Barrel Daze and a Royal Investment

Welcome to the 5th edition of The Arena Feed!

Canada was well represented in Washington at the Sand Cup and then the VGBRA Barrel Daze event in Moses Lake this past weekend. There were many Canadians in the money showing us just how strong our Canadian horses and jockeys are!
Krystal Grad and A Famous French Kiss continued their winning ways winning the Maturity Average, 2nd go and the SIP average. We interviewed Krystal and learned about Stevi last week, you can access it here.

The highest placing Canadian horse and rider in the VGBRA Barrel Daze Futurity was R Ace Of Spades and Kirsty White. You’ll find their audio interview below.

We also caught up with Randa Nugent to learn more about the Royal Crown Canada incentive program. She answers your burning questions and we learn more about what’s in store this year at their two event.

Both interviews are audio interviews that are approximately 30 minutes long. They will open in a web browser to listen (if you’re reading this by email).

In addition to this current issue, you can always go back and read previous interviews you may have missed. Use this link to read them on our blog.

In this issue:
➡From The Arena Floor: Interviews with Kirsty White
➡Event Spotlight: Royal Crown Canada with Randa Nugent
➡Upcoming Events & Deadlines
➡Featured horse
➡Road Apples - tidbits from around the web
➡Featured Ranch
➡Mindset Minute with Michelle
➡Meme of the week

From The Arena Floor

R Ace Of Spades added over $9400 to his LTE this past weekend down in Washington at the VGBRA Barrel Daze. Kirsty White and R Ace of Spades placed second in the second round, 5th in the open futurity average and 3rd in the stallion incentive program average.  I caught up with Kirsty over the phone to talk about Ace and his surprise beginning, health battles and the heart of a warrior that has brought him to where he is at.

We had a bit of feedback and issues with the cell phone service but I feel like it’s worth it to be able to hear Kirsty talk about this special horse and what he means to her (rather than me transcribe it to text). Enjoy!

You can watch his 2nd go run here on his FB page.

Event Spotlight - Royal Crown Canada

I was able to catch up with Randa Nugent of Royal Crown Canada to learn more about the Incentive and upcoming event in Claresholm, AB. We are fortunate to have so many great incentives in Canada but there are some differences to take note of between them.

I asked some questions that Randa was able to bring clarity to. She talked about how all horses are welcome to enter the Royal Crown races (whether it be futurity or open), it’s just that there is big incentive money (noted below) for horses by Royal Crown stallions making it much more incentivized to ride a horse by a Royal Crown Stallion. We also talk about how to figure out if your horse is eligible and how and whether you can still nominate your horse should a previously nominated stallion be dropped from the program. This is a tidbit I wasn’t aware of. The incentive also has big plans for their September event in Ponoka and we learn a bit more info about that in this conversation as well.

PSA: Entries without late fee ends April 18th. Royal Crown Canada Website HERE
Listen below to get the inside scoop:

Upcoming Events:

If you want YOUR event listed free, please reply to this email or use the “hot tips” form on the website. Everyone is welcome to help me out and submit events ;)

The “Spring Fling” Futurity and Derby - Brooks, AB April 18-20, 2025 Entries open, late fees now apply. Link here under discussion.
$3,000 𝐀𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐅𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 $2,000 𝐀𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐃𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐲 $1,000 Added 4D Jackpot

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Find info on each of the Canadian Barrel Futurities Events HERE
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Entries are open for The Mother Of Dragons barrel race - Stettler, AB. FB Group HERE
It runs April 26th and it looks like an amazing lineup of prizes taking shape. The division winners win gorgeous crowns!
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CBHI announced and exciting 2D Slot Race to be added to their weekend. More info HERE The CBHI Flagship event is October (9TH-12TH) 2025 in Ponoka, AB. The have indicated this event and their approved race derby age is continuing to be 7 & under.
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The Calgary Stampede Ladies Barrel Racing Qualifier will be June 10 &11, 2025 at the Nutrien Western Event Centre. Competitors will have the opportunity to run for a chance at competing at the 2025 Calgary Stampede Rodeo. Entries Open April 15th and Close May 15th. More info HERE.
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Heart of the Horse 2025, August 22–24 at the Cypress Centre in Medicine Hat, Alberta. This year features Pat Parelli, the master of natural horsemanship, and Amber Marshall, star of Heartland, alongside a colt-starting competition, demos, Canada’s Top Ranch Horse Competition, and much more! Info HERE
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The Masterson Method and Relational Horsemanship unite as Jim Masterson and Josh Nichol join forces in a unique event held near Red Deer, AB April 29th and 30th. Learn to identify physical issues and ride in a way that supports long term change. Register HERE
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Horse Expo Canada - Red Deer, AB Features Barrel Racer Connie Combs. The event runs April 25-27th.
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Ride Like A Mother Barrel Series in Grunthal, MB have set their 2025 dates. You can find out more here (FB) The first one is July 10th.
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Randa Nugent and Family Benefit
𝗪𝗲𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗔𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗹 𝟯𝟬𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝘁 𝗚𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗔𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗮 for a benefit race in support of Randa Nugent and her family. There will also be an online auction hosted on the linked page to raise funds to support the physical repair, vet expenses and emotional loss from the tragedy they experienced.

