Canadian College Champ

Welcome to the 10th edition of The Arena Feed!

This week we feature the Canadian College Barrel Racing Champion Lacey Terpsma. Lacey and her horse Animal had a clean sweep of the college finals. I always think it’s fun to hear from the “young guns” and it always gives me such hope to hear from these well spoken champions of today and the future. I hope you enjoy hearing from Lacey as much as I did.

On the CPRA trail, Taylor Cherry and stallion Blazin Sugar Daddy took the win in Falkland BC by 2 tenths. While we didn’t hear from the stud in the last issue, we did hear from Taylor. You can read last week’s issue with Taylor if you missed it HERE. Falkland full results HERE

At the Cloverdale Invitational Rodeo it was Kyla Simmons and her mare Rime by Canadian stallion Frenchs Hula Guy that took the $25,000 Showdown Round check home. Full results HERE

In Manitoba, it was Carlene Reimer and Turn Quick On Red that came out the big winners at the Don’t Give A Buck Barrel Race. We interviewed Carlene after her Spring Thaw win. Read it HERE and event results are HERE

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: Interview with Lacey Terpsma
➡Upcoming Events & Deadlines
➡Road Recipe of the Week
➡Featured horse
➡Road Apples - tidbits from around the we
➡Featured Ranch
➡Mindset Minute with Michelle
➡Meme of the week
➡Bonus Email Subscribers Only Interview with Ashley Schafer

From The Arena Floor with Lacey Terpsma

The Canadian College Rodeo Association held their finals in Rimbey, Alberta May 16-18, 2025. Winning all 3 rounds and coming out as the Canadian Barrel Racing Champion was Lacey Terpsma and her gelding Animal.

I was able to catch up with Lacey after her big win to learn more about her and her partner Animal.

Tell us about your horse.   Who bred him, who owns him, who has done the training etc.  Tell us about their personality and what they're like to run. 

The horse I run in the barrel racing goes by barn name Animal, and is registered as Bag Me Some Sweets. He is a 2014 sorrel AQHA gelding bred by Jesse and Elyse Thomson of 7P Ranch. My mom, Stacey Terpsma, bought him as a 3 year old with 40 days and has done the rest herself with the help of our awesome trainer JP Forget! He is a super quirky horse, and comes by the name Animal honestly. He picked up the barrels right off the hop, he’s one of them horses that wants to be good but needs a job. He is very smart, you make one correction at a trot in the practice pen and he’ll hold onto that correction and he never puts up a fight- just so honest. He’s very broke, a great head horse, good to brand on and is an overall outstanding ranch horse. To get him some experience and muscle strength I used him as a show jumping horse as a 6 year old and he was an awesome cross country horse too!
I try to keep his warm up as simple, smooth and quiet as possible as he can get hot. I have the hardest time with him in the alley, as when he wants to go he is going in there with or without you. In the arena he is super honest, and pretty much runs the same pattern every time.

Tell us about yourself Lacey.   Where you're from, how long you've been barrel racing and what you're studying in College or University and where you're doing that. 

I’m 21 years old from Alhambra Alberta! I have been riding horses for as long as I can remember, my mom was riding with us while she was pregnant even. I grew up entering local rodeos, junior rodeos and Gymkana. I just finished up my third year at the University of Alberta where I plan to graduate with a Bachelor’s of Commerce degree in December 2026! Before going into a Commerce degree, I did two years in a Bachelor’s of Science with the plans of being a performance vet- but it wasn’t my passion and I found myself a lot more interested in economics, business management, commerce & marketing!

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

Animal has definitely scared us a few times. When he was 4, he jumped a roping box and hung his hind left leg, right below the hock, on a bolt connected to the chute. We thought we were going to have to put him down, it was a MESS and swelled up to the size of a stove pipe. He had a hole the size of a toonie right to the bone. After X-rays and ultrasounds, he somehow missed everything important and was going to be completely sound on it. It was just a nasty superficial wound, we hosed it every day for 3 months and 6 years later he still has the nasty scar. Last summer, he seemed off and tried to colic. After bringing him to the vet I learned he had a form of clover poisoning that was dehydrating him and causing a bunch of inflammation. He was quickly filled up with electrolytes, antibiotics and everything he needed to get back to being healthy again and he made a full recovery. Overall, I think the biggest challenge with him was just learning to trust him and build a relationship with him, as he is cautious. I never gotta worry about someone taking him home, cause if he doesn’t know you he will not let you near him.

It's pretty impressive to will all three rounds.  What do you attribute to that consistency?  Did you have to make any adjustments throughout your runs?  Which run was your favorite?

