That new, new!

Welcome to the first edition of The Arena Feed!
We are easing into the newsletter and the barrel racing season. I’m not here to knock your socks off in the first issue, but to make a nice run through without anyone spitting the bit and running off on me.

I have a lose vision for what this newsletter will include each week so expect that it will continue to morph into something amazing. I hope you’ll stick around for the ride, just like any barrel horse, this is a work in progress.

I look forward to your feedback, your contributions and “hot tips” to help me pull this off each week. On the website I have a form you can use to submit ideas or you’re always welcome to use one of the emails to reply to. Let me know what you’d like to see more of, what I missed that I must include next week, or who you’d like to hear from.

In this issue:
From The Arena Floor: The New Dunmore Equestrian Facility
Training Tips with Andrea Udal*
Upcoming Events & Deadlines*
Road Apples - tidbits from around the web*
Mindset Minute with Michelle*

*if you are viewing on the web without subscribing, you won’t see the whole newsletter. You must subscribe to view all content.

From The Arena Floor

Event producers Alex Hanson and Nic Wittig hosted the very first barrel racing at the new Dunmore Equestrian facility on March 16 at Dunmore, Alberta. 

The event was declared to be a huge success by both the hosts and the competitors. 

Alex Hanson reported:  “There’s always hiccups that can happen at any event, especially in a new facility, but we didn’t run into any issues at all. We wanted to keep things low key and fun and I believe we did just that! There have been some clinics and practice nights held there but we haven’t had an actual jackpot so we were all eager for that. It was nice to have an ABRA jackpot and an Open jackpot to welcome anyone to the facility for a chance to compete.

I’m a firm believer that good ground is safe ground. And the Dunmore Equestrian board and volunteers did a wonderful job giving us safe ground. It’s incredible to be able to send your horse(s) in the arena with full confidence in any pen, mind you the first event a facility has had. If that doesn’t speak volumes to the time and effort put in, I don’t know what does. Palliser Sales donated a tractor for us to use to keep the playing field safe and we are all grateful for that. 

The response from competitors and spectators was overwhelmingly positive. I’d be a rich woman if I had a dollar for how many times I heard “this is so awesome” throughout the day. I hope that all the Dunmore volunteers know how appreciative we all are. It’s something words can’t describe and I don’t even think “thank you” is enough but I hope all the smiles and positive energy in the building made them realize how grateful we all are. It was very cool for some of the younger girls to run in the same rake as a Canadian Champion and an idol to so many of us (Lynette Brodoway). There were lots of talented horses and we had such a range of competitors from a tiny pee wee just learning to do the pattern by herself, to seasoned rodeo horses, to colts just starting out, to well respected horse trainers, to ladies that have supported local races for years. There was just such a good vibe in the arena all day. 

I caught myself repeating the words incredible, grateful, and positive. But if I could sum it up, those would be the 3 words I’d pick. 

We had a ton of help at the first jackpot, from Jordan Pancoast announcing to Shelley Dankwerth timing to Kelly Creasy on the tractor to Keely Derzaph on the gate and anyone who jumped in to grab a barrel. It seemed like we never had to ask for help, the barrel racer dads were one step ahead! Susan Rex who is ‘The Buckin Photographer’ isn’t there to just take pictures, she jumps in to help as well. The support of the facility is so great to see. Kareen Warren, Dalton Kraft and Addison Kraft were there earlier in the week to help Nic and I mark the pattern as well. It takes a village and I feel lucky to involved with this one- they’re truly the best. 

I would also like to personally thank the Dunmore Equestrian Board of Directors and volunteers that spent countless hours getting such an incredible facility put up. The area is so lucky to have a building like that available to use for such a variety of events. 

Nic and I are already planning some fun “themed” races for next fall/winter inside. But before we get too ahead of ourselves, there’s another ABRA/Open Barrel Race on April 6, there’s a High School Rodeo the end of April and a few more barrel racing and ropings being planned. It will be nice in the summer to get out of the elements if needed, or to have a “rainout” facility if we can’t be in the outdoor arena due to weather conditions. 

There’s plenty of open riding opportunities so I highly recommend to anyone if you’re passing through to stop by and check it out.  There’s always something going on there and you can see the schedule at dunmoreequestrian.com/calendar.”

1D winner was Lynette Brodoway on JB Monkey Do.
Alex Hanson pictured below.
You can find full event results here.

Training Tip with Andrea Udal

Dear Andrea,
How do I know when my horse is ready to start on the barrel pattern? What do they need to know?

