Rodeo Interviews
Working a Barrier, Practicing and Success in the Arena with PRCA Team Roper Brock Hanson
What advice would you give someone that has success in the practice pen, but falls apart at a rodeo or roping?
In my opinion, in order to compete well you have to compete often. I know it can be hard and expensive to do, but roping for money is not the same as practicing. It doesn’t matter if it is for $100.00 or $20,000, you can’t get that feel at home or at a friend’s practice pen.
What advice would you give on working the barrier correctly?
First your horse has to be able to score and has to be able to leave off your hand when you release him. If that is happening, then it goes to the rider. The best way for me is to set up a rope barrier and practice scoring and getting a start at home on a competition set up.
What are some of the mistakes you see ropers make in the pen?
The biggest mistakes I see is people going to practice and just going through the motions and not working on anything. Although at times you have the opposite which is someone trying to work on everything. I like working on one thing at a time.
What do you look for in a roping prospect?
I look at a horse’s ability but more important is their mind. I have had some really talented horses but they were too fragile minded to take the pressure.
If you missed our other interviews with Brock, click here and here.
Stay tuned……more from Brock coming up!
Posted in In The Arena, Rodeo Interviews
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PRCA Team Roper Ryan Motes talks Roping Partners and Confidence
How are you feeling about your 2012 season?
Great, I have one of the best headers who also has one of the best horses. He can rope fast and he also jackpots great.
What do you look for in a roping partner?
I look for someone who has the same desires and work ethic as I do, Brock and I both want to be great equally as much. Good horsemanship and someone who is versatile and can win in any set up.
Rodeo is such a mental game, how do you stay focused?
Just take it run by run and you always need to know that you are going to catch the next one. Not looking back and dreading a miss. You just need to realize why you missed and fix it the next time.
What advice would you give someone that has success in the practice pen, but falls apart at a rodeo or roping?
Most of the time they need more experience. The more roping you go to the more comfortable you will be and the more confident you can be. Everyone has been there and went through it.
If you missed Ryan’s first interview click here. Stay tuned…….next week Ryan talks about what he looks for in a roping horse prospect!
Posted in In The Arena, Rodeo Interviews
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Todd Suhn is back… Simple Fact is I love to Bulldog
What horses are in your trailer this year?
Maximus is our mainstay mount so far, and the hazing horse is Roadblock. I have a green horse named Tucson that is making a strong comeback from an injury. We have won good on him in the past also, and could use him when our schedule calls for it.
Being on the road I am sure is filled with ups and downs, what keeps you motivated?
I would say it is the simple fact that I love to bulldog! I like the challenge of making and hauling my own horses, and all the success I’ve had is that much sweeter because of the way I feel when I can make and win on a horse. That to me is the cowboy way. My uncle Brady told me this spring that his dad, my late Grandpa Rinehart, who is also Jake Rineharts grandpa, told Brady “Todd has become a self-made man.” That meant a lot to me to hear that from a great man like him. So it’s a drive that goes deep, much deeper than money or glory!
Since steer wrestling is your event of choice, do you participate in any other events?
Not lately, I used to donate in the calf roping, back when that’s what they called it! I team rope very little, but will probably do it more when the kids get older.
Do you do any alternative therapies with your horses, as in swimming, acupuncture, chiropractic, etc?
I have done all these at different times, and seen good results as well as no differences with all, depending on the case. I do believe they all have their place, and are useful.
How did you get started in rodeo? Have you always been a steer wrestler?
We started in 4H rodeos when I was 8, and have been doing some form of rodeo since. Calf roping was my first love, then bull dogging replaced it.
Be sure and check out our other interviews with Todd and his wife Wendy here.
We will have more with Todd Suhn next week!
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PRCA Team Roper Ryan Motes talks to OTRR about tying the World Record!
Ryan, tell OTRR a little bit about how you got started roping?
My Dad ropes so I grew up around it and roped as a kid.
How long have you been rodeoing?
My rookie year was 2001. I was lucky enough to rope with my dad the first three years of my career.
The conditions must have been perfect that day for you to tie the world record with Brock Hanson at the Nacogdoches Pro Rodeo, talk to us about the go.
