Spring Fling

Welcome to the 6th edition of The Arena Feed!

Futurity fun was had this past weekend in Brooks, AB at the Spring Fling. This was the first Canadian Futurity and Derby sanctioned event of the year that counts towards the year end Canadian Barrel Futurity and Derby Championship. Contestants will be collecting points throughout the year at the 6 sanctioned events.

It was Bradi Whiteside and Gotatigerinthetank that took the Futurity Average win and Lisa Groves on ALG Cashflo, that won the derby average at the Silver Sage in Brooks. I have an interview with each of them below.

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.

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 Bradi Whiteside and Lisa Groves
➡Event Spotlight: The Spring Fling Futurity and Derby
➡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 with Bradi Whiteside

It was the 2020 gelding by Dually Cat named Gotatigerinthetank that took the average payout home at the Spring Fling Futurity and Derby in Brooks, AB April 20th, 2025. The gelding is owned by Ben Bamford and ridden by Bradi Whiteside. In addition to the average money and buckle, the duo also won the 2nd go and placed 4th in the first go. I was able to catch up to Bradi to learn more about her and this super star horse.

Tell us about  Gotatigerinthetank - Nifty     Who bred him, who owns him, who started him, who has been training him and what he is like to be around. 

Leslie Schlosser bred him and my boyfriend Ben Bamford owns him now, he bought him off Leslie’s, daughter Allie Lait spring of 2024 as a green broke 4yr old. At that point he wasn’t started on barrels yet, I have been one to do the barrel training. Nifty is very kind horse to be around and super willing to learn.

Bradi, tell us about yourself.   Where you're from, how long you've been barrel racing for and what you do when you're not barrel racing.

I am from Longview Alberta, I grew up riding horses and now make a living training horses and rodeoing.

What has been your training and fitness program to get Nifty ready for the season?

Nifty is also a head and breakaway horse so he does a lot of that during the week with a little bit of barrel work.

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

I love riding Nifty in my Robbie Phillips barrel saddle and 3S saddle pad, he runs in a short shank 3 piece. He also has shoes all the way around.

And how about his feeding and maintenance plan? What fuels Nifty?

He is on the best alfalfa hay I can find and Purina Canada Elite as well as Natures Wave Eberglo vitamin/mineral supplement.

What are your competition plans for Nifty for the rest of the year?

The plan with Nifty will be for Ben to take him to head horse futurities and myself to take him to as many barrel futurities as possible maybe even the odd rodeo!

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

I would like to thank my sponsors Canyon Rigging, Back On Track Canada, Eberglo, BI Canada, Kailani Sports

From The Arena Floor with Lisa Groves

It was Lisa Groves and ALG Cashflo that came out with the derby average win in Brooks. They didn’t pick up cash in the first round, but they ran tough enough that their amazing 2nd go run and round win allowed them to take the lead by .005 seconds ahead of TT Frenchs Kona in the average. What tight race!

I was able to catch up with Lisa after her win to learn more about ALG Cashflo and the program that has found them so much success already.

Tell us about ALG CASHFLO AKA "Moolah".   Who bred him, who owns him, who started him, who has been training him and what he is like to be around. 

ALG CASHFLO "Moolah" is a 7 year old gelding sired by Perks French Cash, that Aaron and I raised, with the help of good friend and the stallion owner, Bertina Olafson. His dam, HA Sweet N Low was a mare that we had purchased to ride first, then breed, who has turned out to be a tremendous producer.

"Moolah" got his initial start by Mark Nugent as a two year old, then spent some time with Emma Atkinson, who has since started a lot of young horses for us. Fast forward, our son Brody had a significant win at the 2020 TRC (Team Roping Canada) Finals, and purchased "Moolah" from us, on the agreement that I would stay on to train and run him at the Barrel Racing Futurities and events with added incentive money that he was eligible to compete for, while Brody worked with him on the heading side. In the summer of "Moolah's" 5 year old year, Brody was hauling a really nice gelding that belonged to Aaron and I, and "Moolah" was continuing to make steady progress as a barrel racing horse, so we made a trade.

