like to ride outside when the snow is deep. It can really work a horse and get them or keep them in shape!  If I decide to haul during the winter I usually only ride one or two horses.  January through March is break time! Then when the snow starts to melt I usually hit the dirt roads and do a lot of long trotting so when April roles around we are ready!

I know warm up routines are different, how do you determine your warm up routine for each horse?

Each horse is different and usually by trial and error and paying close attention to each horse and what they do helps me determine what their warm up routine consists of.  Some horses require a long excessive warm up while others seem to do better fresh..

Speaking of warm up routine are there certain maneuvers that you must do in your warm up, such as rollbacks, reverse arcs, sliding stops?

I like to get my horses responsive and giving all their attention to me.  I don’t like a horse to be “dull” before a run.  Dull meaning dragging on my hands, lack of attention and slow response to my cues.  I like to side pass do roll backs pivots and stop and backing.  Once I feel they are paying attention and are ready I will walk them and just do an occasional test to make sure they are still with me!  I do not like to do sliding stops very much.  You can sore a horse up very quickly when the ground is less than desirable.  Usually warm up pens are on the hard side and I can usually tell that my horse is listening with out “sticking” them in the ground.

What are a few things you look for physically in your young horses when picking out a competition horse? Conformation wise?

First and foremost I look at their breeding and what their parents have done in the arena. It is hard to find a “perfect” horse when it comes to conformation but I would like them to be as close as they can!  It is so hard to determine where I will stop if I like the horse’s ability but has some bothersome defects.  I like short backed horses who really get underneath themselves, a good bone is important and I tend to stay away from a horse who has bad or crooked feet. Not to say that crooked footed horses can’t work, but just that avoiding that may avoid problems in the future.

When working with your younger horses do you focus on lead changes or is that something you let them figure out on their own when you go to the pattern?

When I first start with a young horse I like to stress lead changes. More so for control reasons more than anything.  As they progress I pay attention to how they handle their lead changes and if I notice anything I may slow down and work on it.  Usually I don’t worry too much about it they usually learn as we go.  Sometimes a horse may be hesitant to one direction and that may be an indication of soreness. If I decide it is not soreness I will just continue on with my program.

This is part one of a 4 part series so be sure and check back!!! Dont forget to learn more about Lisa and her program to check out her website.

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Troy Brandenburg with Brandenburg Equine Therapy is back! He talks to us about the NFR and dealing with 10 Rounds of Competition….Part I.

Troy Brandenburg

Troy Brandenburg of Brandenburg Equine Therapy took the time to talk to OTRR about keeping horses healthy and happy during ten rounds of the NFR…..This is Part I, stay tuned next week for Part II.

Troy, I know you went out to work at Vegas this year. You have been going out to Vegas for a while now. I remember reading about you working on Brandie Halls horse Slim when she set the arena record. What was Vegas like this year for you?
 

 This year was very different for me compared to past years.  This year I was not as focused on the Rodeo events as I was with other avenues of my business.  Lately, I have been pulled more into the Personal Barns of the individuals verses the side lines of the Rodeo Grounds.   Typically Vegas is the High Point of the Year’s Work.    But this year it was just part of my year’s journey.   Moreover, I was not capable of being in Vegas for the full ten rounds.    So, I was only there to help few clients for half the Finals.

 
 
What are some of the common soreness issues you see at the NFR?

Ten Showings in Ten days tends to takes its toll on both horse and rider.   Probably the biggest issue would be mental fatigue and general all over body soreness – feet, legs, backs, shoulders.   There is just no time to rest for anyone.   

 
After 10 hard rounds for these horses, what do you see later in the week that is more prevelant than earlier in the week in these roping, steer wrestling and barrel horses?
 

Roping & bulldogging horses tend to handle the pressure better than the barrel horses.   But let’s be honest,  the roping and bulldogging horses don’t have to deal with the Vegas Alley Way.   We all know how tough it is on our horses just before race time and how easily gates and holding pens can become an issue.   Now imagine trying to immobilize that pony in a small, dimly lit, confined holding alley while being able to see the lights and hear the clamor from the arena.   The culmination of this and ten days, really takes its toll –  Mental Alley Anguish can really set in.  And how about the ground?   Honestly it would not matter how great the ground was, ten days of running takes its toll on the body.   Now the roping & bulldogging horses take their hits as well.  These riders become really pressured by the clock and don’t take as much time to set/position their horses.   In the end the horses take harder hits than they normally would. 