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Lipstick & Cowboy Boots has a list of barrel racings that are not sanctioned and located in BC, AB & SK on their website.

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The Rope & Race in Brandon, MB is scheduled for May 23-25. More on their FB page here. It is CBHI approved.

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The Prestige Barrel race is also noted as CBHI approved and scheduled for June 21-22 in Brandon, MB. There is a post running for those wanting to buy and sell slots. FB page here. Slot payments due April 15th.

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Don’t Give A Buck Barrel Race and Roping is slated for May 17-19 in Virden, MB. The event kicks off with a wedding fundraiser jackpot for Janet and Ory, on the 18th, the 7th annual Don’t Give A Buck Barrel Racing $2500 WF approved JP in the 18th, concluding with a fundraiser team roping.

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Royal Crown Canada is back to Claresholm. Alberta 𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝟲-𝟭𝟭, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 With $𝟐𝟎𝟕,𝟓𝟎𝟎 added over the 6 days. Enter before April 18th to avoid late fees. They run an open race as well as the signature events for Royal Crown Stallion eligible offspring.

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The entry deadline for The Yellow Rose Futurity and Derby held May 2nd - 4th at Claresholm, AB is fast approaching. April 1st was the first payment deadline for Futurity and Derby entries. May 3rd Open jackpot entries are also open and close April 30th.

Presented by: Rodeoclassifieds.com

RodeoClassifieds.com is 25 years young this year! To celebrate we are having an ad sale. Post now, pay later.  Free upfront, pay only if we have helped to sell your horse. Stallions and businesses only after 500 views. Select the post now, pay later option when you post your ad before the end of April.

🍎Road Apples - tidbits from around the web this week

🍎Canadian Barrel Horse Incentive is raffling a Coulee Equine conditioning package. More info here to purchase.

🍎Carnduff Dash For Cash has a few tickets left in their Flexineb raffle. More info here.

🍎CBHI announces that they will have a $5000 added Diamond Classic Incentive Sidepot at their fall futurity. More info here
 
🍎 Canadian Cowboys Association announces they are no longer offering the option for non members to pay an extra $50 fee to enter a rodeo. They suggest a permit (or full card) and note changes to that HERE.

🍎 An infographic on how to tell if a horses is in pain HERE

🍎 Do you like seeing things cut open? Watch an equine melanoma tumor be cut open HERE

🍎 Breeders Elite announce lifetime eligibility nominations available to some horses (whose sire or breeder dropped from the program. Learn more HERE

🍎Are you an equine anatomy geek? You might like this reel on the cranial nerves.

Featured Ranch

Would you like your ranch or business featured? We’d love to promote yours.

Mindset Minute with Michelle Davey

As humans, we are armed with very powerful brains. But it’s often our “thinker” that gets us into trouble. It is actually very challenging to “think” our way out of an anxious, angry or frustrated state as the energy of that emotion runs through our body.

We can however override the state that our mind has created in our body (butterflies, tension etc.) by sending messages from our body back up to our brain. It’s a two way street therefore we can override patterns by going in the backdoor through the body.

Using your brain to affect your body would be considered a top down approach and using your body to impact your brain, is a bottom up approach.

Tools you can use that can override your brain include (but not limited to):
- Conscious breathing like box breathing
- Softening your gaze and taking in objects in your peripheral vision
- Wiggling your toes
- Doing a body scan and bringing your attention to different areas of your body.
All of these techniques send messages of safety back to your brain without having to talk yourself into a better state or being tough on yourself.

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Until next week,

Michelle