Wow, I really suck at this blogging thing. A whole year went by without a single update. My bad! I am going to try to do better this year, but in the meantime- let me fill you in.
I did it, I entered pro rodeos for most of the year. We didn't win a dime, but we got close several times. Just about the time we felt like we were getting into the swing of things, Spencer got sore. We did all the things we could do to stay on the road and get him well, but in the end the only thing that really helped was time off- 3 months to be exact. There were rodeos we went to that he worked great at but just didn't fire- it was time to come home, and rest and it was the right call to make.
Coming home earlier than we wanted to forced me to get on Tipsy, my futurity prospect. I never thought she would be clocking good enough (1 second off) in time for OKC futurity- but she surprised me and after just a couple weeks of consistent riding it became pretty apparent, I needed to get her entered. So, I did, and I'm so glad. She won money in the 2d in the first round. I had taken her to a smaller futurity just before and she was a little off the pace but not much- a few more runs and she was really feeling confident in OKC. Some bad luck the 2nd round kept us out of the average. Tipsy's shoulder swelled really big the morning of the 2nd round...she had gotten bit by something (a spider maybe) that night and the vet gave her the "good to go" but she was still very sore- between the extra deep ground and the swelling she just couldn't ignore it.
A couple weeks off and she was feeling better although the swelling in her shoulder never really went down- however, it was getting softer and less painful to the touch. I needed to make a decision pretty quick about entering the Lonestar Shootout and Texas Classic in Hamilton - or make the drive to Memphis, TN for the Ashley Brooks Memorial Futurity. I took her to an outdoor jackpot (her favorite) in Alvarado, Tx to see how she was feeling, and she made a beautiful 3d run, bottom of the ground, her first time seeing the barrels in a few weeks. I decided to head to Memphis, TN even though it was further (and much much colder) because of the Tomorrow Legends incentive being offered there. Little did I know that after we got there her shoulder would begin to abscess- still sound to ride, but very painful to touch and the saddle pad just happened to hit right on the edge of the abscess which was very hot and painful to touch. She made two beautiful, but off the pace runs and then we hurried her home. She actually probably would have placed in the 1st round again had anyone known that they were only paying .5 seconds for their 2d futurity instead of the standard 1 second split- there were no rules posted so no way for anyone to know, but, I wish I had just entered the open instead and saved the $500 futurity fees.
For now, the plan is to rest until her shoulder stops draining and the swelling goes down. I should probably get back on Spencer and start legging him up. We have hopes to enter some American Qualifiers this year and the first one of the year is quickly approaching at the end of the month. We are hoping Tipsy can make the big Showdown Productions Futurity at the end of the month, but we aren't going to enter her until we know she's 100%. Maybe Spencer will get to enter the high stakes there if she isn't able to make it.
As for New Years resolutions- I don't really do those. I do hope to get to the American Semis next year on Spencer and win some more futurity money on Tipsy. Madea will also be making her way to the colt starter in the summer. Personally, we have a lot of things going on- we are closing on our rental property this month. Cory is switching jobs and will be working from home most days and I need to get back to teaching clinics.
Looking out the window, I can't thank God enough for another year with my husband and kids. I lost my Dad two years ago suddenly and my Stepmom, Debbie, in October, 2024, not even a month after her cancer diagnosis. One thing I know for sure is that I love running barrels and rodeoing- but I love my family more. As much time as I'll spend inside an arena this year, I hope to spend double with my family. God bless.