Big wins on a big weekend

Welcome to the 12th edition of The Arena Feed!

What a big weekend in Canadian Barrel Racing! It gets hard for me to pick who we will feature each week when there are so many exciting races and rodeos going on. This week I decided to connect with one racer from the CCA barrel racing and one from CPRA barrel racing. I wish we could do each and every winner but that would get awfully long! I’m sure we will be hearing from some of the other weekend winners throughout the season. This week we learn about Kennedy Smith and her brand new horse who tied for the win (with Suzanne DePaoli) at Hand Hills Lake Stampede CPRA rodeo, and Angela Mastad who won the Kindersley Stampede and was second at Unity, SK on the CCA circuit.

Welcome to all the new subscribers and thank you to everyone here already that’s been sharing and reading. You’re appreciated.

In this issue:
➡From The Arena Floor: Interviews with Kennedy Smith and Angela Mastad
➡Upcoming Events & Deadlines
➡Road Recipe of the Week
➡Featured horse
➡Road Apples - tidbits from around the web
➡Featured Ranch
➡Mindset Minute with Michelle
➡Meme of the week

From The Arena Floor with Kennedy Smith

It looks like a dream team in the making with Kennedy Smith and her new mount Howes Hion Firewater AKA Bucket! Making her first run ever on the mare and taking the win is what dreams are made of. It will be exciting to follow this new team throughout the year. Thanks Kennedy for sharing about yourself, your horse and your program.

Tell us about Bucket. Who bred her, who owns her, who has done the training etc.  Tell us about her personality and what she's like to run. 

Bucket is a 14 year old grey mare. I just bought her on Tuesday before Hand Hills from Braidy & Gayle Howes. That was my first ever run on her so safe to say she blew my expectations away. She’s came from the Howes program as I believe they bought her as a 3 year old so they did all of her training. She was bred by Lee Youngerman. She has a funny personality. She’s pretty all business when there’s a job to be done and a little grumpy. Her papered name is Howes Hion Firewater. She is by “Nick Dell” out of Teddy Bear Tracks a daughter of Firewater Flit.

Tell us about yourself.   Where you're from, how long you've been barrel racing and what do you like to do when you're not barrel racing. 

I am from Rimbey AB. I am 27 years old and have been riding horses since the age of 3. I work for my dad on a buffalo ranch and we raise and sell them. I also own and operate my small business K Rae Designs. A clothing company for all things cowgirl. I also am a certified LARC Test Technician and can customize conditioning programs specific to a horses recovery.

What do you think about before you go to make a run on this horse?  What's the game plan?

I honestly don’t have much for a game plan on any horse. But I try to keep it pretty calm. I usually warm up and sit for a minute or two and then go. Each horse is a little different on how I do things pre run but my game plan for a run stays the same. Ride my horse to the best of my ability and make the best run I can and don’t worry about things I can’t control. This weekend was different as It was my first run on Bucket. I just knew she was reliable and sent her in there confident she’d do the job.

Tell us about your winning run.  What do you think it was about it that put it on top?

I think that mare is incredibly efficient in a turn. She wastes no time around the barrels and she has a strong leave out of the barrel. I think it makes her tough to beat.

Tell us about your gear setup for this horse   What are you riding in for a saddle, pad, bit etc.?  Shoes or no shoes?

I ride her in a Dave Elliott spur up 03. It had a twisted dog bone. I’m pretty sure that’s what she’s had in her most of her life so she’s pretty comfortable in it for sure. I ride a Stingray for a saddle and I use a classic equine zone pad. She runs in shoes on all 4 feet. Rims on the front plains on the back.

And how about the feeding and maintenance plan? What fuels this speedy horse?

Every horse I own currently gets the Coulee Equine Ration. It’s a low sugar low starch soy free grain which is important to me. They also get all Roan & Co supplements. I feed the leg up t0, breeze up, flax oil & warrior bomb.

What are your competition plans for yourself and this mare for the rest of the season?

I plan to keep on going to the rodeos. Try to have some luck and hopefully end up in Edmonton! Just enjoying the process one run at a time.

Do you have anyone you'd like to thank or sponsors we can promote for you? 

I’d love to thank my sponsors: Roan & Co, XLR8 Equine Canada, Special FX Equine Performance Products, Coulee Equine, Alliance Equine

From The Arena Floor with Angela Mastad

It was a successful rodeo weekend for Angela Mastad and her mare Crackle N Fire AKA Crackle taking the win in Kindersley and second place at Unity, SK CCA rodeos. Thank you Angela for sharing about yourself and your mare Crackle.

Tell us about Crackle. Who bred her, who owns her, who has done the training etc.  Tell us about their personality and what she's like to run. 

Her registered name is Crackle N Fire. She’s a 9 yr old mare. We bred her, I used to run her mama till she was hit by lightning. She survived and I bred the mare to get Crackle. I’ve done all the training. She’s very kind and loving…and sassy and naughty. She’s extremely opinionated and very vocal about her likes and dislikes. She’s quite wild to ride at home until we get to some rodeos. She loves rodeos and being on the road. The louder the crowd and chaos out back the better she gets. She really loves little indoor pens with loud loud crowds lol.

Tell us about yourself.   Where you're from, how long you've been barrel racing and what do you like to do when you're not barrel racing. 

I’m from Bengough SK originally and live in Pleasantdale SK now. Did a little barrel racing for fun as a kid. I got more into it when I got bored watching my husband team rope. When I’m not barrel racing I like riding colts with family, I read a lot, and hanging with my family.

Have you had to overcome any challenges with horse to make it to this level of success with Crackle?

