After The Dust Settles

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In 2010 you won Pendelton, talk to us a little bit about how unique that pattern is and how you prepare your horse for that pattern size?

There’s no better rush as a barrel racer than Pendleton in my mind.  Nothing can compare to that huge set up.  My horse loves to run and hunt barrels so it’s perfect for her.  Some girls don’t like to take there horses up there because it can be a little hard on them but I can’t think of a better reward for Zoey than to turn her loose after a hard summer and let her do what she loves to do…run and turn!  I don’t think you can truly prepare yourself for it.  I think you just go turn them loose and see what happens…even if it doesn’t go well you can say you did it!

Going in to a new rodeo season, do you set down and write a list of goals you want to accomplish for the year?

That’s something I need to do!  I’m good at keeping things in my head but having them on paper really solidifies things.

You said in your interview on WPRA.com that what makes people successful is finding out what works for them, what works best for you and why do you think you have managed to be so successful?

I really try to just let a horse find its way both in the arena and out.  It’s important to find out who they really are so you can help them when they need it.  Zoey has been through so many bad things in her life and we’ve had to really find ways to help her deal with them.  In the pattern I think it’s so important to just let a horse figure out how to move their body.  I don’t think you can teach a horse to turn a certain way if it isn’t natural to them.  Let them figure it out and then just help them to excel.

Do you use any type of therapies for Zoey when out on the road? Do you poultice legs, use magnets, back on track sheets, liniment, etc? What is your routine for Zoey when you are running hard?

I’ve had her on the accuscope for injuries before but I don’t use that normally.  We use mud on her legs a lot.  She has a leg that’s been really cut up badly a few times so we battle that all the time.  It’s a matter of keeping any kind of swelling out of her leg and hock.  We ice her down a lot and use liniments as well.  Sometimes we’ll wrap her legs to haul her but I try not to because she doesn’t like any of that.  I’ve used Soft Rides on her and she hates them so I usually don’t use them unless she’s on hard ground for a long time or something.  We try to just keep everything very natural with her.  She really doesn’t like to be fussed with so by avoiding doing too much she’s a lot happier.

Jody thanks so much for sharing your time with OTRR! Good luck “On The Rodeo Road”

If you missed part one and two, please check them out here.

How did you stay focused in the alley?

My husband was great there.  We would just chat and get our game plan of how to handle Zoey.  He was there to keep us both calm.

Looking back on the entire experience, what did you take away from it?

I loved it and wouldn’t trade it for anything!  Mostly after it was all said and done I had proved to myself that I could do it.  My horse deserved to be there and she really proved herself as well.  I was very proud of my whole team!

Last year to proved to be a “dream come true” year for you. Winning Rodeo Houston was huge.  How do you feel about Houston this year? Any pressure?

I’m really excited!  It’s nice to go somewhere like that and know your horse did well in the pen.  I feel like there’s a little extra pressure this year but more than anything just excitement. 

 With your win at Rodeo Houston last year, you only went to 44 rodoes, how will that change for 2012?

I plan to go a lot more this year.  My husband and I had a long talk and we’ve decided it’s time for me to leave my job and take advantage of the opportunity we have.  Horses like Zoey don’t grow on trees and we want to give her the chance to go for it.  It’s a pretty scary thing to face but nobody ever did anything great without some risk!

Going in to the 2012 season, what are you doing differentlly this year than last year?

Not too much.  We’ll go to some more rodeos.  Go to the rodeos we did well at and stay away from places it didn’t work for us.  We’ll just play it by ear and see where we end up.

If you missed Part One, check it out here.

When you return to the NFR what is something you would do different?

I would probably stick with the same game plan (aside from those 2 barrels going down!).  It seemed to work really well so I don’t think I would change anything.

Did you have a mental or physical routine to get yourself ready each night?

Not too much.  We would do the grand entry, come back and saddle, warm up and run.  My husband was at the trailer with me the whole time so we would just chat and it was nice to just have some quiet time before the run.

How was the grand entry?

So much fun!  Sue Smith told me that first grand entry would be when it really set in for me and she was right.  That was the only chance the barrel racers really get to be inside the arena because we run in and run out.  (Which is kind of nice in itself because you could put yourself in the frame of mind that it’s just another rodeo.)  I got to do it on my older mare a few nights so it was special to me to give her a chance to be in the Thomas and Mack also.