We had a good steer, Brock got a great start and had the loop on him fast. The steer was fading to the left just a bit and he handled it great. I heeled him up around the hips and it came tight quick.
Tying that record, you must have been on top of the world, tell us how you felt.
It’s amazing how it felt. It is pretty cool to have the title now and to hear how many people have got to watch the run on Facebook or the internet and just how quick news travels. We hadn’t left the arena and our phones were blowing up with people from everywhere.
Stay tuned………much more from Ryan in the next couple of weeks!
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PRCA Team Roper Brock Hanson talks about Roping Partners and the Mental Game of Roping….
Tying that record, you must have been on top of the world, tell us how you felt.
I was really excited and made a few phone calls and told my family and a few of the others that have put a lot of time in to helping me. We laughed and enjoyed the moment and hoped that it would hold on until the rodeo was over.
How are you feeling about your 2012 season?
It has been going really good and I have a really good horse (Stripper) and a really good partner (Ryan Motes), so I am excited for the spring rodeos. I made a few costly mistakes that could have made this a better winter but I will hopefully learn from them and try to improve.
What do you look for in a roping partner?
Obviously I look for someone that ropes well but also I look for someone that has good horses, a strong work ethic and that takes care of business. There is so much that goes in to roping for a living that the actual catching steers is a small part but important.
Rodeo is such a mental game, how do you stay focused?
Staying focused is tough but important. I have a lot of people behind me for support and my wife Tarae goes with me as well and supports me 100%, so that really helps. Sometimes the best thing is to take a minute, go to a movie or do something to relax so that when you’re competing you’re not burnt out or overly anxious.
Stay tuned…more from Brock next week! If you missed Brock’s first interview click here!
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PRCA Team Roper Brock Hanson talks to OTRR about Tying the World Record and Much More…
Brock, tell OTRR a little bit about how you got started roping?
I grew up in a roping family. My dad, Denny Hanson and my brother, Brett Hanson both team rope. My mom, Susan Hanson doesn’t rope but she rides and spent her share of time behind the wheel taking us to jr. rodeos and high school rodeos.
How long have you been rodeoing?
I entered my first rodeo at age 7. It was a CJRA (Colorado Jr. Rodeo Association) rodeo. In my age group, I was allowed to compete in pole bending, barrel racing and goat tying. I grew up going to CJRA’s and high school rodeos and around age 16 I stated competing in amateur rodeos.
Have you always been a header?
I started out heading and headed for my brother at the Jr. Rodeos until I was 12. He graduated in to another age group, so I switched to heeling so I could rope with Luke Lancaster at the Jr. Rodeos. I stayed heeling until about three years ago when I decided to switch and start heading again.
The conditions must have been perfect that day for you to tie the world record with a 3.3 with Ryan Motes at the Nacogdoches Pro Rodeo, talk to us about the go.
It was a fast set up, when we got there for the slack there was already a 3.6 and a 3.7. There wasn’t really a chance to just go make a good run and expect to win something. I got a really good start and Ryan hazed the steer a step left to set up a fast run. I roped the steer and turned him off and as soon as he was legal, Ryan had him heeled and dallied on a short rope. He gave a good pull back so I could get a good face.
Stay tuned……….lots more from Brock!!
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Amy Compton… One of the biggest things I have taken from this is learning what is really important in life
OTRR loves to share amazing stories with our viewers that involve, motivation, dedication, and perseverance in and out of the rodeo arena. We had the opportunity to talk with Amy Compton of Nebraska about an injury she endured while dealing with horses and what challenges she faced when returning to the arena.
Amy tell us how you got involved in horses?
