Amber Mostoller
Amber Talks to OTRR about her Most Memorable Run…..
Tell OTRR about one of your most memorable runs? Ok there is a story behind this lol. One of my most memorable runs was at the IPRA Rodeo in St Tite, QU. It was in 2007 and I had Mighty Mouse up there. On the way up there while getting the horses off the trailer Mighty Mouse got into a bind and ending up flipping backwards out of the trailer, taking a chunk of hair off her head, puncturing her side right where the girth would go, as well as scrapes all over her hocks. She got up really dazed and loaded right back on the trailer for me. This was the biggest rodeo of the year and I was really afraid that I may have just hurt my horse and chances of placing up there. When we got up there it was POURING down rain and the arena was a mud hole. I was saddling up getting ready to run and had Mighty Mouse tied underneath the awning. Well the awning had filled up with water and as I was getting her saddle the awning BROKE right on top of her. She started to panic, and I could not get her untied. Luckily I got her calmed down and out from underneath the awning, but she was shaking and scared. Mind you this was about 30 min before we were to run. I got her saddle and walked her up to the arena. This rodeo is INSANELY loud, there are fireworks, and you have to almost run people over in the streets to get to the arena. She warmed up good and when we came down that alley I knew she was running hard and we had a shot to make it back to the short go. I ending up placing 6th in the Long Go making it back to the Short go. This run also helped me solidify my spot in the top 15 to make the IFR that year and just really showed me the heart and grit that Mighty Mouse has 
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Our fans wanted to know…
Amber Mostoller on Mighty Mouse
Amber, tell me what you do to prepare for the next rodeo season, do you ride colts, or take time off all together?
I always have something to ride, whether it is the open horse I am running at the time or some outside horses to ride and sell for customers. I think I would go crazy out of my mind if I didn’t have something to ride.
In that time off, do you give your horses off completely, or do you still ride on a regular schedule? If so, what does that schedule look like? do you use this time for tuning, or just letting them get some daily exercise?
The last few years I have been selling a lot of horses, so I really haven’t had anything longer than a year to give them time off. In general I try to ride at least 3 or 4 days a week if I am going to a show or rodeo on the weekend. Seasoned barrel horses that I take in for customers rarely see the barrels when I have them except to run. Now if there is something I do not like that they are doing on the pattern I might work them a couple days to get them right again.
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Amber Mostoller PRCA Rodeo Update….Franklin, TN
Date, Rodeo Name and Location
May 14th * Franklin, TN PRCA Rodeo
Which horse did you run?
I ran a grey mare by the name of JB Absolute aka Abby. She is a mare that my family actually used to own a few years ago that I have back now to ride for the current owners
How was the ground, alley, warm up area, etc?
The ground can be a little tricky here sometimes and is notorious for getting faster as the weekend goes on. I was there to watch slack bright and early Thursday morning and the ground was not dangerous, however, the horses really weren’t sitting down and turning hard. The alley way is VERY long and the pattern is huge. When I ran Thursday night a 17.82 was winning it from slack.
Tell me about your run, the good the bad and the ugly. Exactly how you felt about it.
For the most part Abby worked very well. She is not in very good shape yet, so I knew this size of a pen was going to be a HUGE test for her. She ran hard though, but has not been in this large of an arena in a VERY long time, so she set up for each barrel really early and lost a lot of momentum in her turns. Our time was long but I was happy with the way she worked for me
Comments about the rodeo?
I love this rodeo. This is the first rodeo for J Bar J of the year and I have grown up going to their rodeos so its fun to sit and visit with the Zinsers. This rodeo has an awesome hospitality room with great food and the committee adds $3,500 to each event which keeps everyone coming back.
Anything interesting happen on the trip there or back?