We know you kept Zoey off the grounds, can you go through a typical evening for us? Was the driving in bad, getting prepared, etc?

We were only about 15 minutes from the arena and Matt Shiozawa told me how to get through the airport and avoid traffic.  We didn’t have any trouble with traffic at all.  During the days Jesse would get Zoey ready and I’d meet him out at the arena.  We’d go to the rodeo and run.  Afterwards we’d take them back out and get them put up for the night.  By the time we got back to the hotel they would be about ready to replay the barrels in the sportsbar so we could grab a bite to eat and enjoy a drink and watch the replay.  Then it was time for bed and at it again the next day!

How did you decide what to wear each night?

Some nights I felt like being very plain and some nights I felt like dressing up some.  My mom makes rodeo queen clothes and she made me a Tough Enough to Wear Pink shirt and a Patriot shirt that were really pretty so I wore both those.  I also wore a silk scarf every night because it was the only thing to keep me warm in the alley without a coat.  Some people laughed about it but I always wear a scarf so why change now?

When you arrived in Vegas what was your routine as far as going to a morning practice?

We were able to ride in the arena the first day we got there so I took her in and just showed her around.  I went to one other practice to try to get her a little calmer in the alley but it didn’t help so we just stopped going.

Did you practice on Zoey much during the week?

Not much at all.  My husband took her out to Pahrump most days to go for a ride up the mountain.  That’s the best way to keep her head level.  The most I would do if I worked her on the barrels was walk her around them and make sure she was coming off them tight.  She tends to bow off them every now and then.  She gets really mad if I try to work her on the barrels at all so we pretty much stay away from them all the time.

I know there are many obligations you have for the 10 days, how did those go?

Mine weren’t too bad.  I tried to spread mine out through the week so I wasn’t running ragged all week and that really helped.  My husband is very involved with my horse so I had the luxury of just being able to turn her over to him during the days and have that off my shoulders.  I tried to be as organized as possible going in so that really helped keep me straight.

As far as this being your first year at the NFR what was is something that surprised you?

The way we were treated!  I felt like royalty there!  Everyone was so amazing and treated the contestants like gold.  We had so many gifts given to us from various sponsors and companies.  It was really fun to see the different things everyone had to offer and especially to get to meet so many nice people.

You and Zoey did great, finishing 2^nd in round 9, and really having some great solid runs, how did you feel after the 1o days were over?

I wished we had another 10 rounds!  She kept getting better and better so it was really fun.  It’s really made me want to go out and shoot for the NFR again knowing how well she liked it there.  I was really hoping to win a round and we came close in that 9^th round but in the end I was so thrilled with her.  That’ s a lot of pressure to put a horse under and she took it like a champ.

Be sure and check back! There is more to come from Jody. Also if you missed her previous interviews you can find them here.

It was my idolized horse Louie that got around all three in the fastest time in round 9.  His style is one I would call honest and consistent.  Even though Lisa and Louie have hit some barrels this week, they are the highest money winning team so far!

It is down to Martha making clean runs every night that is a must for Lindsay Sears.  Along with that, Brenda Mays and Christina Richmond need to leave them up or Sherry Cervi will be sliding on into the second place spot in the average and sneaking in on the world title.  Martha and Lindsay made a safe run last night, placing last in the round for a little money. 

Angie and Mulberry stuck in for a fifth place check in the round.  Angie has worn some bold colors this year at the NFR.  She is definitely known for her style in the barrel racing arena.  I especially loved the burnout tee she wore last night. 

The Funky Cowgirl has many different styles of burnout tees.  Check them out at The Funky Cowgirl. 

Here is my fave from The Funky Cowgirl!  I love the incorporation of the lace and cheetah, my personal pick for animal prints.

The last round of the National Finals Rodeo is upon us.  I’m not ready for it to be over!  It’s been part of my daily routine now!  Brittany and Duke aren’t slowing down.  She sure got too close for comfort on the first barrel in round 9, but I look for them to be fast again in round 10.  Jody Sheffield and Zoey are just getting primed!  It is going to be nail biting until they crown the World Champion!