Do you work on these horses more than once a day? 

In the past I have.   But that depends upon the horse & what problems they have been presenting.   Otherwise, I like to look at the horses every day, use my pulsating magnetic blanket, and a good thorough stretch.

Stay tuned next week for Part II!!! To learn more about Troy and Brandenburg Equine Therapy please click here.

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Houston Rodeo to Dazzle With PRCA Elite Athletes & Stock, $1.5 Million Purse

HOUSTON, (HLSR) – Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo officials have announced that the 2011 RodeoHouston BP Super Series will be an international championship, inviting only the top cowboys and cowgirls in the sport of rodeo, competing for a purse of more than $1.5 million. 

 The entire $1,555,366 purse will be provided by RodeoHouston, with no entry fees required from the contestants.  Additionally, each contestant has the ability to earn at least $500 in bonus money by appearing at autograph sessions.  Total cash commitment for RodeoHouston BP Super Series contestants exceeds $1.7 million.

The RodeoHouston BP Super Series will feature invited championship contestants in bareback riding, bull riding, saddle bronc riding, steer wrestling, tie-down roping, team roping and women’s barrel racing.   As in previous years, the 19-performance RodeoHouston BP Super Series will feature five series of three rounds each with eight contestants per event – except for women’s barrel racing which will have 10 contestants; two Semifinal Rounds with 10 contestants per each event; one Wild Card Round with 12 contestants per each event; and a Championship Round featuring 10 contestants per each event.  This format will result in 40 contestants per event, except for women’s barrel racing, which will have 50 contestants…(read more)

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OTRR Talks with PRCA Bull Riders Cody Whitney and Steve Woosley as they prepare for Round One of the 2010 Wrangler National Finals..

On The Rodeo Road spoke with Cody and Steve just a little bit ago and this is what we learned as they prepare for tonight!

What is your game plan for the next ten nights?

Steve: My game plan is to take one bull at a time. I feel better that I ever have coming in to the Finals. As for being nervous, I am actually more excited than nervous and just really ready to get this rodeo started.

Cody: My plan is to stay healthy and positive, those two things are so important to performing to your best ability. I plan to keep both of those things as top priority and focus on doing my job while I am here for the next 10 days.

There is nothing easy about rodeo, what keeps you motivated and passionate when luck may not be on your side?

Steve: This is what I do for a living, this is my job so I have to stay motivated and keep going in order to get a paycheck. If I don’t then I can’t pay the bills. I really enjoy what I do.

Cody: I stay motivated on the road in many ways, but one of the most important ways is the support I have from family and friends. Having family and friends there to support you makes staying motivated much easier. I try to focus on those two things. My favorite quote would be “Ride it out”

PRCA Bull Rider Cody Whitney

 

For a rookie bull rider wanting to make bull riding a career, what is some advice you would tell him?

Steve: I would tell them to always stay positive, keep going and to not get discouraged. No matter what keep trying and get out there and get it done.

Cody: I would tell them to be prepared for a hard road, nothing about it is easy. However you have to go in 100%, it is all or nothing, you cant be a bull rider half way.  You will have to pay the price in many ways.. financially and with injuries so you just have to go all in. It is a hard way to make a living, but if you want it you have to go after it.  

How do you plan on keeping yourself healthy and injury free for the next ten days?

Steve: My game plan is to ride all ten bulls and to land on my feet when I dismount.

Cody: I plan to focus on being 90 points or better so the Crown Royal will donate 2000.00 to the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund.

PRCA Bull Rider Steve Woosley

 

What made you team up with the Crown Royal Riders and become involved in the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund?

Steve: Crown Royal is a great sponsor and a very known product. Scott Davis approached me about becoming involved with the Crown Royal Riders and I was honored that they wanted me. It has really been great working with and I am excited to keep going with them. Crown Royal is donating $2000 dollars to the Justin Cowboy Crisis fund for every 90 point ride.

