From the Dustbowl to the Rope & Race

Welcome to the 11th edition of The Arena Feed!

This week we feature two barrel racing champs from the May 23-25 weekend. We will hear from April Callander who won the Rope and Race average in Brandon, Manitoba and Twila Hayes who won the DustBowl Slot Race Open in Swift Current, SK.

Both horses that are featured are by two great Canadian Stallions whose legacy lives on through their offspring. Mr Red Rock Leo Bar and Ninety Nine Goldmine are both stallions who have made their mark on barrel racing and Canada. We celebrate their impact as we celebrate the gals who rode these fine horses to the pay window.

On the CPRA trail, Lisa Groves took the win at the Buffalo Lake Metis Settlement Gateway To The North Pro Rodeo adding another $6255.70 to her year end standings. We heard from Lisa HERE after her Spring Fling Derby win. Taylor Cherry and Jennifer Neudorf were 2nd and 3rd.

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 April Callander and Twila Hayes
➡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 April Callander

Winning the 1D Average barrel racing championship at the Rope & Race in Brandon, MB was April Callander on Little Miss Chrissy. April took the reins from her Mom Dawn Vandersteen after Dawn recently broke her foot. When I asked April for the interview she was very humble giving her Mom all the credit for doing such a great job of training Gigi saying she just jumped on and the horse did the rest. April had a baby just two months ago making this jump jockey experience even more impressive. Great team work here I’d say!

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

Little Miss Chrissy (Gigi) was bred by Jacqueline Rookes. My mom, Dawn Vandersteen, is the owner and trainer. She has been a long time rider and supporter of Jacqueline's great breeding program. I have the first Mr Red Rock Leo Bar horse my mom ever competed on Rocky in my pasture. He just turned 20.

My mom broke her foot 5 weeks ago. She had pre entered several barrel races and asked if I would ride in her place. I was 5 weeks post partum and didn't feel confident I was up to the job. It took her a week to convince me to head to Alberta with her and we've been having a lot of fun since.

Gigi is a firecracker. I’ve rode many horses bred by Jacqueline and trained by my mom but I've never ridden one quite like her. She has the same solid foundation, follows the same cues but there is a quickness in her turn that requires you to buckle up or get thrown (I learned that the hard way the first time I ran her).

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

I live by Selkirk, MB and have been barrel racing my whole life. When I'm not barrel racing I'm focused on my family and my career, working in finance for an airline. I travel quite frequently both for my job and personal vacations. I have a 2 month old baby and a 4 year old who is very excited for her first year of peewee barrel racing.

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

Rope and Race was my 5th and 6th runs on Gigi so the game plan was still quite simple - sit down and hang on! Mom trusted me a lot and gave minimal direction except to ride hard. It's time for me to hand the reins back to mom but I'd be thrilled if I ever got the chance to run her 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 use the pro lite saddles sold by SK Equine. It’s a Brazilian made saddle and only 20 pounds which I love. I also use a pad from SK Equine.- the ROM one because it and the saddle allow for shoulder, freedom of movement, which is important, especially for this horse. Head stall and breast collar are also by SK Equine and the bit is a twisted wire with a few chain links in the middle. She always runs in shoes all around.

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

During the spring and summer Gigi is allowed to graze and we supplement with hay. I feed the co-op working horse ration and top with Galozyme and Re-Zorb by Technavet.

What are your competition plans for Gigi for the rest of the season?

We’re going to try to pick our races wisely. I think we will hit up some of the bigger slot races and will head to Alberta at the end of July for the Breeders Elite and the Big Bang.

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

Thanks to SK Equine for all of my horse gear and Technavet for keeping my horses feeling good.

From The Arena Floor with Twila Hayes

Twila Hayes came out on top at the Dustbowl Slot Race Open Jackpot in Swift Current, SK. Twila and Light On Gold ran the only sub 18 second run to win the 1D with 17.922 ahead of second and third place Krystal Grad on Calamityjamesafiren and CD Decked In Gold. Open results HERE.