I was born horse crazy. My mom tells stories about how I had a mobile over my crib with different animals on it, and I would always reach for and point at the horse. I also had a spring horse I rode ALL the time as a toddler. I broke springs off it, I rode it so much. I grew up in a suburb of Omaha, but my mom’s sister, my Aunt Lorraine had horses and lived on an acreage. She let me ride her horses from a young age. Around 6 years old she got a Shetland pony named Chieffie for all of the nieces and nephews but after awhile I was the only one horse crazed enough to stick with it. I rode that pony until I was too big for him and then took over my cousin’s Appaloosa gelding, Jock. My aunt mostly trail rode but did some showing in Western Pleasure, so that’s what I did. And a little Halter as well. She had a neighbor who was a rodeo queen and a barrel racer. I always wanted to be like her, barrel race and rodeo. It wasn’t until I was 24 years old I bought my first barrel horse, Skyetta Du, aka Sky.
When did you start really competing and taking your barrel racing to the next level?
When I bought Sky in 2003, I had no idea what I was doing when it came to barrel racing. I literally showed up at my first barrel race with split reins tied in a knot and no breast collar. But Sky was a finished horse so I put a lot of responsibility on her to teach me what I had dreamed of doing my entire life. Teaching me is exactly what she did. She is only a 3D/4D local horse but she taught me the ins and outs of barrel racing and a lot of what to do and not to do as well. The 2nd year of running her I started the horse I’m currently running, Casey’s Starlight Lady aka Phil. I have always been a competitive person by nature, but Sky could only do so much. It wasn’t until Phil started out running her that I was able to get a lot more competitive and serious about the sport.
What happened on the day you were injured?
August 15, 2010. Sky had a 3 1/2 month old stud colt on her side, Bruno. She had been having a hard time keeping weight on so I was taking her out each day and giving her extra grain. The farrier was scheduled to come around 11, so I went out to give her her breakfast before he got there. She almost always knickers at me when it’s feeding time but that day she didn’t. I took her out and she seemed very lethargic and didn’t even touch her grain. I went inside, got my phone and called my vet. He had me take her temperature and sure enough it was too high. He said to bute her and watch her temp. I did that and shortly after, the farrier arrived. Since Sky was sick, we decided to give the bute a little time to kick in and not trim her first. Since she and Bruno were already outside of the pen, we started on him first. My farrier and his wife are friends of mine. I remember my friend Jody asking me if he was good and I said “Oh yeah, I’ve been picking up his feet since day one.” This colt had been kind of a brat since day one as well though. He’s very strong willed and stubborn. Someone told me that’s the Easily Smashed in him. Could be, but his mother Sky is kind of a brat sometimes too even though she is now 20! That day I was holding Bruno to get his feet done. He was being terrible. I had wondered if maybe I waited too long, but he wasn’t even 4 months old. He was fighting on every foot. Crow hopping, kicking, even biting (not new for him) and he had ended up on the ground a couple of times. We managed to get all the feet trimmed. The farrier was rasping the last foot and Bruno blew. He went straight up, into a full blown rear. I was underneath of him. The last thing I ever saw with 2 eyes was Bruno’s face. I never even saw his foot coming at me. I put my left arm up to protect myself but his right foot hit me exactly on my left eye and knocked me down. It went black in that eye and I crawled away. I’ve come to call it the “rough stock rider crawl” You know, when they crawl faster than you think a person can humanly crawl. I got maybe 30 feet from him and was holding my eye. It was bleeding. Everyone was asking me if I was OK and trying to make me stay awake. My husband was there and made me take my hand away so he could see it. He said “It’s on the side.” And I thought he meant my eye was on the side of my face. Needless to say I freaked out. Today, I am embarrassed of my reaction because I was screaming bloody murder and crying. They called 911 but my husband decided it would be faster for him to take me to the E.R. than for the ambulance to find our house and get me there. It’s a 25 minute drive to Omaha to the closest hospital. I never did lose consciousness through the entire ordeal. We arrived at the hospital, I kept asking to be put to sleep because I just wanted to wake up and be fine. The nurse said no I had to stay awake. She asked what my pain level was between 1 and 10 and I said 7. My husband still laughs to this day, that I only said 7. I had my daughter without any pain medication. Child birth is a 10! I overheard the doctor tell the nurses I was “their sickest” like I couldn’t hear them or something. Then I got rolled into the cat scan. Luckily everything was ok with my brain. The ER doctor flat told me my eye was beyond his abilities. They called a well known local eye doctor who does lasik and he suggested specialists at Midwest Eye Care. The on call Doctor was Dr. Emig. He set up surgery for me right away. I was transfered to a different hospital and within a couple hours was in surgery to repair a ruptured globe in 2 places. Also, my retina had detached and they never found my lense. I also had a non displaced break in the socket under my eye.