Cody: They handpicked this team and I am just honored to be a part of it, it is a great organization and was very proud to be selected and proud to be out here supporting this organization.

Ok, while out on the Rodeo Road, what is your favorite food?

Steve: I actually try to stay away from fast food and eat pretty healthy, although I do like a good steak!

Cody: I will eat ANYTHING! Haha  

Cody did add that his favorite win from 2010 was the Prescott Arizona Rodeo.

From Top, Left to Right – J.W. Harris, Clayton Williams, Tilden Hooper and Cody Whitney. From Bottom, Left to Right – Wesley Silcox and Steve Woolsey.

About the Crown Royal Riders:

A successful eight-second ride means a chance at a coveted buckle, but to the Crown Royal Riders, it also means a chance to give back to the rodeo community. During the National Finals Rodeo, the Crown Royal Riders will not only be riding for the World Championship, but also for a good cause. Crown Royal will donate $2,000 to the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund for every 90+ point performance by a member of the Crown Royal Riders. 

Several members of the 2010 Crown Royal Rider team are currently ranked in the top-15 World PRCA Bull-Riding Standings.

OTRR would like to thank Cody and Steve both and also Crown Royal! Good luck to all competitors at this years NFR!

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OTRR sits down with Rope Afghanistan….

Tell us how the idea of Rope Afghanistan originated? The idea started when my husband was asked to go to Afghanistan for the USDA (who he has worked for almost 40 years).  He could not think about not swinging a rope for a year, so he took along two ropes. He then called me and asked that I send him one of the plastic steer heads we had. I did and he built his first dummy (called MRAP 1) from used MRAP parts and odds & ends there on the base. He started practicing and soon there were four or five soldiers who took an interest. On his first leave home, he told me that he thought it would be a great idea to have a “little dummy roping” and give away a buckle. I said “Great idea! I will work on it”.  When he got back to the base, and mentioned his plan and said that there would be a buckle to the winner, his five or six grew to nearly twenty. He then called and said he would need more buckles and ropes. I mentioned this to a family friend (Allen Crumley) and he suggested doing a Facebook page to let people know what we were doing for the troops.  When I set up the page, my thought was that we would get about 100 friends and a few donations to help out with the buckle costs. Needless to say the Facebook Page did a little better than that (4500 friends to date) who have donated cash, sponsored buckles (Arnold gave away 25 at his roping), sent ropes, dummies, pictures frames for the winners, snacks, letters or support, a custom made leather rope bag, and even commemorative coins for the soldiers.  And we have had enough donations to be able to sponsor buckles at two other bases that will be holding their ropings in early December. The support has been just awesome.

I have checked out your website and your FB page and it is really growing. How many soldiers do you have involved in Rope Afghanistan?  We have 30 on the base where Arnold is and about 40 more on other bases around the country.

 What do you want to see happen with this organization? I hope to see this organization continue to grow and continue sending items to the troops as long as there is a soldier somewhere in the world that wants to rope. And possibly even take the cowboy way of life to soldiers on the bases here stateside.

When the soldiers come home, will this be something that will bond them together and continue? I think it will. Arnold has told me that the guys on his base have caught “roping fever” and will rope every chance they get now. 

 When will the dummy roping take place in October and what are the rules?The dummy roping took place on October 1 in Baraki Barak. The rules are just like the dummy ropings you see here. Everyone starts out at the same distance and advances back a foot when they catch. Last man standing wins.

Tell us about the soldiers that are competing, have they always been involved in this type of activity, or are they from all walks of life?They come from all walks of life. Some have roped a bit before and some have never even held a rope before now. But they catch on quick and they are very competitive with themselves and each other.

How much do the soldiers get to rope the dummy? Do they practice every day?Most of them rope in their down time. And practice time depends on the current situation at the base and how many missions they are doing each week.

What type of donations is Rope Afghanistan looking for?Money for the buckles and postage always helps, new ropes, rope gloves, how to DVD’s, caps, letters and cards of support, snack items, or just anything roping related.  The soldiers are very appreciative of everything that is sent to them.

