Tracey Goodman

Branson and I met several years ago. He was just someone that I ran into every once in a while as he would come and watch his sister barrel race. Anytime I would see him, we would say hi but it never really went any further than that. He seemed like a nice guy though. Then I started seeing him at the rodeos here and there. Still…nothing but a simple hello, maybe a little small talk. In the fall months of 2007, I ran into him at the big fair in Memphis. We talked and hit it off pretty well. Soon after that we started dating. Now, a year and a half later, here we are planning a wedding together! 

The Engagement!!

My whole family shows up to Branson’s parents house for Easter lunch after Church. It’s rare that I get to see all of my family together on a holiday so I was thrilled to have them all under the same roof at one time! I really thought I had done well getting everyone together seeing as how Branson had asked me to invite them out. Little did I know, they already knew about the whole thing!!

Ok, so Branson’s mother, Mrs. Dana has gotten this amazing Easter egg hunt all planned out. There are supposedly a few eggs with money and great prizes in them so we were gonna be on a mad dash for the eggs! The rules are, don’t open the eggs until you get back in the house and everyone will open them at once. During our “quest” involving “children” ranging from 22-32 years old, (let me remind you that it is pouring rain.) Ready…set…go…Mrs. Dana points out where a bright silver egg is hidden…I get it and on my way hunting more eggs. Well, to make a long story short, after several minutes of running around in the rain like a bunch of kids, we all dry off, go in the house and determine who has the silver egg. ME!! ME!! ME!! Ok, so I am supposed to open it first. There is a note in there the states, “Don’t put all of your eggs in one basket, but in this case you might want to. Swap all your eggs for the one golden egg!”. Scanning everyone’s basket for the golden egg, I spot it in Branson’s basket. He acts upset that I am about to “steal” that big sucker!! So, I pull a chair up, not knowing what to expect, take the ribbon off of the golden egg and there is a small ring box. I open it…WOW!! Its beautiful!! I boo-hoo like a baby! He gets down on one knee and I say yes! The rest is just…PLANNING!! haha. 

The HAPPY Couple! 

 10. All of my blinged out tack, of course!!

 9. TREATS!! Doesn’t operate well without treats.

 8. Magnetic blanket and hock wraps.

 7. Liniments

 6. Feed

 5. Buckets, buckets and more buckets!!

4. Meds of all kinds in case someone gets to feeling yucky. 

 3. ZEBRA HAY BAG!! lol. So Biscuit can be eating in style.

2. Vet wrap! Ya never ever know (and vet wrap is ranked right up there with duct tape.)

1. Brushes and anything to clean them with!

Good Morning Tracey! I understand you are getting ready to start hitting some rodeos later this month? Tell me a bit about what you have been doing to keep Biscuit in shape? 

Well, Biscuit is about to go to what I like to call “boot camp”! He gets lunged a good bit during the week. We also have some small hills I work him on. Then he gets ponied behind the four wheeler but his most favorite thing is going to our friends house to swim in their Hydrociser. We will definitely be making some trips to swim here real soon.   

Tell us how Biscuit came to you? How did you find him?

Well, I was in the market for a new horse so as I was looking around, I found one that caught my eye. His name was Brown. He was in Louisiana. Not very big, kinda hateful and I was told that “he wasn’t cuttin’ it in high school rodeo”. She said had an attitude problem and was kinda hard to ride. Hmmm…I figured what the heck. Id drive down and check him out. So I get into the town, get a hotel room for a couple of hours to just take a quick, couple hours nap and wait for her to call me. She called, I met her, I rode him…fell in love!! I had to have him!! Negotiated with her some, handed the money over, called dad and told him I was bringing home a new one. Well, it just so happened that my dad was at a barrel race with my sister, so I hauled him all the way PASSED home to go show dad. They had entered me on him!! OH NO!! ha. So I unloaded him after a 9 hour ride, saddled him and ran. Wound up winning it actually. Big sis wasn’t thrilled but dad was happy with my choice.  So that is how I came to have Biscuit, I changed his name, just couldn’t handle the name Brown!  

Was it an immediate connection with Biscuit or did it take you some time to “get with him?”

Getting with Biscuit!! Hm…I’m pretty sure there is no such thing but I’m as close as you can get. haha. But seriously, it wasn’t an immediate bond. I have had him for 5 years now and I have gotten all of his quirks mastered. We still have our days but after it is all said and done, that horse is my best friend.

When you are out on the road with your horses, what is something you MUST have in the trailer for yourself and for them?

Treats are a must have!! Treats and liniments…oh, and his magnets! As far as I go, all I need is a credit card, my makeup and my dog. I could drive across the country as long as I had that stuff.

Tell us a little bit about your warm up routine once you get to the rodeo.

Our usual routine consists of a good liniment rub down. After a little bit, he gets saddled and just “putt” around on him. If he gets fired up right off the bat, then you can hang it up. He isn’t gonna listen to a thing I tell him. The key is to keep him relaxed, calm and happy. I usually try to find somewhere by myself to long trot and lope circles. After that, he gets hand walked. He is usually running circles around me at this point and walking on his back feet. A couple of horses before me, I ease up on him and keep him still. If he has to move in any direction other than the arena’s alleyway, he will flip out. He knows it’s time to work and that’s honestly all he has on his mind. Then I send him down the alley at 100 miles per hour and holler “Whoa” at the first!! It’s a feeling that will never get old! 

What was your favorite rodeo, when you were out on the road? 

My favorite rodeo would probably have to be Philadelphia, Ms. Last year it was so muddy and nasty but he worked his heart out. There is a live band that plays what seemed like all night and a huge fair!! Awesome crowd and super loud! I will definitely make an appearance there this year.

Before you run, what did you do to prepare mentally?

Before every run I will bow my head and talk to my maker. I don’t ask for the best run in the world, or to blow everybody’s doors off and win it. All I ask for is a good, clean, safe run. What more can you ask for?!