Tell us about Light On Gold.  Who bred her, who owns her, who has done the training etc.  Tell us about their personality and what they're like to run. 

Breeder: Arlos Ross Beierbach

She was raised out of the 1 Y Quarter horses program at Maple Creek.

I bought Light on Gold from Mary Reimers in 2018 with 6 bareback rides as a 2 year old. She was kind, quiet and completely different confirmation than I ever had rode before. I started her. Running blood vs quarter horse was new experience for me.

She took to the pattern easily. She is very gritty. She tries her very best to drive around a barrel. She is very chillaxed. She seems to be good in all ground conditions. She loves working with cattle! She lets me know when she is not having a great day.

The older she gets the more confidence she is showing.

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

My passion is Animal Communication and helping align the energies between the rider and their Equine partner. Barrel racing is meant to be fun and an opportunity for us to create memories. I love to team rope, breakaway rope and train horses in the arena and out in the hills.

I am from southern Saskatchewan in a little town called Val Marie. I grew up ranching and roping and married my high school sweetheart Ryan. We have two sons that attracted two beautiful wives. Wyatt & Sasha live at Granum, AB and Riley and Carlie live at Tisdale,Sk.

I did some barrel racing in the Little Britches nothing too serious. One day my good friend Susan Legault showed up with an SBRA membership and said your boys are gone now and fill out this form. You have nice horses so come do this with us. So I thought why not….I have the horses here that we roped on and the rig to getter done. I didn’t know the how…so I rode with Dannielle Dinius Knudsen, Mary Reimers, attended an Ed Wright clinic…I hosted Andre Udahl. I become a you tube queen iso barrel racing styles and tips. I spend time with Shawn and April Williamson when I can feel we are in resistant mode. Everything about this sport is an opportunity to learn about myself. I am determined and enjoy being a lifetime learner to master 3 garbage cans🤣truthfully somebody put up 3 garbage cans and created a whole world of opportunities from this small act!

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

We had some challenges as a 4 year old she got some spice to her so I sent her to Shawn Williamson to work his magic and get some pasture miles on her.

As a 5 yr old Mary Reimers and I started her on the pattern and could feel she was taking to it easily. Her strides were long. I had to learn to get my timing down. She is very sensitive in her head and head shakes if u handled her too much. So I learned to handle her a lot until she got soft to being handled at all speeds.

She is very chillaxed by nature and doesn’t get excited coming into the arena or leaving. She increased her speed on her own in the pattern. I do feel the short sprinting has helped that.

Our first run in Arizona she leaping in the air and raring on her way into first!! It was like we were on two different planets. Thank goodness April Williamson was there and got us on track. She said “don’t sell this one, gonna be a winner!” I was like mmh…wasn’t feeling that! lol by the end of that winter she was right up there with big dogs. Showing up and being vulnerable was the ticket!!!

We entered KCRA rodeos and she and I learned a lot about each other! She was slow loping and clocking and I was like wth…this is interesting. We had great runs we had some omg what just happened out there! As I reflect back we were in over-trying mode and trying to prove we were good enough and that I was good enough to own a 99!

Unwavering faith in my process is what I try my best to stay focused on. I take longer than others to get one rodeo ready. I’ve learned that that is ok!

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

I focus on riding the horse I have today. In our warm up…where she feels sticky in her body I do my best to release the sticky so we have softness!

I focus on gratitude and smiling it grounds me!

If the ground is deep I tell her “grounds deep follow your track and you will be fine!”

The race prior to this one which was our first outside run this year… Dannielle yelled out “Trust her!” As I was running into first! I felt myself relax and say ya let’s do that! We had a beautiful run.

I trust myself and this radiates her trust in me. 💕 that’s my affirmation!

Show up for my process and let go of the outcome! When the chips fall focus on my own personal wins in the run!!! Live in the moment and it doesn’t matter what we did yesterday! Today is a new day!

