Red, white and wet!

Featuring Sonda Marks and Denise Munford

Welcome to the 16th edition of The Arena Feed!

This week we hear from Sonda Marks after her Derby win at the West Of The 5th Futurity and Derby at Rimbey Alberta. She won the first go outside and the weather took the race inside where they were 2nd, and taking 1st in the average.

We also hear from Denise Munford who took the win at the Red White and Gold race held at Biggar, SK a few weeks ago. This event did not have the luxury of moving inside, but the ground held up despite the soggy conditions and allowed Denise to win both the slot race and the jackpot.

Thanks you for reading and sharing to help celebrate these riders and spread the word about the newsletter. You’re appreciated.

In this issue:
➡From The Arena Floor: Interview with Sonda Marks and Denise Munford
➡Featured ad
➡Road Apples - tidbits from around the web
➡Featured Ranch
➡Mindset Minute with Michelle
➡Meme of the week

From The Arena Floor with Sonda Marks

The West Of The 5th Futurity and Derby was held at Rimbey, AB last weekend. The plan was to run the event outside, but the weather moved the second go inside. This didn’t phase Sonda Marks and Shammokin who won the first go and took second in the second to win the average title.

Thanks Sonda for taking the time to share about this nice mare!

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

I bred and raised Shammokin myself. She's by LDS Unleashed and out of a KN Fabulous N Vegas mare. I’ve ridden several by Unleashed and had a standout futurity horse by Fabulous N Vegas, so I know these bloodlines well—and this cross has absolutely lived up to my expectations. Shammokin has honestly been one of the easiest futurity horses I’ve trained. She’s never taken a step backward, never been a problem. She wants to please, and she truly doesn’t like getting in trouble. Now that she's gaining confidence and consistency, she's really starting to shine. At this point, it's just up to me to get out of training mode and let her do her job. She knows exactly where to place her feet and just wants to work. She's becoming so much fun—and really, she’s the kind of horse anyone could get on and make a nice run on. This is the kind of horse people want to go on with—you don’t need an instruction book to ride her.

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’ve been training barrel horses for about 30 years. I grew up rodeoing, but I always had a love for racehorses. I used to ride the flat horses at the chuckwagon races which eventually took me to the track, where I spent 15 years training primarily Thoroughbreds, with a few Quarter Horses along the way. After my time on the track, I returned to the barrel pen, bringing that experience with me. I do most of my training out of Thorsby, Alberta, and head down to Arizona for the winter months. That seasonal shift has really giving my horses a strong year-round consistency.

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

Honestly, like I mentioned before, Shammokin has been an absolute dream to train. I’ve never really had to troubleshoot anything with her—she’s taken everything in stride. While she didn’t come on fast and hard like some do, she’s more than making up for it now. She’s always had a very correct, natural style. She just needed me to get out of her way and let her work. She was ready, and she was just waiting for me to turn her loose.

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

I’m now able send her pretty hard to 1st and I just need to trust her. She doesn't want to hit barrels so I feel pretty confident on 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 run her in a Kerry Kelley ported chain. I ride in a Martin Stingray with a 5 star pad or Professional Choice air ride pad. She is shod all the way around.

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

I grain my horses, not a lot but the race track never left me. I feed Hoffmans mineral, l-Lysine, daily gold, and salt. She is out on grass in the summer and alfalfa hay in Arizona.

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

I plan on running her in the Big Bang, Breeders Elite, ABRA finals, Royal Crown Ponoka and the CBHI. After that she will be available for her next person. I sell everything so I can continue on the training path with all of the up and comers. I love to Futurity and Derby. Then let someone else take the reins.

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

I would like to thank all of the event producers for putting on big events for us to show case our horses. I would like to thank you Michelle for asking me to be a part of this interview.

From The Arena Floor with Denise Munford

It was a wet and wild weekend for the Red White and Gold race held at Biggar, SK. Denise Munford and her horse Talented Chrome proved the puddles were not a problem for them and came out on top in both the slot race and the open jackpot. We learn more about Denise and her horse below.

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

Talented Chrome was bred by Milt Rigetti and my husband and I bought her as a started 2yr old. I have done all the training on her for barrels. Timer is a very sweet mare, not changing when in heat and also runs very honestly. She has been a handful in the past but has since settled into a calmer horse. Very willing to please.

