In The Arena

Tell us what is different about hauling a stud?

 Everything!  You have to worry more…not just about him but about what other people are doing.  With a gelding or mare, you can just pull into somewhere in the middle of the night and throw them into a stall.  But with a stud, you basically have to block off all areas around him because you just don’t know if someone else will pull in and put a mare right behind him.   And I found that some of the horse motels don’t really want to accept studs at their facilities.  Even though Happy is a well mannered, he is still a stud and I have to treat him as one at all times.

Does Happy (Firewaterontherocks) have any quirks?

 Happy is one BIG QUIRK!!!!  He is so full of life with a child like personality.  He loves people and is very curious about little kids.  I know he is feeling good when he is acting childish and doing things like picking on Toby or wallering all over when I am saddling.  It is aggravating but I know he is well mentally and physically when he acts like that.

 What are your goals for 2012?

 To make the best run I can, every run that I make, with the conditions that I am presented with at that time.

With your Rookie year being in 2010 and having a couple of year with the WPRA under your belt now, what is some advice you would give a rookie starting out in the WPRA?

Find the veterans out there that are willing to genuinely help you.  Listen to them.  You don’t have to take everyone’s advice, but file that advice away because there might come a time or place that you need it.

If you missed any of Robyn’s previous interviews, please click HERE.

Todd you have had a great career in rodeo, what is something you feel gives you an edge?

 I have been very lucky in my rodeo career to always be around good people, starting with my parents and family.  They showed me how to work for what I want in life, which means practice, and they raised me to be an honest, straightforward person, which has helped me avoid a lot of pitfalls in this business.  My brother Justin showed me how to deal with adversity, by watching him deal with his handicaps head on every day with a big smile for anyone who came his way.   There is no bad day rodeoing that can compare to the bad days my brother and people with health issues deal with!!  I took that example and tried to keep an attitude comparable to Justin’s. This opened many doors for me in my career, because people that knew me trusted me and let me learn from them, such as Paul Cleveland and Brian Fulton.  Being around these and other great people who were great arena hands enabled my career to take off, largely because of the fact I’ve always had a horse I could win on, and all these people had a hand in showing me how to train and win on my own horses.  Now my wife Wendy has a large part in helping me with my horses, she sees potential in some, she told me Max was awesome the first day I rode him!  I was more skeptical, thought he was too small, too erratic in the corner, but she was right on that call!  She is a large part of our team, even when she’s not travelling to all the rodeos, she’s my anchor in life.  Having someone like that in your corner is a true blessing, and an “edge”.   So to sum it up, it’s the quality people in my life both past and present and the values they instilled in me that have helped me the most in my career. 

Your horse Maximus was ridden by a few people at the Finals, how does it feel to have that type of horse in your trailer?

I would say the biggest thing it does for anyone in rodeo timed events is that it brings your confidence up to a higher level!  There is nothing we can’t accomplish if we have faith, and trusting the horse between your knees is the absolute key to confidence, and winning, in our sport.   Maximus has been brought along in his career six years to get to the point he is now.  I have been riding him the entire time, and as anyone who rides the horses they train will know, it’s not all sunshine and daisies!  There are many times when using a young horse that I could have, (and maybe should have at times), ridden someone else’s more seasoned horse.  There are going to be times when a young horse will cost you money, everyone who’s owned one knows it!  But a true cowboy forks his own broncs, and that’s just how I feel.  I may have spent more time in the winner’s circle, but I wouldn’t be gaining confidence in my mount either!  I’ve been fortunate with the great horses that I’ve owned, I was very lucky the first bulldogging horse my brothers and I owned ended up being 1996 college and PRCA Horse of the Year!  That is a stroke of luck!  I’ve been lucky to have good horses like Maximus, and how good he ends up being, we’ll find out, but he is already the most talented horse I’ve ever owned, and he likes his job.  He is 12 this year, and their teenage years are their money years, so let’s hope the best is yet to come!

If you missed Todd’s run this year at Houston that was incredible, be sure and check it out here, true testament to trusting your horse.

What conditioning routine do you have for your horses?

 My routine seems to vary around the rodeo schedule for my horses.  If they have more than two weeks off between rodeos, which we do now with the kids and cattle, I will usually let them rest the first week, then condition them 3-4 times a week by long trotting or loping them, or an hour on the walker.  If they have been out of shape for a couple months or more, at least two weeks of training is needed to get their bodies ready for running cattle.

Rodeo is such a mental sport, what do you to mentally to stay focused?

 That has honestly been my biggest struggle throughout my career.  I would say I’m a bit of a thrill seeker, and bulldogging for twenty years now, can get a little ho-hum, as can anything!  So to keep my eye on the prize I try to prepare both my horse and I for the next run.  This means if I’m going to Cheyenne, I need to prepare differently than a rodeo with a short score. 

Please stay tuned for more with Todd! This is a series and we will also have a visit with his wife, barrel racer Wendy Suhn.

Do you haul with someone or are you out there by yourself a lot?