I had to leave extra early for this rodeo because I was dropping off my new buckskin mare with someone so they could haul her to Illinois for me. They were up in slack at 7:00am Thursday morning so I drove through the night Wed to get there. On the way there I was driving through the mountains and a semi comes up on me and starts flashing his lights and laying on his horn. I look in my mirror and see sparks flying out from underneath my trailer. I start freaking out and am trying to get slowed down going downhill and find a spot to pull over on the brim. I rolled down my window and could smell the metal on pavement and heard a AWFUL noise that sounded like my rim was hitting the pavement. I get pulled over, jump out, the smell is awful and I run around checking all my tires. My tires were fine!? I am confused so I go around the front of my truck and look under it thinking something was dragging, its dark but I do not see anything, I go around the back of my truck and wala I see it. Somehow my trailer jack had dropped and was draggin on the road! Other than beating the crap out of the jack everything else was fine, so I put the jack back up and off we went again. I arrived in Franklin at 5:00am and the place was PACKED. I ended up parking right in the middle of the driveway, tied the horses to the panels in the warm up arena, and crashed in the trailer for a couple hours. So later that night I decided to stay for a little while and sleep because I had got only a couple hours of sleep in the last 48 hours. I left at about 2:00am to head back to North Carolina and as I was getting out of my bed in the trailer, I tripped and landed with all my weight on my big toe. I heard a rip and a pop, looked down and my big toe was bent and broke. I started cussing and hobbled around to get my horse loaded and on the road. The pain going through my foot was insane and it was swelling and getting very hot, so I pulled over at a gas station got a cup of ice and put it in a little horse bucket. I filled it with some water and placed it in front of the seat so I could ice my foot going down the road It looked ridiculous but it worked and helped keep the swelling under control!
What CD is in your truck right now?
Bryan Adams…love love love him -
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Amber has New Horses!!!
Soooo….. I have some new horses in that I wanted to share with everyone
JB Absolute aka Abby * 1999 Grey Quarter Horse Mare
This mare is an own daughter of Packin Sixes that my mom actually used to own a couple years ago. She bought her from a lady in California and really liked her style. I got to run her at a few PRCA and IPRA rodeos while we had her and she has a super SMOOTH running style and floats on the ground, it doesnt hurt that she is VERY fast either She was the horse that I always offered to other people to ride at the rodeos if they needed something to run b/c she is soo quiet and easy. We sold her to some people in Georgia who need to downsize. They figured she would be the easiest one to sell so they offered her to me to run until I sell her. I am looking forward to running her, but I do not think I will have her long as she is a very nice mare!!
Peggy Bugs Streaker aka Streak * 1996 Sorrel Quarter Horse Gelding
This gelding is owned by one of my good friends Mandy Hayes. This sucker can flat FLY. He is a little quirky outside of the arena, but very smooth and easy to run in the arena. I will be running him the next couple weekends so be looking for our updates
HR Reeds Dynamo Jet aka Jetta * 2003 Buckskin Quarter Horse Mare
This adorable mare I kind of ended up with by accident. She is owned by the same person that owned the Gucci mare that I bought in the fall and sold this winter. I went to North Carolina to try her for someone else about a week ago and FELL IN LOVE WITH HER. I told the girl that if she didn’t buy her that I was going to figure out a way to get her. Well she didn’t buy her, so I called someone who has had partnered with me on Gucci and the mare I had before her that I called Rookie. I told him I was not in a position to put any money towards her, but that she was super nice and I could definately make money on her for him. He watched the video I took of her and told me to “get it done” She really wants to work and I can not wait to get her to some rodeos!
SHF Roan Kiss aka Rona * 2006 Dun Roan Solid Paint Filly
So this filly is a full sister to Baileys First Kiss the blue roan gelding I was hauling this winter owned by Renae Wyant in Pennsylvania. I am partners on her with the guy that partnered with me on my last two horses and who bought Jetta for me to run. I will not get to run her in competition until she turns 4, but have very high hopes for her futurity season. I bought her from Renae and she broke her out and has her breezing the barrel pattern. Renae also trained the stud (SHF Kiss This) that Rona is by as well as the dam. I will leave her with Renae until July and will start to take her to a few rodeos to just stand at the trailer and get used to the sights and sounds of rodeo.
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OTRR Hears from Amber Mostoller..
Amber and Dorey at Cleveland
How early do you like to get to a rodeo? I like to get to a rodeo as early as possible, at least an hour before hand. This however is not always possible especially when hauling with a bunch of rough stock riders
When you were getting into Barrel Racing, who did you look up to and learn from the most? I learned everything about barrel racing from my mom. She is a multiple IFR qualifer, was the 1986 National Champion, and has qualified for the PRCA Great Lakes Circuit Finals as well.
Do you prefer sports medicine boots, or polo wraps, and why? I am a HUGE fan of polo wraps. I feel like I can offer more support by wrapping tighter around the tendon, and they also allow me to wrap a little higher and lower on the leg then what some splint boots allow.
What is your favorite type of jeans? Are you a wranglers girl, cruel girl, or do you have another brand? So I am officially now obsessed with Miss Mi Jeans. They are my new favorites. I do also wear Cruel Girls and Wranglers though
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Amber Mostoller Shares about her Scariest Run…..