Amy with Sky after the injury
After you injury what were your feelings on returning to competition?
Since the very day I was injured, I never had fear of returning to barrel racing. I didn’t know how long it would take me to recover, but I knew in my bones I had to do it again one day. 2 months after the accident I took Philly around the barrels just to see if I could do it. It wasn’t difficult in any way and I knew then when the time was right I would be back in the arena competing. I still had a lot of pain and a “jarring” sensation when I rode so I had to let myself sit out for several months. 7 months after the accident I made my first competition run. It was in a small local pen Phil doesn’t necessarily like or run well in and we ran bottom of the 2D. It was “slow” but correct and I cried like a baby when I came out of the arena.
Amy and Phil running after the injury
Since your injury I am sure you have faced obstacles, can you give us a few?
I would say the biggest hurdle has been other people. I had a friend ask me in February if I was going to “try to run barrels this year”. It kind of ticked me off. Try? I wasn’t going to try, I was going to DO it. I didn’t get too much grief from people directly but I could see it in their faces or hear the sadness in their voice when I talked about coming back to the sport. Like “Awe, sad, she thinks she can still do it.” I was determined and I still am. I can do anything I ever did with two eyes and am proving it.
Tell us what positives you have taken from this bad experience?
One of the biggest things I have taken from this is, learning what is really important in life. I love barrel racing and I love my horses. But I had gotten to where I was competing every weekend, running my horse several times a week, etc. I was almost never home between work and riding and competing. I hardly ever saw my family. Now, my family is a bigger priority. My little girl is 7 and I needed to spend more quality time with her and my husband. With that said, it is really important to me that she sees me pick myself back up from this and get on with life and be myself. When something like this happens, it’s natural to be sad and grieve. And also to be depressed. I’d be lying if I said I never felt any of those things. It is so easy to just let yourself sit and wallow in your own pity. It takes great strength to pull yourself out of that and continue to be a good mother, wife, friend, and keep pursuing your dreams. I hope when my daughter is grown she will have taken this lesson from me.
Tell us about your horses and your goals for this year and the future?
Normally I have money or standings goals. But this year, I honestly just want to be able to compete and trust my horse to do her job. It is so much simpler this year so far. Just ride when I can and run when I can. I am thankful for every time my horse steps off the trailer and I’m able to enter and tack up. I have been legging Sky back up and she is the “back up” for when I feel like Phil has too many runs on her plate. And I’m sure everyone wants to know what happened to Bruno. I do indeed still have him. He’s now a gelding and has a whole new attitude. I really feel in my heart he did not intend to hurt me that day. During my recovery I would have my family take me to see my horses, I’d let them smell my eye so they could understand and know what had happened to me. I know Bruno is sorry. We basically have an understanding now and surprisingly are developing a pretty strong bond. It’s my long term goal to run him, and he’ll be awesome and people will say “That’s the horse that blinded her.”
OTRR would like to thank Amy for taking the time to tell us about her journey! We wish you all the luck!
Posted in After The Dust Settles, Rodeo Interviews
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Check out the last part of our interview with WPRA Barrel Racer Lisa Novak… Seasoning a Rodeo Horse
You dont want to miss Part One and Part two of this interview!!
Is there a certain line of horses you are drawn to? Cow bred? Race bred?
Most defiantly!! I love the firewater flit bugs alive cross! I am an aggressive rider so a worky, turny horse fits my style and that seems to have been a good match for me. I tend to stay away from race bred horses. All though you can have a worky type race bred horse it usually doesn’t seem to be the standard that goes with them. Cow bred horses are nice if they are crossed with the right lines as well but if I had a choice its Fire water Flit and Bugs Alive all the way for me!
When hauling a young horse, what is the most difficult thing you face?