I haul by myself most of the time.  Hauling a stud limits me a little.  I can haul him with mares but it just creates a little more stress for he and I both so I try to avoid it if I can.  Plus most people don’t want to go through what I have to go through hauling a stud.  I have to take all these extra precautionary measures that most people don’t even think about when hauling a gelding or mare.

Is Happy the only horse you have in your trailer right now?

No, he has his trusty hauling partner, Toby that keeps him company.  He is a 11 year old paint gelding that does a very good job of putting up with Happy’s child like behavior.  He is what I think keeps Happy “happy” on the road.  He is the constant “normal” in Happy’s life.  Plus, if I have to, I can run Toby.  He is just that dependable horse that you can do just about anything on.  I placed on him at a couple of rodeos when Happy was out with the Pigeon Fever.

What is your warm up routine with Happy?

Well, in the rodeo world I found out real quick that a warm up “routine” is just a figment of my imagination.  Most places we went didn’t have anything but a parking lot to warm up on and sometimes we didn’t even have that.  So, I learned to adjust my routine to what the accommodations had to offer as far as warm up area.  But typically, I like to get on him about 30 minutes prior to running and walk, trot and then lope a little.  I don’t have to do a whole lot of warming up on him because I want him to be a little fresh when we run.  I just make sure he is listening to my cues and that he knows we are serious, because Happy can just go out there and have fun if you don’t remind him to be gritty.  After warming up we usually find a quiet place to sit until the barrels start.

A lot of girls poultice their horses, use magnetic blankets, feed supplements, etc. What do you do to keep your horse feeling good while hauling

I don’t do a whole lot of wrapping but when I do, I either use a poultice or Butacort.  The only feed supplements that Happy gets is Vitamin CK Powder and Electrolytes.  Happy isn’t really keen about things being put into his grain so I have to be careful about what I add or he just won’t eat.

Stay tuned, more from Robyn next week!

If you missed Robyn’s previous interviews, please click here to catch up!

What type of head gear do you run Happy in and do you have different bits for everyday riding and competition?      

I typically run Happy in a custom made bit by James Jaggers.  It was designed for Latricia Duke, futurity trainer.  I also run him in an O-ring, twisted copper mouth snaffle at times.

 I use the custom bit for everyday riding.

What is one thing you have done in the past year that has improved your barrel racing?

I don’t know if I can pin point one thing.  Every day I learn new things from people.  Being out on the road has taught me a lot.  The more time spent out here the more you learn…good and bad.  I tell people all the time, I am learning so much, just unfortunately some of it is at Happy’s expense.  But we all have to start somewhere

 I know that you work for the Texas Department of Transportation during the week, how do you make that work with your rodeo schedule?

 TxDOT has been so good to me, especially my direct supervisors.  They realized last year was possibly a once and a lifetime chance for me after winning Reno and they granted me some time off without pay.  My trip was cut short because of Happy’s illness but I was so gracious for the opportunity they gave me.  I am a Traffic Safety Specialist for TxDOT and that means I work some additional hours outside of just an 8 to 5 job so I have the chance to build up some comp time.  I use that comp time along with my regular vacation time to work with the rodeo schedule.  Ann Thompson enters for me and I tell her all the time that I am her “problem child”.  She has to try and work entering me around not only my TxDOT schedule but also Happy’s breeding schedule and she does a great job!

What is the hardest thing about being out on the road?

Being away from my home and family.  I have always been a “home body” so I do have a tendency to get a little home sick. 

Stay tuned….more from Robyn next week! If you missed her previous interviews click here.

What is the biggest highlight so far for the 2012 season?    

Winning Jackson Mississippi.  It was the biggest one header that I have ever won.

Being out on the road can be filled with highs and lows what keeps you motivated?      

My friends and family.  My mom and my husband are great coaches and motivators.

In your opinion what makes people successful in rodeo?      

The people in rodeo that I consider “successful” are those that accomplish what they set out to do and continue to keep in check with the person they were before becoming successful.  Those are the people that probably have had to work for what they have achieved and remember that it didn’t happen by their own hand but by the support and help of so many others.

What routine do you have for yourself for staying healthy while on the road?      

I TRY to eat healthy but I do admit I have a serious sweet tooth.  If I find the opportunity, I run or walk at least 2 miles a day and I try to do some muscle strengthing exercises such as pushups, set ups, etc.  I also drink LOTS of water.

Please click here to read Part I of this interview from last week. Tune in next week for Part III!

was probably the most memorable of my career!  I’ve never heard that loud of cheering for that long! 70000 people can make some serious noise!

As far as what I was planning, it was definitely not what went down!  It probably wouldn’t work in 50 more tries! The hazer, Casey Martin, has been a good sport, as the odd ribbing has been aimed his direction since the incident!

Seriously though, the most credit needs to go to my horse, Maximus.  He in my opinion is the only horse alive that could be done on, that smoothly, he never took his eye off the ball, he truly hunts cattle like no other. And the gas he has just makes it that much easier. When we got to the steer and I let him go, he ate him up, so there was no doubt then I was gonna catch him!