"Moolah" is quirky - a true Gemini with a couple of personalities. He is quite spooky on the ground some days, and very soft and kind on other days. He does not like to be approached quickly. I take my time when I saddle him, as sometimes he will spook and get tight. He does not like objects on the ground (like manholes on the streets, puddles, barrels falling, lol). His bravery is in the arena, where he is all business and as consistent and honest as they come. He seldom knocks barrels (2 in his career so far, and as mentioned it scares him). I have never had a horse in my lifetime that runs the same trip, every single time, quite like he does. He's super easy to ride. I always know what I'm on, with no reason to question it.

Lisa, tell us about yourself.   Where you're from, how long you've been barrel racing for and what you do when you're not barrel racing. 

I live near the small community of Cadogan in east-central Alberta, with my husband, Aaron. We have enjoyed raising and training horses, with the help of our son's, Logan and Brody, for over 20 years now. We moved to this area from Saskatchewan, and both work in the oilfield industry; I have been a Reclamation Consultant since 2003.

I barrel raced mostly on my dad's rope horses from a young age, but I was a much better team roper than I was a barrel racer back then. I became a lot more serious about barrel racing about 15 years ago when Aaron and I started our program of raising young horses as Bar Diamond L Performance Horses. We were quite busy in the beginning, building our place, standing our stallion (Little Lenaroo), and working our regular jobs, so we had some horses that were ridden very successfully by other trainers. Then I decided it was time for me to step up and start training and showing my own. I love it - I'm hooked. We did downsize our broodmares a few years back and sold our stallion, so the breeding side is a lot smaller than it once was, but we intend to continue to raise 1 to 2 foals each year, in hopes that we can continue to enjoy the breeding of the industry.

When I'm not barrel racing, I am working at my real job and just trying to stay ahead with my horses. Aaron and I also enjoy hosting some barrel racing and team roping events at our place. I recently traded a young mare to my oldest son, for his older heel horse, in hopes that I will get back to the roping pen more in the future.

What has been your training and fitness program to get Moolah ready for the season? 

We were fortunate to have spent some time in Arizona during the winter months, so it was wonderful to have him come home from there, and into spring so strong and fit. I was extremely cautious of how many runs he made during our time in Arizona, so I chose my pens and events wisely, for a total of eight runs in the time-frame that we were gone. In his interim, Aaron and Brody roped off of him for a bit and I rode him in the desert and just enjoyed my time on him. It was super cool watching Brody rope off of him at the Mike Cervi Memorial roping in Casa Grande. He worked great and they won some incentive money in a tough roping! I like the short sprints that the team roping offers and I was happy to give him a change of scenery from the barrel pen.

I do not work a lot in the arena on my finished horses, rather, I pasture ride them. Now that we're home and he's in shape, I have a three to four mile ride that is a combination of some hills, spots to long trol, and some flat stretches that I can sprint. We do that 3 to 4 times a week, when our schedule allows it.

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

I ride in a 7/8" 5 Star pad and a Raylee Racer Blue Tree. His bit that I run him in is an Elliot Spur UP 04 with a MPC -13 (three peice, twisted with copper and roller). I like to ride him in a three piece snaffle to keep him free and on the strong side. Or whatever bit I grab off the hook - he's not super fussy, but doesn't need a lot of bit. Yes shoes, always. I find that rodeo conditions are really hard to manage without them.

And how about his feeding and maintenance plan? What fuels this handsome fella?

I base my feed program on good quality forages - my preference is a 2nd cut mix of grass/alfalfa, or Summit cubes when I'm in Canada. In Arizona, we feed four times a day, alternating between TEFF and #1 alfalfa. I do supplement him each day with top-dressed loose mineral (Zesterra is my favourite), electrolytes, milled flax, aloe juice, with soaked beet pulp. I also add Roan & Co. Breeze Up, but only pre-race.

"Moolah" sees a performance vet on a routine / monthly basis, whether he feels great or not. He gets maintenance as those veterinarians see fit. I am fortunate to work with a few different GREAT vets in Canada and the US. He gets Legends shots monthly. Sometimes I'll give an additional Legends shot prior to heavy weeks of competition, just to give him extra support.