The biggest thing I want is balance in their body. They need to be able to trot and lope collected with no leaning or dropping in a straight line or in a circle. 

Good posture is key, so they can’t be hanging on my hands with the bit or not hollowed out through the back. When I make a transition, I want their ribs and their body to stay correct, not hollowing or dropping. I want them to be able to increase and decrease speed without losing shape or form. 

They need to be comfortable with contact, being in my hands with me squeezing their body together like a coil and not getting behind or ahead while keeping their body together. 

Also, I think cadence is very important.   They have to be able to hold their body together and hold the same cadence. The body has to come together as a unit, not getting out of time, shape or form when we make changes in position or change speed.

Andrea Udal - U1 Barrel Horses

Upcoming Events:

I’m going to level with you here. I don’t have the personal capacity to post and track and report on every event in the 4 provinces of Western Canada each week. I do have some ideas in the works to make things easier for us all, but none of them are ready to roll today.

Here are a few events we will highlight today. If you want YOUR event listed free, please reply to this email or use the “hot tips” form on the website.

*****

AJ Maddox & Supernova Productions is running a cash raffle right now. $7000 for first prize, there are 5 prizes, tickets are $40. More info here. 
Entries are listed as open for the $50,000 Shakedown Oct 3-5, 2025 in Calgary. The Big Bang, Aug 5-10 in Wetaskiwin, AB also has entries open.

*****

Royal Crown Canada is back to Claresholm. Alberta 𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝟲-𝟭𝟭, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 Claresholm Agriplex With $𝟐𝟎𝟕,𝟓𝟎𝟎 added over the 6 days. Entry forms are on the website and can be found here. They run an open race as well as the events for Royal Crown Stallion eligible offspring.

*****

The entry deadline for The Yellow Rose Futurity and Derby held May 2nd - 4th at Claresholm, AB is fast approaching. April 1st is the first payment deadline for Futurity and Derby entries. May 3rd Open jackpot entries are also open and close April 30th.

*****

The Westman Challenge Series held at the ACE Arena in Brandon, MB has recently announced they have expanded the dates for getting a series membership changing the jackpot count you need for their finals. You’ll also need an MBRA membership.

*****

The Carnduff Dash For Cash crew are hosting a series of jackpots at the Carnduff , SK Ag Society grounds (in addition to the Dash for Cash July 19/20). These jackpots are not sanctioned and you can find the dates here.

Randa Nugent and Family Benefit
Join us 𝗪𝗲𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗔𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗹 𝟯𝟬𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝘁 𝗚𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗔𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗮 for a benefit race in support of our friend 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 this tragedy.

🍎Road Apples - tidbits from around the web

🍎A new world record standard pattern time was set this past week in Brazil. 𝟭𝟲.𝟬𝟴𝟬 ran by ANDERSON CARREIRA and Black Cat Lider (Link to allbreedpedigree). Watch the run here.

🍎 Ever wonder how to get your fleece cinch cleaned really well? Check out this video from Classic Equine. I have heard a similar tool works well on saddle pads.

 🍎I watched and recommend a great video remembering and celebrating Frenchmans Guy. You might want to grab a tissue first. Find it on YouTube here.
 
🍎New product alert. TST Pulsate has launched their new PEMF Equine Therapy blanket, designed, hand crafted and assembled in Alberta, Canada! 🍁

🍎Canadian company Alliance Equine showed us how to wash our sport boots this week. 🍁

🍎Life Data Labs shared a video of farrier Shane Westman making a hoof boot with the help of a cutting board that looked pretty slick.

🍎 Sharp Sports Medicine veterinarian Dr. Sharp demonstrates how he teaches his clients to practice an IV needle in this video and demonstrates where and how to give IV medications in this one.

Mindset Minute with Michelle Davey

There’s nothing wrong with you if you get nervous before competitions. It is a normal nervous system response to doing something that doesn’t have a known outcome. Your nervous system likes to know exactly what is going to happen and finds security in that. That’s why as your horse gets more consistent, you may find you get a little less nervous.
But barrel racing isn’t about knowns and the same, same every run so it rattles our nerves. The key isn’t to reject your nervousness but to learn how it works and to learn how to regulate it to find your ideal performance state. You might be surprised that your “nerves” will help you achieve that perfect state in the right dose.

That’s it for the first issue of The Arena Feed. If you liked it, please share with your friends! If you didn’t like it, please unsubscribe 😜. If you tolerated and have ideas to make it better, please tell me. You can reply to the email anytime and I’m all ears/eyes.