Amber Mostoller on Mighty Mouse
Amber, Please tell On The Rodeo Road About your most Embarrassing Run….
I do not know of any really embarrassing runs, but I can tell you about one of my scariest runs! It was about 5 years ago on a gelding I had by the name of Pacific Sparks. I was at an arena that I had previously set an arena record on him at and he LOVED this pen. He took off to the 1st barrel hard and when he set to turn he over reached and we started to flip head over heels. I went flying over his head and I remember someone screaming for me to get out of the way. When I looked back I saw him coming over on top of me, and I started crawling as fast as I could towards the fence. I got to the fence and he got up and put his leg through the rein and was hung up. Spark was hopping around on 3 legs and wouldn’t let the guys get to him, I got up and walked over to him and got him to stop. He let me pick up his leg so we could get the rein unsnapped. I got back on him and trotted him around the rest of the pattern to see if he was off anywhere. My stepdad suggested that if I was ok and if I thought Spark was ok that I should run him in the last class to reassure myself and Spark that we were both ok. I ran him in the last class and we placed 2nd. We were both pretty sore the next day but he got rubbed down with liniments and after a few days of some TLC was as good as new!
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On The Rodeo Road Sits Down with Amber Mostoller…….
On The Rodeo Road sits down with Amber Mostoller and talks about preparing for the rodeo season, both mentally and physically….
Amber, tell me what you do to prepare for the next rodeo season, do you ride colts, or take time off all together? I always have something to ride, whether it is the open horse I am running at the time or some outside horses to ride and sell for customers. I think I would go crazy out of my mind if I didn’t have something to ride.
In that time off, do you give your horses off completely, or do you still ride on a regular schedule? If so, what does that schedule look like? do you use this time for tuning, or just letting them get some daily exercise? The last few years I have been selling a lot of horses, so I really haven’t had anything longer than a year to give them time off. In general I try to ride at least 3 or 4 days a week if I am going to a show or rodeo on the weekend. Seasoned barrel horses that I take in for customers rarely see the barrels when I have them except to run. Now if there is something I do not like that they are doing on the pattern I might work them a couple days to get them right again.
How long out do you begin working them again, for the rodeo season? Each horse is different but 30 days is always a good policy for horses that have been off for an extended period of time. If they are not in proper shape to perform you run the risk of them pulling something. It would be like you trying to run the 200 meter sprint without working up to it.
Amber, mentally what are you doing to keep your mind right? Are you going to jackpots, or just taking some time off all together? I would go to something every day of the week if I could I am really enjoying having other horses in to run b/c it allows me to go as much as I want without having to wear out one or two horses.
Do you do anything to physically prepare for the season, since your horses are getting in shape, do you do something physical as well? I enjoy working out and staying in shape on a regular basis. The better in shape I am as a jockey, the better my balance and riding is which allows my horses to work better. I was a runner in high school and like to lift weights now as well as keeping up with my cardio.
As far as your rig, and getting it ready to hit the road, what is your routine? WELL I just purchased ”a new to me” truck. It is a 2000 F350 and I love it. Memphis also enjoys the luxury of having a backseat to sleep in which he owns going up and down the road. I am kind of a tire FREAK and check the pressure in my trailer and truck tires before every trip. My truck and trailer also enjoy an acid wash every few months to keep it looking pretty The trailer is pretty easy to maintain I have the bearings checked regularly and my truck gets the routine oil changes as well.
Thanks so much Amber for sitting down and answering our questions. Good luck!!!
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Amber Mostoller Rodeo Update..Evans, GA
Amber Mostoller on Mighty Mouse
Date, Rodeo Name and Location
April 24th * Evans, GA * 5th Annual Rodeo Nights * IPRA Rodeo
Which horse did you run?
I ran a new horse that I will be taking for a friend to run and sell. He is a 13 year old sorrel gelding by the name of Peggy Bugs Streaker aka Streak
How was the ground, alley, warm up area, etc?
The ground is always pretty good by the time Saturday night rolls around. The alley you approach from the left this year instead of the right but it was centered which is always nice. They do not allow you in the arena at this rodeo to warm up so I warmed up Streak out back. He is a very nervous horse and does not take a whole lot to warm up. He warmed up pretty well though and I knew he was ready to run.
Tell me about your run, the good the bad and the ugly. Exactly how you felt about it.