He is almost always consistent, he usually makes me the same run every single time. I think he’s more scared of hitting the barrel than I am, so I really don’t worry about hitting them- if we do it’s a rider error. I think my favourite run was Friday night, I wanted to go in there and make a statement and he did just that. The only adjustment I tried to make the last two days was clean up our second a bit, and moving into the summer season it’s something I need to fix up. I have a great trainer at home, JP Forget, who I try and ride with every opportunity I get and he will help make it right again.

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 him in a all black Seven lightweight spinal relief saddle. He’s got “shark fin” for a wither, so he’s been hard to fit to make sure his back isn’t sore, and this current saddle is by far the best fitting one for him I’ve had. I use a 1” Best Ever Pads saddle pad, it helps keep my saddle sitting up and equalizing pressure. I use Alliance Equine splint boots all around every run. He’s super soft, but I still ride in a Sherry Cervi diamond long shank so I have some control if I need it quickly- but I try not to touch him at all. I have a great farrier, Kelly Avery, who hot shoes him all around, he runs barefoot or with shoes but I like to keep shoes on to protect his feet from stone bruising. Overall he has good feet.

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

I have him on a very specific feeding plan, as he is extremely fussy. He has free choice alfalfa/timothy mix hay every day no matter where we are. His grain mixture consists of soaked alfalfa cubes, mixed with various Delta Vet Wellness supplements, joint supplements and oils. Hailey Shaw with Elite Equine has helped me design a feed plan that is really working well for him, and that he will eat. The most important thing in his pre-run routine is his nebulizer from Rhinestone Acres, as he does have some allergies and it has made the world of a difference.
In regards to maintenance, I have Hailey with Elite Equine come out monthly to work her magic with a massage, acupuncture and corrections if need be. I try to consistently use magnets such as Equibandz and the Alliance Equine magnetic sheet as well.

What have you enjoyed most about being on a College Rodeo Team?

I have made some great friends and lifelong connections throughout my time in the Canadian College Rodeo Association. I have learned sportsmanship, responsibility and leadership. It has taught me to be a stronger competitor and how to focus, but to also have fun along the way. I am thankful to have a association such as this one so that we can further our Canadian educations and still rodeo in Canada. Being on the Central Alberta Rodeo Team has been a lot of fun with great support, and given lots of us who aren't attending an agricultural school the opportunity to rodeo at a collegiate level.

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

I would like to thank Hailey Shaw with Elite Equine for her support, help keeping him feeling good and for sharing her mountains of knowledge. Along with JP Forget for helping me be the rider I am today. Alliance Equine for creating a lightweight boot that is durable and I can trust to keep Animal's legs safe, as well as their awesome magnetic products! Lastly, Rhinestone Acres has been wonderful for helping me get my Flexineb nebulizer working good and set up, as well as carrying any product I need to for my nebulizer. They are a great family with a great cause, and carry almost everything I have in my trailer.

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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The Westman Challenge Series (Western Manitoba) continues to add new locations and date to their series. See additions 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
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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 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.

Road Recipe Of The Week

Chicken Caesar Wraps

• Ingredients:

  • Grilled chicken breast, sliced

  • Romaine lettuce

  • Caesar dressing

  • Tortillas

• Instructions:

  1. Lay out the tortilla and spread Caesar dressing over it.

  2. Add romaine lettuce and sliced grilled chicken.

  3. Roll the tortilla tightly, wrap in foil or parchment paper, and refrigerate until ready to eat.

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

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

🍎 SBRA District 1 are raffling off Keith Urban tickets. More info HERE

🍎 Black Cat Lider ran another 16.2 on a standard pattern in Brazil. Watch that run HERE

🍎 The CPRA’s The Short Round podcast interviewed Rene LeClercq last week. Listen on Spotify 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

🍎Canadian Barrel Futurity Points are up to date and posted HERE and Derby HERE

🍎Orthopedic leg braces some folks rent out that have made a difference to many foals over the years. Hope you don’t need them, but might save one if you do. HERE

🍎How to check for the elusive mare bean. 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

From my experience and observation through working with hundreds of barrel racers, the majority of us don’t need to “toughen up”. We need more grace, more self compassion and self kindness. Yes, there’s a place to push through with resilience, tenacity and discipline. But you don’t need to be hard on yourself or trash talk yourself into action. That affects your overall vibration and health. Your body is listening. Speaking to it with tension will cause the same. Speak to yourself like you would a friend, encourage, motivate and get going, but don’t do it from a place of self degradation in order to feel “tough” (when that frequency is really a point of weakness that will cause the breaking point).

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Until next week,

Michelle