Round 8 in the barrel racing was a HUGE upset for two of the three top cowgirls.  Sherry Cervi and Brittany Pozzi both knocked the third barrel to be bumped way down in the average.  Brittany’s Duke would have run 3/100ths of a second off the new arena record last night. 

It was the black Beauty who took the round win, ridden by Jane Melby.  Plagued with a swollen knee a few days ago, Beauty has proved that when she is on, SHE’S ON! 

Since most of the barrel racers have the obligation of crediting their sponsors, we’ve seen a lot of plain long sleeve button up shirts at the NFR.  These shirts have logos and patches of all the girl’s sponsors down the sleeves, on the front, on the back and on the collar.    

Here is Jane Melby and Lisa Bollin of Cowgirl Tuff.  Jane displays her black long sleeve with a little glitz on the cuffs and the collar. 

Round 9, really is it already the 9^th round??  Carlee is going to get back on Dillon and I think the day long break is going to give him what he needs to come back with the hammer down.  As if he isn’t already running strong!  Brittany Pozzi has nothing to lose now and will come in for the go round wins.  Duke has kept fast all week, there is no telling what he has in store.  Sherry is still sitting good for a $21,634.62 paycheck if she holds her spot in the average but I think she is also going to come in for the go round wins. 

It ain’t over until it’s over!

Now THAT is the Martha we’re used to seeing at the NFR!  Running so salty, she ripped Lindsey’s vest off!  Only 1/10^th of a second off the new arena record and now Martha is sitting only 1/10^th behind Stingray in the average.  These two girls cannot falter in the go rounds or the other will take over!

Lindz wore a deep turquoise lace top with a brown long sleeve shirt under it, then covered that with a custom fitted vest that didn’t make it intact through the alleyway.  Lindsey has a very different fashion style, one of which I would call more elegant.

Here is a similar top that you can get at www.giddyupglamouronline.com

Lace is really hot this year along with the tees with prints down the arms like Angie Meadors wore last night.  I really like this one that Angie is modeling for Cowgirl Tuff.  You can get this shirt at www.sierrawesternwear.com

Britany Fleck and Rootie were back in action and taking home their first paycheck at the Thomas and Mack.  Also cashing in a bottom hole check was the great Real Claim Ta Fame ridden by Sue Smith.  As we go into Round 8, will we see a change in the average leader board?  We’ll see!

Less than one tenth is what separated the spread of placing barrel racers last night!  Talk about a tough round!  Like a fine wine that gets better with time, it was Stingray that brought home the buckle in round 6.  Sherry was holding nothing back even though she is leading the average.  I believe I even saw a little stumble on the backside of the second barrel!  Sherry had on her signature Under Armour base layer under her cute plaid top last night. 

Another wearer of plaid last night was Carlee Pierce, who tipped a barrel to win the round last night. 

I really like the look of plaid and how it brings back some of the traditional style at the rodeos.  This top by Tin Haul can be found at Cavenders.

Another horse I’m looking forward to seeing get some more go round money is Jody Sheffield’s paint peeler, Zoey.  She has a different style than most of the horses in the field this year.  Zoey comes in hunting a barrel and turning tight.

With a lot of go round money still up for grabs, I will leave you with a quote from Sherry Cervi “There’s still a lot of rodeo left!”

On a cold Monday night in Vegas, Rare Dillon brought the heat on Tough Enough to Wear Pink night!  Carlee, decked out in the new line of pink and black patchwork Tin Haul boots, rode Dillon to not only the round 5 win but a new arena record.  Carlee was also given a pink Tin Haul tack set to use on Dillon, however she chose to stick with her plain tack set that she switched to in Round 4.  The same round she also won!  Call it superstition?  I call it $35,769.24 worth of paychecks! 

Brittany Fleck supported breast cancer awareness with a hot pink matching shirt, reins and boots on her black bomber Rootie.  My guess is that she’s outfitted by her sponsor, Panhandle Slim/Rock and Roll Cowgirl.  I’m happy to see this duo leave the barrels standing last night.  An NFR rookie on one hard turning horse, I hope to see more from her in the second half of the Finals.