“Reward the small things and the big things take care of themselves”…Ray Hunt quote

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 love my Burns saddle I feel it has been the game changer for the both of us.
Turn n Burn pad I like a tie down it’s set long and seems to give her balance.
Kerry Kelly DC 1 smooth magnum with a ported chain and Elliot knotted reins.
She is shod.
She really is a simple horse! She knows her job! I am so blessed to learn n grow with her!

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

Bemer before and after

Hay or cubes Pasture 3 hrs before our run….lasix with her Messy Mash…beet pulp, race today electrolytes, spirulina, trimax, equinity xl Equilibrium prior to run. After our run messy mash she loves it!! That’s her reward

Equiwinner patches spring n mid summer and prior to fall.

We ride in the hills and move cattle around the arena. She loves to work cattle. Lots of sprint work.

Gets at least an hour ride a day.

She loves her sleeps and tells ya when it’s feed time!

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

KCRA rodeos, enter some CCA Rodeos. Canadian Horses to Move (Matt Pitt) event at Oyen, Big Bang … Ponoka in the fall.

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

I would like to thank Ryan for putting up with my big plans!! Grateful for all the help, love and laughter from my circle of friends.

Hats off to all the Hosts and Sponsors that create opportunities for all of us to have fun doing what we love to do!

Thank-you to anyone who has shared a story and helped me. My world is a better place with all of you in it.

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. ;)
******
Entries are open for the June 28/29 Canada Race in Rimbey, Alberta. Enter HERE
There is a futurity, derby and open race.
******
The 20th Twirl and Whirl in Brooks, AB set their dates for September 19-21st and announced $15,000 added. Info here
*******
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
*******
Use this post to buy and sell slots for the Red White and Gold Slot race in Biggar, SK
*****
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
*****
Supernova Productions announced a move from Wetaskiwin, to Red Deer - Westerner Park for their event The Big Bang Aug 5-10, 2025
*****
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.
*****
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

Pulled Pork Sliders (Substitute with chicken if you prefer)

• Ingredients:

  • Slow-cooked pulled pork

  • Slider buns

  • Coleslaw

  • BBQ sauce

• Instructions:

  1. Prepare pulled pork ahead of time and store in an airtight container.

  2. To assemble, warm the pulled pork and place it on slider buns.

  3. Top with coleslaw and a drizzle of BBQ sauce.
     

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

🍎The Central Alberta College Rodeo Team is recruiting. If your post secondary institution doesn’t have a rodeo team, join this one. HERE

🍎Considerations when mixing and using different medications on your horse HERE

🍎Scholarship/bursary for post secondary students (any year) who live in small towns (less than 5000 people) and from AB, SK or MB From Mathewson & Co . HERE

🍎Grit and Grace has announced their futurity and derby added money are now $8100 each! More info here

Fundraisers:
🍎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

🍎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

Mindset work is not a “one and done” kind of event. It’s a practice. 
Your brain and nervous system is still quite primal and it’s naturally wired with a negativity bias in order to protect you from danger. Now that we are living a relatively safe life (as in you’re not likely to be attacked by a sabre tooth tiger) you have to be active in overriding this natural programing that leans towards negativity. There’s nothing wrong with you if you’re seeing “negative” things or if you have to be intentional about seeing the positive side of things. This is mindset work. It’s like a muscle that needs exercise to build itself stronger. The more intentional you are about your mindset practice (and making it an actual practice), the stronger your mindset will be. Just like some people are more naturally muscular, some people will have a more natural positive mindset. Others, well, we have to be intentional and work at it! Next week let’s talk about what a “mindset practice” might look like.

If you liked this issue, please share with your friends!
If you have ideas to make it better, please tell me! You can reply to the email anytime and I’m all ears/eyes and I’m looking forward to making each edition worth your time.
I’ll never hold you or your email hostage so you can always find the unsubscribe button anytime you wish.

If you’re reading this because a friend forwarded it to you, click here to subscribe, we send out a new e-newsletter each week.

Interested in advertising or supporting The Arena Feed? Email Michelle - [email protected]

Until next week,

Michelle