Every day feels like a challenge in this sport. So many decisions and always with her best interest at heart. I think keeping her happiness at the forefront of those decisions leads to success. Her 7 yr old year she took my daughter, Ivy, to the National High School Finals Rodeo. Stalling for 10 days in Gillette Wyoming was a huge challenge for her. She’s busy and it took a lot of riding to keep her sane. I’m pretty sure the locals watching me buck and play down the ditches provided good entertainment for them. Heading west to the Pro rodeos the miles from where I live has been another big challenge. Some great people have opened up their yards for us to have places to stay. It makes it so much easier on her. We very much appreciate their hospitality.

You had a great weekend winning Kindersley and second at Unity.    What kind of adjustments did you make going from a small pen to big pen?

I was out west at some pro rodeos before Kindersley and was struggling to find some timing on her. She’s very quick footed and quick to react to me in a run. Kindersley I tried to ride by everything to keep the barrels up in that tight pen. And unity I just tried to ride my first barrel slightly less aggressive. She adjusts to pen sizes and set ups really well. I usually just have to ride aggressive. She’s loves to turn and I’m not a very aggressive rider so I constantly remind myself.

What do you think about before you go to make a run on this horse?  What's the game plan?

Be aggressive. Don’t weaken. Ride her in the hole. And getting her to an appropriate launch point in the alley. She would run in from the back 40 if I let her.

Tell us about your gear setup for this horse   What are you riding in for a saddle, pad, bit etc.?  Shoes or no shoes?

I use a wide usher on her, five star saddle pad, and she runs in a snaffle bit with a noseband. She doesn’t need or want much bit on her. I ride her in just a plain snaffle at home most of the time. Shoes for sure. So much gravel I want her feet protected. My husband Clay is an awesome farrier and keeps her feeling great.

And how about the feeding and maintenance plan? What fuels this speedy horse?

She’s a super picky eater. She’s been on Race today by Vetline since she was 5, as well as their electrolytes. She’s a fairly easy keeper so she gets some buckeye and alfalfa pellets. We have great vets to keep her feeling her best in both Saskatchewan and Alberta. To compete at this level it’s so important to have a great relationship with your vets.

What are your competition plans for yourself and this mare for the rest of the season?

We will head back out west to some more Pro rodeos. See what we can get done out there. She loves all the different arenas she gets to see out there. She would love love the CFR building and crowd if we could be so lucky as to make it there someday. Competition out west is so rank. 150 girls entering and the most amazing horsepower, it’s inspiring.

Do you have anyone you'd like to thank or sponsors we can promote for you? 

TKC Trucking & Picker Service and Ching Construction Corp out of Kindersley Sk sponsor my fuel. So it was super fun to win their home rodeo for them. They also sponsor Kindersley rodeo! Vetline Canada started sponsoring us last year after they heard how much we love their products. Nicole Hicks has been a great sponsor to have on board. And Epp Financial, Marissa Epp, for all my financial questions and needs.

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 whether you’re the producer or contestant. ;)
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Entries are open for the June 28/29 Canada Race in Rimbey, Alberta. Enter HERE
There is a futurity, derby and open race. Answers to questions in this post HERE
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The 20th Twirl and Whirl in Brooks, AB set their dates for September 19-21st and announced $15,000 added. Info here
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I started a spreadsheet with many of Western Canada’s barrel races listed including 4 Provinces. It is a work in progress, please send changes or additions. Have a look HERE
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Use this post to buy and sell slots for the Red White and Gold Slot race in Biggar, SK
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Find info on each of the Canadian Barrel Futurities Events HERE 
the next CBF approved event is the Grace and Grit in Saskatoon, SK June 5-8
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Supernova Productions announced a move from Wetaskiwin, to Red Deer - Westerner Park for their event The Big Bang Aug 5-10, 2025. Entries are open.
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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 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.

Road Recipe Of The Week

Egg Salad or Tuna Salad (simple, but easy to forget it’s an option so here’s your reminder).

• Ingredients:

  • Hard-boiled eggs or canned tuna

  • Mayo

  • Dijon mustard

  • Celery, chopped

  • Salt and pepper

  • Bread or crackers

• Instructions:

  1. Mix eggs or tuna with mayo, mustard, and celery.

  2. Serve chilled with bread or crackers.
     

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. Post today, pay later.

🍎Road Apples - tidbits from around the web this week

🍎Want to be in the movies? Casting call for “rodeo riders” in AB HERE

🍎Hang your bridles on the fence without getting the reins dirty with this method HERE

🍎If you’re not scared of needles, check out how an SI injection is done HERE

🍎Foaling signs, tips and how to test the pH of milk to see when your mare may foal HERE

Fundraisers:
🍎Calves N Cans jackpot are raffling off an Allen Quarter Horses yearling filly. Buy tickets HERE

🍎The CBHI has joined the CFR ticket fundraiser program. Buy your tickets through their link and help the CBHI earn funds. You save 20% off retail too! HERE

🍎Big Bang is having a fundraiser. 3 chances at $3000 or credit towards a Sandy Ridge Stallion Station foal or stallion fees. HERE

🍎Grace and Grit Futurity and Derby have a raffle for a Flexineb HERE

Featured Ranch

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

Mindset Minute with Michelle Davey

Last week I talked about the benefits and importance of a mindfulness practice to your competition mindset. I said that this week I’d share some ideas of what that might look like. Everyone will have a different method and routine that works for them. The biggest thing is to actually do it (whatever you pick) and be consistent with it.
Here are a few ideas you could learn more about and implement into your day. Pick one to start.
- Grounding practice
- Breathwork practice
- Journaling practice
- Meditation practice and body scanning
- Gratitude practice
- Mantras, affirmations, afformations
All of these practices are great for regulating your nervous system, therefore increasing your capacity for challenges and growth opportunities. None of these things work if you don’t actually do them by the way 😉 It’s a practice, you’ll get better as you do it.

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Until next week,

Michelle