Ground conditions and environment seem to be the biggest hurdles for them in my program. Some horses never learn to handle all types of ground and some never settle on the road with their surrounding environment. You just have to learn what to stay away from to make your horses experience and yours easier!
What attributes do you look for in a younger horse that you believe will be a rodeo mount in the future?
I think the biggest attribute is self confidence. This will get a horse that extra step in and out of the arena. Along with that I like a horse to be gritty and have a big heart! Those two combined can make an average athlete a champion!
What signs do you look for in your horses to know they are mentally ready to handle rodeo competition?
Again I go back to self confidence. As they get more confidence in themselves and their surroundings they become more mentally prepared themselves. I also like to follow their progress and know that each time we make a run in a rodeo arena something has improved. As the summer progresses I look for consistency as well. Inconsistency tells me that they are not ready. It may be mental or physical so I need to step back and look at the entire picture and see what I need to do to help get my horse to the next level. I may need to make changes in my warm up or just how soon I get there and allow my horse time to settle. What ever it may be I need to figure it out so by the end of the year I feel my horse is ready for the new season.
For someone wanting to start their own horse, season them and hopefully head to the rodeos… what is some advice you would give?
Be patient, be prepared, and don’t be afraid to ask for help. Patience is a must. Rushing into it will just cause more problems and make it harder for you to achieve your goals. Be prepared and make sure you do your homework. Study at home and work on your weaknesses and polish your strengths. Then when you get to the barrel race you will be prepared. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Sometimes a problem you are struggling with is easy for another person to see. I always like to tell my students that they should always be willing to ask for help and listen. Keep a large file in your mind and put the advice you were given in it. It may or may not work on the horse you are riding but if it doesn’t just file in your folder because you may need to pull it out sometime down the road!
Big goals for 2011??
Well I have some really nice horse now that I have put a lot of time and preparation into so I am going to haul them pretty hard this year and see where they end up. I usually sell them when they get to this point because I like to see others do well on my horses and see them be successful. But this year so far I have held off on selling and am looking forward to getting back in the thick of things!
OTRR would like to give a huge THANK YOU for Lisa taking the time to answer our questions!! We always look forward to her being a part of OTRR!
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Lisa Novak on Seasoning a Rodeo Horse.. Part 2
If you missed part one of this interview, please check it out here.
What are some of the problems you have run into when seasoning a rodeo horse?
Each horse has their own hurdles and fears they have to work through. Some of the more common ones I have experienced are getting used to the cattle and bulls. Usually after a month or two on the road they tend to start ignoring them. Ground is a big issue with younger horses. Some panic when they get on bad ground and others just learn to take care of themselves. Some have a hard time running in deep ground and others have troubles on hard ground. One thing about the great Lakes Circuit…. You can count on having an entire spectrum of ground types! As a horse continues to be seasoned I notice them becoming more confident in their surroundings and rodeo atmosphere and that’s when I know we are getting close to being ready! My old Cash horse was more happy on the road in his pen next to the trailer than at home in a stall. Some horses never settle on the road. You just have to figure out how to deal with them.
Some horses have quirks, what are some you are willing to put up with?
If they are a winner I will pretty much put up with anything! I have been lucky to have very well behaved horses. Some horses develop quirks because of a pre existing problem. If you pay close enough attention to them you may be able to stop it before it gets to be a habit by fixing what the root of the problem is. I have had many cribbers and I can honestly say it has never affected them. Pawing at the trailer is very annoying in my eyes but I have noticed that the more they stand at the trailer the less they do it. Each horse has their special little quirks and if you haul more than one together it is a task just to haul them correctly so they will all settle on the road and be happy but with patience and persistence you can usually make everyone happy including yourself!
Mental toughness is so important in the rodeo game. When seasoning a young horse that isn’t your “trusty old mount” how do u stay mentally tough?
HA! It’s been years since I have been on that trusty old mount. For the last 4 years I have been on several different horses and the biggest thing I can say is that you have to suck it up and have faith in your preparation and training. When it doesn’t work shake it off and forget it because there is always another run in the future! Young horses thrive off of their riders confidence so if you are insecure about the run you are about to make your horse is also going to be insecure. You have to teach yourself mental control and confidence in your own abilities. Experience in the rider will pass on to the inexperienced horse.