This was my 2nd time ever sitting on Streak, but I have seen him run a lot and he has a very easy style to him. He is however a little quirky to say the least. Streak gets very nervous going in and my goal was to just keep him as quiet as possible and like all horses with a new rider I knew he was probably going to test me. Going in the pen, I had a friend lead her horse beside me to keep Streak relaxed and he walked right up to the mouth of the alley way, flat footed and all. About the time I was thinking wow what a good boy he is being he reared straight up in the air with me and spun around. I lost my stirrups and thought I was coming off, but had a death grip on the horn and the reins. LOL As soon as he did that he stood perfectly still allowing me to regroup as if to say “ok you passed my test, time to get serious”, This time he trotted right up the alley way and took off like nothing had happened. He was running HARD to the 1st and I grabbed him a little too soon and he turned as soon as I did and left me a little behind him leaving the 1st. The whole way to the 2nd barrel I was just playing catch up and had the wrong hand on the rein the whole way…by the time I switched he was ready to turn and he turned the 2nd barrel and again was leaving me behind We were headed straight for the 3rd barrel and he let me pick him up and move him over. Streak had a little problem with the ground at the 3rd barrel and kind of hopped around it which made him pull out of it a little bit. Our run was far from perfect but we were still not far out from placing. Streak is very easy to run in the arena, he runs hard and turns even harder. I am looking forward to getting some more runs on him to see what we can accomplish before he sells!
Comments about the rodeo?
I definately have a LOVE – HATE relationship with this rodeo lol It is one of the bigger IPRA rodeos of the year with $3,500 added to each event. I have been there the last 3 years and two years ago I would have won it on Mighty Mouse by 3 tenths and hit the 1st barrel. Last year I would have won it on Rookie and hit the 2nd barrel. I did leave all the barrels up this year (GO ME) lol They have a great hospitality tent at this rodeo and really try to take care of the contestants.
Anything interesting happen on the trip there or back?
This was a relatively easy trip to make compared to the rest of the trips this year lol. I actually left Friday and drove to Mandy’s house (the girl that owns Streak) They only live 3 hours from Evans so it was nice to break the trip up into two sections. It took me 8 hours to get to Mandy’s, and we left Saturday afternoon for Evans. After Evans I stayed the night at her place again and drove home Sunday morning.
What can you NEVER leave the house without?
Memphis of course!!! Stayed tuned…Memphis gets a new summer hair cut this week. Pictures coming soon
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Amber Mostoller Update from Bulter GA, IPRA Rodeo
Amber on Mighty Mouse
Date, Rodeo Name and Location
March 28th * Butler, GA * 3rd Annual Bethel Cong. Methodist Church * IPRA Rodeo
Which horse did you run?
I was back on Instant Victory aka Dorey at this rodeo. She is an 11 year old bay mare that I am riding to sell for a business partner of mine.
How was the ground, alley, warm up area, etc?
The ground has always been DEEP sand at this rodeo. If you are not within the first 5 or so girls it’s hard to place. It had been raining all week in Butler which would help keep the ground tight. The arena has a nice center alley way and there is plenty of warm up area in the field around the arena.
Tell me about your run, the good the bad and the ugly. Exactly how you felt about it.
Well I really don’t remember much of my run. It was one of those runs that I came out of the arena and just kinda went what the heck was that. Dorey worked good I just rode like a monkey. No money but she did her part I just have to get my crap together…
Comments about the rodeo?
This is the 3rd year for this rodeo, and the first time I have been to it. It adds $1,000 to each event and for the most part is a good rodeo.
Anything interesting happen on the trip there or back?