 

 What can we do to help?  Just spreading the word about who we are, what we do, and keeping our armed forces in our prayers out night, that each and everyone will come home safely is a huge help.

OTRR wants to give a HUGE thanks to Rope Afghanistan and all that they do! Please everyone take a moment to check out their website and find them on Facebook. It is very easy to make a donation by clicking here to go to their website.

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From Marketing Executive to Rodeo Star- Tana Poppino

Raised on a ranch in southeast Colorado, Tana Poppino has spent her entire life around horses. That love and a competitive nature drew her to the world of rodeo at an early age.  She participated in the amateur rodeo ranks throughout high school and college but pursued a career at Grand River Dam Authority in their media and communications department which she enjoyed for 20+ years.

Tana worked for the GRDA in Vinita, Oklahoma, which is a state-owned public power producer. They operate 2 coal-fired generating plants, and three hydro plants which produced electricity for about 15 cities and towns in Oklahoma, as well as rural electric cooperatives. She worked for 20+ years in the Media/Marketing Department producing corporate videos, annual reports, company brochures/media and corporate photography. Tana also worked with many cities and civic organizations on their marketing efforts and although she enjoyed her job she never called it her career passion.

The draw of the rodeo always beckoned for Tana to participate more regularly than the weekend competitions that she continued to pursue in her spare time. The ultimate goal on the rodeo circuit for a Barrel Racer is to find that special horse that could compete at the top professional level. In 1999, Tana thought found him, a bay 4-yr-old gelding, whose official name was Perrymans Star, but she called him Amigo.

Competing with the Big Girls

Tana took her time training and seasoning him for three years, and Amigo continued to prove himself a winner. In 2003, Tana took the big step and entered the winter pro rodeos, sanctioned by the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association, to see how she would do against the “big girls”. Although their first run wasn’t good, Tana and Amigo came back and won the second round at the National Western Stock Show in Denver. For the next three years, she continued to work her marketing job and tried to rodeo on the side using accumulated leave, comp time, and unpaid leave. (read more about Tana)

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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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Lets talk to Ed at East Hazel Saddlery… Part Two

 

If you missed Part One, please check it out here..

Do you keep things already made on hand, or is it by order only?
I hardly ever have anything on hand unless someone didn’t pick up an order.  Usually have no problem finding a home for them though.  I usually have several custom headstalls that I make for myself hanging around the shop..  Somebody will usually stop by and want them before I get a chance to use them.  I usually have a few rope saddles on hand at all times to.

What makes your pieces different from other peoples?
I am a custom maker.  If you get something from me it’s probably the only one.  The great thing about making tack as it is ordered each item is different, they might be similar but you will never be at a rodeo and the person next to you will have the exact same gear on their horse!  I make everything out of the best materials I can find and I don’t cut corners.  If I don’t like it I will redo it until I do.  The only drawback to this is that I’m slow.  I can’t turn out tack fast.  The main thing that make me different is that I’m accessible.  If something happens to something I made for you I will stop what I am doing and get the issues fixed as soon as I can. I think customer service is sometimes overlooked in this business.  My customers are a priority to me so it is important to get them back out on the Rodeo Road!

Where do you see your business in 5 years?
In five years from now I hope to be in a little stand alone shop instead of working out of my basement.  I hope to continually build a happy and loyal customer base. I’m going to stay focused on my goal of producing simple, stylish, durable and affordable tack and saddles for everyone from beginners to world champions alike!!!

Everybody, thank you for your time and interest in what I do!  If there is anything I can help you with or do for you, or if you have any questions please feel free to contact me!

Thanks again, God Bless, and Long Live The Cowboy!!!

Ed Rehmus
5357  New Providence Road
Hazel Ky 42049
fasteddie_26@yahoo.com

Here are some additional pictures from East Hazel Saddlery….

OTRR wants to give a HUGE Thanks to Ed at East Hazel Saddlery for opening up his tack shop to us and letting us show off his beautiful work! Thanks again! 

Be sure and check back for more from Ed, he will be showcasing more pieces in the next few months.

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