"Moolah" stays comfortable during travel and times of rest with his Equipod, as well as his XLR8 products.  He particularly enjoys his Velocity Sheet, magnetic hood and fly mask. He gets monthly osteopathy work all through out the year.  We also try to work in some Equiscope sessions when the season ramps up and he is making a lot of runs. 

What are your competition plans for Moolah for the rest of the year?

I will continue to compete at the CPRA rodeos, and excited to have received my invite to Cloverdale in May. This is new for us! I will continue to try to get to some Derby's that I can fit in, as long as they don't result in a lot of extra travel - he will see enough miles in the trailer getting to and from the rodeos. Last year, not really knowing where my season was going, I also held a CCA Card, and travelled to handful of their rodeos. I may change it up this year, and try to get to some WPRA Events in Montana and the northern states, instead. The journey is part of the fun for me - I'd love to see some new country.

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

My biggest supporter is my husband, Aaron. He's my fuel sponsor, my entry fee sponsor, my feed sponsor, lol. Without him helping me, this would be impossible.

I would like to thank Sam Smith and XLR8 Equine Canada for having me be a part of their team.

Thank you to every single producer, sponsor, and volunteer that makes our Events happen - this lifestyle would be non-existent without you all.

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 ;)

*******

I started a spreadsheet with many of Western Canada’s barrel races listed. It is a work in progress as I add everyone’s info and links but you can have a look now if you want just the dates. HERE 

*******

Find info on each of the Canadian Barrel Futurities Events HERE

*****

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!
*****

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. Enter HERE
*****

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.
*****

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.

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

*****
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 were due April 15th.

*****
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.

*****

Royal Crown Canada is back to Claresholm. Alberta 𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝟲-𝟭𝟭, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 With $𝟐𝟎𝟕,𝟓𝟎𝟎 added over the 6 days. Late fees now apply but you can enter right up to the event They run an open race as well as the signature events for Royal Crown Stallion eligible offspring.
Listen to our previous Royal Crown Canada interview in the last issue HERE.

*****

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

🍎CorVet made a cool reel showing the prep that goes into a Prostride injection HERE

🍎 Helpful tips and spring grass warning from the Osteopathic Vet HERE

🍎 Enter to win a Runaway slot by following the steps HERE

🍎Kelley Drake and Kim Kramps and joining forces to offer a “challenge” style clinic which I think is a really fun idea. See more HERE

🍎 Sharing this good foaling essentials and pH testing post from Elders Equine again so you have it handy if you need it HERE

🍎Canadian students pursing agriculture related programs, don't miss out on your chance to apply for the 2025 Sam Hofer Memorial Scholarship. Deadline for submissions has been extended to May 18, 2025. This is a great opportunity to receive a $2,000 scholarship presented by Titan Livestock (Moose Jaw). Learn more HERE

🍎The ABRA made it big time into the Barrel Horse News. H. Robinson shared this post showing the finals were the 23rd high paying event with $273,650 paid out last year.

🍎Buying or selling a slot for the Red White and Gold slot race? Use THIS post.

Featured Ranch

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

Mindset Minute with Michelle Davey

Have you ever considered having an alter ego? Maybe you have one. Does she have a name? Like Sasha Fierce; that was Beyonce’s alter ego’s name until she grew into the identity herself and embodied her own alter ego with such ease she doesn’t need to be intentional about it anymore.

Most competitors aren’t walking around on the daily with the same energy they bring to competition and for some, stepping into what it takes is quite a stretch from their natural “habitat”.

Creating an alter ego for yourself is a mindset hack that you can use to anchor into your ideal performance state. Some might even have a back of the trailer ritual they do to get there, maybe it’s the way you pull your hat down that sets the game face. It’s whatever works for you, but being intentional about the energy you’re bringing works and creating an alter ego for yourself is one way of getting there. Give it a try and have fun naming!

If you liked this issue, please share with your friends! It is your support and shares that will build and keep this newsletter going. I appreciate your help so much.
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