Upper Left Barrel Racing Podcast

After a many conversations and months of back-and-forth, we have officially decided to put an end to the WSBRI and the Upper Left Barrel Racing Podcast. This was a very difficult decision, and we are sad to see this era end, but we are as excited as ever for the future of Northwest barrel racing! Tune in to hear why we made this decision, as well as a few final thoughts from the founders, Linzie and Kayli.

Let's talk futurities! We are coming up on that famous day, November 15th, that futurity trainers and fans alike look forward to every single year. So, we thought, why not discuss all things futurity training and entering?We cover everything from the basic how-to to the more advanced training, tips, and tricks that we have learned. If you are curious about this side of the industry, or you just want to hangout with us and talk horses for a bit, this is a great episode for you! (01:24) Futurities 101(06:26) Northwest Futurities(09:40) Entering Futurities(13:54) Ad: Venustas Heated Apparel (15:22) Ad: Equerry's Better Horse Belly Supplement(16:27) Why Futurity?(22:37) Training Futurity Horses

There's no denying that Rachelle Riggers and her two geldings, Mighty and Magic,  are up-and-coming stars in the rodeo world. Coming in at number 26 in the WPRA World Standings this year, they have made their mark against some really tough competition at multiple top-notch rodeos! We got the pleasure of chatting about her life on the road, working remotely while she travels, and the peaks and valleys of being a professional barrel racer trying to make it to the Finals. If you have big dreams like Rachelle does, we highly recommend giving this one a listen! 

In this episode, we were so blessed to be joined by NWBHA Co-Directors Lisa Lee and Amber Grey! We got to explore the story behind their separation from the NBHA and the creation of their new association, as well as the "how" and "why" behind everything that have done and continue to do. They are truly trailblazers in the Northwest-barrel-racing world, creating opportunity for us to set ourselves apart in the industry and truly grow this sport that we all love. If there is any organization that you want to support, the NWBHA is absolutely it! 

Phillip Kenyon is a well-known futurity trainer with several accolades all over the country. He is originally from Oregon, but moved down to Texas to pursue his dream of being a renowned barrel-horse trainer. This chat was so fun and enlightening, and we got to learn from him about building your confidence in the arena, the balance between taking other people's advice and your own, and just how hard it can be to make it to where he is. He is funny, inspiring, smart, and so much more, and it was such a pleasure to learn from him and get his perspective on our industry. 

Tamara Barnhart is the new hot topic in Northwest barrel racing because of her amazing performances on the road to The American Rodeo! She made it to the top 10 to compete with the best in the world for 1.1 million dollars. She explains how she did it, the struggles of the process, and the feeling of being on that big of a stage in that big of an arena! Not only is her story one of a kind, she is truly one of the most down-to-earth, inspiring people we have had the pleasure of talking to. From just getting into barrel racing six years ago to competing in the biggest rodeo in the world, she has truly experienced it all. We can't wait for you guys to hear this one! 

Welcome to Season Two of The Upper Left Barrel Racing Podcast! We can't think of a better way to kick off our second year of episodes than with the owners of Star Bailey Ranch! These two have their foot in every door of the barrel-racing industry, and we got to pick their brain about it all. Jordan is a young futurity trainer who is working on making it to the top, and Tammy is her coach and the owner of their fabulous breeding program, Star Bailey Ranch. We cover everything from nutrition to bloodlines to working with young horses and more! This was a genuine, insightful conversation with two amazing women. Cheers to Season Two of fabulous conversations with great folks!

We are so grateful to have been able to talk to Lindsay Shulz about what it takes to get to the level of the game that she is at!She gives so much real, raw advice on training horses, setting goals, dreaming big, and ultimately being successful in this growing industry. We talk about the "Secret Sauce" to barrel racing (if there even is one), and how we can implement it in our day-to-day work!Lindsay is down-to-earth, knowledgeable, and inspiring, and it was an absolute pleasure to have this amazing conversation with her!

When we say this episode is educational GOLD, we are not kidding! We had the pleasure of talking to Tigger Montague, Founder of BioStar US, about everything that our horses need in order to thrive and exceed in all of the strenuous activity that we ask them to do. Tigger is an absolute trailblazer, and she tells us the story of how she broke into the whole-food supplement industry, even highlighting that she began by creating whole-food formulas in her very own kitchen! She covers the science of mineral bioavailability, component feeding, and more, and she details what barrel horses need in order to feel their best and be as good at their job as possible. If you want to learn more about what YOUR horse should be eating, head over to https://www.biostarus.com/pages/biostar-equine-consultation and take the quick quiz. You will even get a follow-up call from Tigger or her specialist to talk to you about your horse's dietary needs! 

In part two of this amazing conversation with Scottie Johnson, owner of the one-and-only Judge Cash, we talk all things IMPROVING THE SPORT! Scottie has the same vision as we do, to make the sport of barrel racing in the Northwest as well-known as it deserves to be. She shares her mission, her ideas on how we can make a change, and what she thinks the issues are with the sport as a whole. This conversation was view-changing and very informative for us, as Scottie has both an outside and inside view of Northwest barrel racing as a whole! 

In part one of our conversation with Scottie Johnson, we had the honor of talking about her story in owning the amazing stallion, Judge Cash. She talks about the ups and downs of becoming a stud owner, starting a breeding program, being located in the Northwest, and more. She also releases a HUGE and EXCITING announcement about her NEW STALLION. She explains her journey in finding and buying him and just how excited she is to get his babies on the ground and why!This is an amazing conversation with a wonderful lady who has done so much for our industry in the Northwest! Get ready for part two next week where we discuss the problems and solutions to those problems in Northwest barrel racing. 

