On The Rodeo Road

Full name, Event and Circuit?

Kristen Roby
Barrel Racing
Great Lakes Circuit

When did you get into rodeo and what brought you to this great sport?
In 1990, I went to TX for 6 weeks with my cousin; while I was there my parents purchased a mare for me, Little Miss Bambi “Bonnie”, that a girl was currently rodeoing on. When I got her, we hit the road and never looked back. 

Tell us about your rodeo horses, and how long you have had them?

 -Little Miss Bambi is now retired, she was 16 when we bought her and is now 34, she is older than I am. She enabled me to do so many things and win so much.  She taught me so much, she was always all business in and out of the arena. I am just so lucky to have her.

-Slightly Smashed “the Roan Ranger” is 16 and is such a fun horse to be around. He has so much personality and really does love his job. He seems to love both big and small pens and loves hard ground where he can drag his ass and slide around a barrel.

-Dancin With Drums is out of Little Miss Bambi and I just started hauling him last year. He is like her in so many ways, if I can just get him handling bad ground. He slips a lot if the ground is not perfect. I think since we have been going to so many futurities the ground is always good, so that’s all he knows. He has really big shoes to fill, but he currently wears a size 5…lol

-First Down Guy is our 4 yr old futurity colt that Brian is currently running. He will be turning over the reins after the OKC Barrel Futurity in December. He loves big pens and is a 4 wheel drive kinda horse, just like most of the FG’s. He has a lot of moves like NFR qualifier Jordan Peterson’s current mount, Frenchmans Jester. Hopefully he will take to rodeos as well as he has.

What are your accomplishments in the rodeo arena?
I have placed at many IRA and RCA rodeos. 
WPRA Divisional Tour Finalist
2006 Worlds Toughest Bulls & Broncs -2nd in Year End Standings 
Open Rodeo Circuit Champion

A lot of my time was spent horse showing at futurities and AQHA shows when I was younger
1991 Won AQHA High Point Honor Roll Barrel Racing in Sr and Youth Barrels
2x All American Quarter Horse Congress Champion

What are your 2010 goals both in and out of the arena?I would really like to season out our 4yr old FG and take him to the rodeo arena by the middle of the year, hopefully hitting some of the big outdoor pens. I would also like to take Ranger to the Longhorn rodeos this winter, then on to the circuit rodeos to try to win enough to qualify for circuit finals. I don’t want to hit every rodeo, but try to make the ones that I do go to count.

Who are your sponsors going into the 2010 season?
Total Health Enhancement has been behind me since 2005. I am certain that T.H.E. is one of the main reasons my horses stay sound and healthy going up and down the road. FlamOxide, which is THE’s joint product, keeps Ranger at the top of his game.

I understand you are a sales rep for THE, how did you come to use their products?
I had read about their products on Barrel Horse World, then my retired mare Bonnie was chased into a fence by a coyote. About where she is branded on the right side, she had a straight line gash split open about 10″ long. I took her to the vet and they stitched her up but said it probably wouldn’t hold. Said she needed to be stalled-up for 12 weeks, which is very hard on a 30 yr old mare at the time. I started her on T.H.E.’s NutraWound, 2 doses daily. Six weeks later all but 4 stitches had busted, but she was healed up and back outside. T.H.E. healed her up in half the time and her scar is barely noticable. This is when I became a believer in T.H.E. products and have been product loyal ever since!

What is your favorite rodeo of the season?
My favorite rodeo is actually a local open rodeo in my family’s hometown, Bardstown KY. They have a Beauty(Barrels) and the Beast(Bulls) during their county fair. This is one of the few times that my grandmothers and aunts are able to come and watch, so it means a lot to have my family there. Ranger seems to love the pen as well. He is great in arenas that are blind to the first barrel. This is one of those arenas and he has won this B&B the last 3 years.

I also love Sikeston, Kansas City, and Dodge City. These are all great rodeos and I can’t wait to go this year.

How would you describe yourself?
Driven!  I am very disciplined when it comes to my horses. I want them to have every opportunity to be the best. I like to have fun and I want my horses to have fun and love their job.

What is something you cant live without while out on the road?
My dogs. Dax is my 13 yr old Shiapoo and Pepper is my mini Aussie. They have been many, many miles, more than most people.
The Radio (my iPod), I love music and love to sing while driving.
Flip Flops, I love warm weather and love having on my flip flops, so there are always a few pairs in the trailer
For the horses: Poultice, and my Soft Rides. I think they have made a world of difference in Ranger. He still feels good after being in the trailer many hours.

Do you have any superstitions?
 I won’t lay a hat on the bed.

Who do you look up to in the rodeo arena?
I think those girls that always put the well being of their horses first. As well as the ones that only go to a certain number of rodeos and accomplish their goals without making it a trailer race.

Who inspired you to get involved in rodeo?
My cousin knew the caliber of horse my parents bought me and he urged me to get out there and go. In 1991, if you were east of the Mississippi River you mainly went to IRA rodeos, not RCA’s. I wish my family had known more about rodeo then. I was only 12 and I had the kind of horse that made it to the NFR.  I just wish we would have known to try back then.

Favorite Food?
I love American, Mexican, Italian, and Chinese. I am a pretty picky eater.  I love appetizers and I love to cook.

Other hobbies?
I love to snow ski. I am also pretty crafty, I paint western signs, make jewelry, etc. I love to try and make things that I have seen (that are too pricey).

What horses won a spot in your trailer for the 2010 year?
Ranger will definitely be in the trailer in 2010, as well as the FG to get seasoned out. We have 5 others, 3 open horses, a derby horse and a futurity colt to choose from depending on the arena size and type of ground.

How do you keep your mind right while out on the road?
Staying grounded is one of the hardest things to do. When I was young, I was told getting to “the top” is easy, it’s staying there that is hard. That is so true. I think when you get to the top you start relaxing and second guessing whether you need to keep doing the same things. I would always think if he’s winning I will let him rest and not school/tune on him today, he will be fresh and feel better with a little break. Now I don’t do that.  The hard work and tuning is the reason he is winning, so I try not to change my routine.

**Kristen will be checking back with us after her rodeos in 2010, so be sure to look for her updates!!