So Spencer and I left Springfield, MO immediately following my run in the slack. It was supposed to be a 12 hour drive, and there was really no good way to get there. Looking at the map it was ALMOST ALL red roads (the kind that you don’t want to drive on) and very few blue roads (the good ones) Spencer knew I had been sick the week before and was still feeling crummy (especially after being completely soaked after my run in Springfield), so he took over the wheel right out of the gate and Memphis and I crashed in the back seat. It was pouring down rain when we left and when we stopped to get fuel there was someone there that was having problems with their windshield wipers, so Spencer went over to help them out. I got out, paid for fuel and went right back to sleep. I woke up when we made another stop a couple hours down the road at a Wal-Mart. Spencer was having a hard time seeing out my truck windshield with the monsoon he was driving through so he bought me some new wipers and some rain-x. At some point early the next morning I woke up and I saw that the gas light was on and there were NO fuel stations anywhere on the road that we were on. We finally get off an exit and roll into a fuel station on FUMES, only to find out that the power had been knocked out and EVERYTHING on that side of the road was without power! We decide to go down the road a few miles to another station on the other side of the road and finally found a place with power. We put 40.67 gallons in my 40 gallon truck!! When we were about 3 hours from the rodeo we get a phone call saying that the rodeo had been POSTPONED till the next day at 2:00pm because of rain. We went to check out the rodeo grounds and while the arena was in good shape the parking lot was a pond! I have a friend in Perry, GA that allowed Spencer and I to crash at their house along with Billy and Scott who followed along. Thank you to the Holly family for all your hospitality! After the rodeo the next day Memphis and I headed to Ohio leaving Butler at 6:00pm Sunday night and made it home 7:30am Monday morning!
What do you do to help you stay awake when driving?
NOS energy drinks are the bomb. After one I can drive all night. It gives me the shakes most of the time lol, but it certainly does the job of keeping me awake
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Amber Mostoller Update Cowboy Classic IPRA Rodeo
Amber and Dorey at Cleveland
Date, Rodeo Name and Location
March 27th * Cowboy Classic IPRA Rodeo * Ozark Empire Fairgrounds * Springfield, MO
Which horse did you run?
So I got to run a horse that my friend Cari Titsworth just purchased. I actually helped her find the mare as she was owned by a friend of mine in Alabama. Cari had tried her when we went on our run to Pendleton, Ft Pierce, & Huntsville a few weeks ago. The mare is a 10 year old quarter horse named Renes Play Girl aka Betty. I have seen Betty run for years with Stacy on her but never had the opportunity to run her. Cari offered her to me at Springfield and I jumped on it.
How was the ground, alley, warm up area, etc?
The ground was good here. It is a small indoor arena with a side gate. We did not get in the arena for intermission and the only warm up area was an arena outside.
Tell me about your run, the good the bad and the ugly. Exactly how you felt about it.
I was in the slack at this rodeo so I got to watch Cari run Betty in the performance. I knew from watching Stacy run Betty over the years that the mare responds well to the whip so I carried one on me and let her know I had it before going in the arena. She walked in good and I sent her to the first barrel, she had an awesome 1st barrel and I cracked her once with the whip going across to the 2nd. As soon as I stopped pushing she set up and we just BARELY hit the 2nd barrel. I pushed her on to the 3rd barrel and she ate it up. When I hit her going home she hit another gear which was awesome to feel. They were winning the rodeo with a 13.6 and we ran a 13.5! BUT that dang 2nd barrel cost us a 5 second penalty so sadly no money. I am very anxious to get another chance on this mare so we can redeem ourselves
Comments about the rodeo?
This was the 1st time I had ventured out to this rodeo, and I would go back. It’s a nice facility with free stalls to the contestants. They also give away awards to each event winner which is fun if you happen to win your event
Anything interesting happen on the trip there or back?
Ok so I knew it was gonna be a long trip to Springfield, MO and boy was it ever. I left Thursday night and was picking up a horse near Dayton, OH for someone that needed a horse (well pony) hauled out. I always try to find a horse to haul on longer trips to help pay for my fuel and it works out well I picked up this pony around 1:00am Friday morning. Besides the pony dragging me all over the ladies yard when I was trying to load him, he jumped on the trailer and we were on our way to MO! I was just getting over being sick so I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to make it the whole 10 hours without pulling over. I like to do most of driving at night because of less traffic and it’s just more peaceful. I made it about 2 hours outside of St Louis and HAD to pull over to sleep. My energy drink had run its course and I was spent lol. It’s very hard for me to sleep with horses on the trailer but I got a couple hours of sleep and was back on my way. I met another lady to drop the pony off Friday morning around 10:00am and arrived in Springfield, MO around Noon. I put Dorey in a stall, plugged in my trailer and slept until a couple hours before the rodeo started. Fellow Ontheorodeoroad buddy Spencer Turner jumped in the rig leaving Springfield, MO to help make the 12 hour drive to Butler, GA so I could sleep and ooohhh what a trip we had…to be continued
What CD is in your cd player in your truck right now?
I don’t remember it was probably something very LOUD to help me stay awake
What Jeans did you wear?
OK so I am OFFICIALLY obsessed with Miss Me Jeans…I bought two more pairs off ebay and LOVE them
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