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 the McCord area recently moved into Moose Jaw. I was raised in Assiniboia and got my first horse from my cousin when I earned enough money to buy and feed it at age 13. I have barrel raced since 14. That makes it 50 years or so. Taking time out to raise a family of 4. I am a quilter, gardener, crafter, leather work and dabble in the arts. Not much idle time.

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

Yes as I mentioned earlier my parents knew nothing about horses and I lived in town. Having to walk a mile to feed or ride and walk a mile back. I was 13. So it has been a struggle. But all worthwhile. Having bought better and better horses as the years went by. Placing in Futurities in the 80s ,then I would sell them and start again. The challenge was the coaching was few and far in-between as no one in the area taught barrel racing. Timer specifically had so much run she should have been on the race track. Her stride gets longer and longer the farther you go. She did not like to whoa and she did not like to turn very sharp. She has a lot of run in her pedigree. More than any other horse I have trained. She was hot but this year her mind has settled considerably.

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

Have I warmed her up enough? Is she listening and responsive? Then I think I have done my homework and we have to Run Rate look and turn with straight lines in between. Go for broke.

What do you think it was it about this run that gave you the edge to take the win?

The horse was feeling extremely good and I had confidence in her and I also knew the ground would hold up with the rain. I had won a prize last year and it had more water on it.

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 in a Billy Cook rough out barrel saddle with a breast collar and back cinch, nothing fancy just practical gear. My pad is a 5 Star felt or a hand made wool pad. The bit is a twisted wire 3 piece with rings in the middle. It has medium shank I believe. I admit I need to learn more about them. And yes she is shod all the way around with a rim shoe.

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

Right now she's in a pasture with choice of grass or hay (in the past she would Gant up) 1 gallon of oats and 3 supplements as well as 1/4tespoon salt .

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

I will try to get to more slot races and I will be going to the SBRA FINALS. Not sure what to plan as my husband has Parkinsons and it is increasingly difficult to get him care.

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

I would love to thank my long time farrier Curtis Marcenko, my friend and coach Wes Petersen, and the final coach -clinician Marci Powell and of course my husband for his support. I have only my husband as a sponsor.

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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Breeders Elite Event Schedule is posted 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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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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Find info on each of the Canadian Barrel Futurities Events HERE 
the next CBF approved event is the Big Bang, Aug 5 -10.
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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. They have recently shared the arena set up. Entries are open.
It was also recently announced Futurity and Derby contestants can enter either pool A or B this year. HERE
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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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🍎Road Apples - tidbits from around the web this week


🍎Whether your horse is too fat or not seems to be trending this week! Here’s one take on it.

🍎Can’t get your electric fence posts in the ground for your temporary pen? Try the shaving bag method HERE

🍎Need some ideas for your vet kit? This post has all kinds of ideas. HERE

🍎How to tie a “war knot” in a tail 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

We have previously talked about different mindfulness practices like grounding and breathwork. Going down my list from this original post, let’s talk about meditation and body scanning.

Suggesting meditation as a practice to someone can make them squirm pretty quick! I think part of the reason is that it’s assumed that you have to have a quiet mind to successfully meditate. That’s not really what it’s about. The point is more to observe your thoughts and not get taken away by them. The real flex is how you recover from your thoughts rather than not having them at all.
Can you bring yourself back to your center after being taken away by your thoughts? To me, that’s the real practice of meditation. The recovery process.

One of the most effective ways to start a meditation practice is not to see how long you can sit still without thinking. Most would fail within the first few seconds. What will set you up for success is to use a guided meditation where you can listen to the speaker and follow their prompts to breath and journey with them. This is helpful in many ways including getting back on track when your thoughts get away on you. One mediation type that I find useful as a competitor is a body scan meditation. This helps you get back into your body and ground and also to increase your proprioception and body awareness. Having a guided audio while you meditate is a must have for me. Insight Timer is a great free app for this. Search for one that is a body scan. With a guide your mind is busy listening and following along rather than getting off on it’s own side quest. Don’t get me wrong, I can still side quest with a guide, but I can get back on track a lot easier when someone is in my ear reminding me to breath and hit the next area of the scan. Think of meditation like a thought recovery practice rather than a mind silencing practice it’s a lot more achievable!

Meme of the week

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Until next week,

Michelle