Maximus is a son of “Dinero”, the famous Potter ranch stallion. When I tried him he was six years old, and I was afraid he was too small, but he is strong and all heart, which makes up for all the size he lacks.  My wife Wendy talked to Sheri and Corey at a barrel race, and they lined the deal up to try him for a doggin horse, so thank god for wives!! And thanks to Potters for letting me try him! It’s been a “win win” story since!  But as far as the thinking process for that run, there was none! If I woulda thought that out, I’d of never done it, for sure! Luckily we were all safe and “won money”, as my son Slate would say!
Adios,
Todd

Stay tuned we are going to have a 4 part series with Todd and his wife Wendy!

March 10, 2012 – It’s soggy here in Houston. Starting to rain again, can hear it on the top of the trailer. I really feel bad for the girls in this set. It was pouring yesterday when they were loading to go to the Reliant Center.

The Houston Cowboy Hospitality Committee is tops. There isn’t enough room for us to camp and keep our horses at the Reliant Center, so they set up a cowboy camp for us off-site. It’s awesome. They have a wonderful horse barn, with big stalls with clean shavings, stalls with bars so the ventilation is good and the horses can see each other! They have RV hook-ups for everyone. They even poured an asphalt floor for the Cowboy Bistro tent this year, and, put up a fenced in playground for the little ones. Cowboy Camp is fenced in with controlled access, so if your kid, horse or dog does gets loose, they can’t totally escape. We are away from all the hustle and bustle of the fair and rodeo, so it’s peaceful here. The committee is so helpful and genuinely willing to help you. They don’t mind if you stay a few days extra. They really do make the time you are here enjoyable. I forgot, they also provide meals for us and our families up at Reliant. Hats off to the Houston committee for making us feel like rock stars!

Last night, we went into watch Reba in concert. What can I say, She is in a class by herself. She came from cowboy stock, is proud of it, and she rocked the house.

Being in such a competitive sport, how do you keep your mind focused?     

I am an analyzer so I try not to OVER analyze everything.  Therefore, I try to keep the mindset that I will make the best run I can each time with the conditions I am faced with.  Keeping it simple is what I really try to focus on to not let myself get overwhelmed with everything.  It is a competitive sport, but it’s not the end of the world if things don’t go my way.  I always try to remember a sermon Crystal Lyons gave one year at the ANHA Finals in Waco.  She talked about not letting what happens in the arena define who you are.  So matter if I do good or bad……I am still the person I was before entering the arena.  That really helps me stay focused and not get too caught up in the stress of it all.

Do you have any role models that you reach out too for guidance?      

 I have so many people that I look up to and respect out here in the horse industry.  I appreciate all those “veterans” that have taken the time to befriend me out on the road.  People like, Brenda Mays, Jeanne Anderson, Christina Richman, Sue Smith, etc….that have been out there doing it for a while and have taken the time to talk with me and make me feel part of their family.  It’s really nice to meet people that have achieved what these girls have and they continue to offer help and guidance to those of us who are new to the rodeo world.

Can you take a moment and tell us about that “one” run that stands out? It is the run you go to in your mind.   

 It wasn’t the best run we have ever made but it was definitely the most memorable; the finals run at Reno.  We had ran our first and second runs in Reno that Thursday, winning the first round and placing second in the second round.  Friday was an “off” day for us but I noticed Happy (Firewaterontherocks) had some swelling in his chest, which at the time we just thought was due to possibly being kicked by his hauling partner, Toby.  After Reno, we would find out that the swelling was caused by Pigeon Fever.  But the Saturday of the finals the swelling had increased and had started moving into his neck area.  While he had not ran a fever, I had to make the decision whether to run him in the finals or not.  I knew he didn’t feel 100% but felt since we had almost a 4 tenths lead going into the finals, Happy could do it.  I remember hearing a man telling me to ride “smart” as I ran down the alley way.  All we needed was a 17.3 or better to win Reno.  Happy had ran a 16.9 and a 17.0 respectively in his first two rounds.  In the finals, I rode “smart” and Happy, even though not feeling well, let that big heart kick in to give me a 17.1, good enough for 4th in the final round and good enough to win Reno.  I go to this run in my mind because I know that when I truly need him, he won’t let me down.  And this run proved to me that I can focus and do what I need to do even when I am not faced with ideal conditions.

When you load up and head down the road, what is the one thing your horses can’t do without?     

 Two things actually….Soft Ride Boots and Ulcer Guard.

Stay tuned, this is only the first part of a four part series with Robyn and Happy!

This past Friday night On The Rodeo Road went behind the scenes at the Professional Roughstock Series event in Lexington, KY held at the Alltech Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park. The Professional Roughstock Series showcased some of the toughest in the rough stock industry with a line up of 2011 World Champion Kaycee Field, Taos Muncy, PBR Bull Rider Cody Ford and many more. We did get to grab Cody real quick before the event and talk to him about what keeps him motivated when he is out on the road and any advice he would give a rookie wanting to hit the road.  

One of the highlights of the night was Mike “Scooter” Smith. Mike is an outstanding rodeo clown and if you ever get a chance to see him live…DO IT!! He will keep you entertained all night.

 

Overall, this was a good event and I think fun was had by all. Hats off the PRS for putting on a great event with good stock and great cowboys! Kudos!

Thanks PRS!!

Anne and Leigh