In this episode we had the absolute pleasure of chatting with the Northwest race producer of all Northwest race producers, Bobo Tarwater McMillan! We got the opportunity to learn about the ins and outs of producing a huge, sport-growing barrel race directly from the woman behind the curtain. We cover costs, venues, crews, payouts, entries, and more. Plus, we talk about our mutual mission of growing and supporting the sport of barrel racing in the Northwest! 

In this episode, we got to talk to a true Northwest legend about her once-in-a-lifetime horse, Skid. Amy and Skid were an absolute powerhouse, and we got to pick Amy's brain about what it takes to make it to the Thomas and Mack! We cover everything from what it's like making a living in the world of rodeo, how difficult it is to be on the road at a young age, and the qualities a horse has to have to be as successful as one like Skid! Amy was funny, relatable, and so fun to talk to. We hope you enjoy this conversation as much as we did! 

In this episode, we do a deep dive into the rodeo scene from a kid's perspective! Jackie and Bodee Gudmundson came on to tell us all about the junior rodeo life and what it means to be a contestant AND a parent in that world. Jackie Gudmundson is a long time barrel racer and renowned trainer from the Northwest with several Columbia River Circuit Finals under her belt. Her 13 year old son, Bodee, is a decorated junior/ junior-high rodeo contestant with multiple all-around buckles and Nationals qualifications in almost every event in the game! These two were an absolute dream to have on. Bodee taught us what it takes on a day-to-day basis to win as a kid athlete and the dedication that comes with having dreams of being a pro, how he handles pressure, and what a huge part his faith plays in the success that he has had. Saying this kid is wise beyond his years is an understatement! Jackie taught is what it means to raise a kid with great work ethic, the dedication that it takes to be parent of a rodeo athlete, and what she does daily to help Bodee chase his big dreams. We hope you learn as much from this episode as we did!!

We are SO excited to be releasing this episode of the Upper Left Barrel Racing Podcast! Six-time NFR qualifier Brenda Mays was kind enough to let us pick her and her friend Val's brain about all things rodeo, horse training (including police horses), and what it takes to make the finals. She told us about her great horse Jethro and what she thinks a great horse looks like, feels like, and acts like. This was an absolute honor, and we truly can't express how valuable this episode is! 

In this episode, we got the pleasure of interviewing the wonderful Brenna Loften! Brenna has experience in ALL things horse-ownership, and in this episode we got the pleasure of picking her brain about some tough topics. Being the owner of Loften Performance Horses, having experience in the world of horse racing, and retiring horses on her farm has given her the expertise to give YOU some of the answers you have been looking for when it comes to making the hardest decisions we have to make as horse owners. She answers questions like:When should you retire your horse?How can you keep a horse comfortable for as long as possible after retirement?  When is the right time to euthanize your horse? In what ways should you prepare to euthanize a horse? Unfortunately, these decisions are our responsibility as horse owners, but, thanks to Brenna, this is your chance to get educated on a topic that doesn't get talked about enough!  WARNING: This conversation covers topics that are hard to talk about and hear. We go over retirement, euthanization, and disposal of equine bodies. 

In this episode, we are joined by Adam Shuller, the owner and founder of PacK-9 Training to talk about all things dog training! We covered everything from which dog breeds work best for certain lifestyles, whether or not you should rescue a shelter dog, how to fix certain issues, what ages you should teach certain skills/disciplines, and so much more!! This conversation was SO informative and helpful for dog owners (or future ones) of all walks of life! If you are thinking about sending your dog to a professional, check out Adams program, PacK-9 Training at pack-9training.com and follow him on Instagram and Facebook (@pack_9training) for dog training videos and extra tips and tricks! The Bony Pony Western and English tack, clothing, and more!Evergreen Equine Veterinary Hospital Expert Veterinary Services. Caring Doctors.Tight Joints PLUS An affordable joint supplement that works.BioStar US BioStar is the pioneer in the field of whole food nutrition for horses.

Have you been thinking about breeding your mare? This is the episode for you! In this interview, we learn all things breeding from Dr. Jerry Washburn and Dr. Mike Howell of the amazing Evergreen Equine Veterinary Practice! We cover choosing your stallion, the day your mare foals, and absolutely everything you need to know in between. Want to use Dr. Washburn or Dr. Howell to breed your mare? Visit www.eevp.net to schedule an appointment and get the process going. Happy breeding season!!

This episode features NFR qualifier, renowned reproductive specialist, futurity trainer, and owner of Nine Oh Barrel Horses, Kathy Grimes! Kathy gives us an inside look at what it takes to start a lasting legacy in the barrel horse world by letting us in on her tips and tricks for choosing stallions to suit your mares, training barrel horses, and more.

Join us in this interview with the founders of Top Shelf Breeders, Lexie Goss and Rachelle Mose, to learn all of the ins and outs of stallion incentive programs!! These two have taken the huge leap of launching an all-inclusive, innovative breeding incentive right here in the Northwest! They talk about their mission in creating Top Shelf Breeders, the gaps in the stallion-incentive world that they are striving to fill, and explain the who, what, where, and why of all things breeding incentives!

In this episode, we discuss our motives behind the creation of the Washington State Barrel Racing Incentives. We dive deep into why and how we got started, what motivates us, how the program works, and where we plan to take it! Elizabeth, a local Northwest barrel racer, provides an outside perspective and asks clarifying, deep-diving questions to help YOU understand WSBRI inside and out.