When seasoning a “newby”, what are some things you will do to keep them content on the road?
If I know I have an extreme newby in the trailer with me I usually start by taking short trips and not staying overnight. Usually I haul them when they are youngsters to jackpots and just leave them tied to the trailer all day. This way they can take in all of their surroundings and learn without having to worry about concentrating on competition as well. You usually try to start this preparation early so when the day comes to make a serious trip they feel like they are comfortable and ready to haul. Sometimes it helps to haul their pasture buddy or stall neighbor with when we start out to help them feel more at ease.
To keep a horse in TOP condition and prepare a young horse for the road, how many times a week do you ride?
I try to ride as often as possible. I do like to give them the day after a show or weekend off so they can recover from the trip. I don’t like to ride hard every day but I do like to just get on and school. I will usually only pick one or two days a week to do serious work and concentrate on the barrel pattern most of the other days I like to just do basics and ride through the woods. This keeps a horses mind fresh and willing. I think a horse can get burned out quick if their life consists only of work. I know I would! Trail rides are a great way to physically work a horse while allowing them to relax and enjoy themselves. I would take long trotting around the field over loping circles in the arena any day of the week!
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Lisa Novak is back….
We are so happy to have WPRA Barrel Racer Lisa Novak back with us to talk to us about seasoning a rodeo horse. If you missed our interviews with Lisa in the past, please check them out here! Lisa has a long list of accomplishments and we welcome her input here on OTRR.. so on to the interview.
Do you haul year round? And if so.. what is your routine for getting them in shape?
It all depends on my goals for the year, the weather and the horses I have coming up. Usually after Nov.-Dec. I give all my horses some time off. They all need it and it is very good for them both physically and mentally. I have a friend with an indoor down the road that I haul to which makes it a little easier. I also like to ride outside when the snow is deep. It can really work a horse and get them or keep them in shape! If I decide to haul during the winter I usually only ride one or two horses. January through March is break time! Then when the snow starts to melt I usually hit the dirt roads and do a lot of long trotting so when April roles around we are ready!
I know warm up routines are different, how do you determine your warm up routine for each horse?
Each horse is different and usually by trial and error and paying close attention to each horse and what they do helps me determine what their warm up routine consists of. Some horses require a long excessive warm up while others seem to do better fresh..
Speaking of warm up routine are there certain maneuvers that you must do in your warm up, such as rollbacks, reverse arcs, sliding stops?
I like to get my horses responsive and giving all their attention to me. I don’t like a horse to be “dull” before a run. Dull meaning dragging on my hands, lack of attention and slow response to my cues. I like to side pass do roll backs pivots and stop and backing. Once I feel they are paying attention and are ready I will walk them and just do an occasional test to make sure they are still with me! I do not like to do sliding stops very much. You can sore a horse up very quickly when the ground is less than desirable. Usually warm up pens are on the hard side and I can usually tell that my horse is listening with out “sticking” them in the ground.
What are a few things you look for physically in your young horses when picking out a competition horse? Conformation wise?
First and foremost I look at their breeding and what their parents have done in the arena. It is hard to find a “perfect” horse when it comes to conformation but I would like them to be as close as they can! It is so hard to determine where I will stop if I like the horse’s ability but has some bothersome defects. I like short backed horses who really get underneath themselves, a good bone is important and I tend to stay away from a horse who has bad or crooked feet. Not to say that crooked footed horses can’t work, but just that avoiding that may avoid problems in the future.
When working with your younger horses do you focus on lead changes or is that something you let them figure out on their own when you go to the pattern?
When I first start with a young horse I like to stress lead changes. More so for control reasons more than anything. As they progress I pay attention to how they handle their lead changes and if I notice anything I may slow down and work on it. Usually I don’t worry too much about it they usually learn as we go. Sometimes a horse may be hesitant to one direction and that may be an indication of soreness. If I decide it is not soreness I will just continue on with my program.
This is part one of a 4 part series so be sure and check back!!! Dont forget to learn more about Lisa and her program to check out her website.
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