Event: Barrel Racing

NFR Standings: 15th

WPRA World Standings: 14th

Three Barrels, Two Hearts, One Dream
By Maureen Panno

Horace Greeley once said, "Go West, young man, go West." If you want to see rodeo action during the winter, go South, to San Antonio, TX, specifically.

With the rising gas and diesel prices, it's harder for barrel racers and cowboys who haul their own horses to get down the road to compete. It's a well-known fact that rodeo contestants are responsible for their own expenses, from fast food meals to hotel rooms to entry fees. Throw in the inevitable flat tire or other auto repairs and any savings from the previous year are gone in a flash.

That's why this year, for the first time in rodeo history, the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo committee took the contestants' plight to heart and paid all the entry fees. When you think that this particular rodeo, which runs for three weeks and has huge prize money purses, each contestant would normally pay $500 or more in entry fees. The fact that the rodeo committee picked up this expense amounts to a ton of money.

"Nobody does that," says Great Lakes Circuit barrel racer Heidi Meuwissen.

Most multi-day rodeos use a "flip" system. Whoever wins a round on one day goes last the next day and whoever finishes last one day goes first the next. That is how San Antonio lined up the contestants each day. Heidi drew the "rocking chair."

"I drew the middle - 5th or 6th each day and that was huge for me."

She didn't have the stress of being first, nor did she have to watch everyone else do their runs and fret about her time. She just waited her turn, went out and did it. Every rodeo contestant will humbly tell you that they take things one run at a time. Heidi is no exception to that unwritten rule.

Barrel racers always give the credit of their success to their horses. It takes many years to train a barrel horse and several women will either borrow or buy a trained horse from each other.

Heidi uses a twenty-year old horse named Ima Jetta Bull - nicknamed "Bull." He's had quite a run of it in his life. Dianne Hillman, who has been a circuit finalist several times, had owned him since he came off the track but he was only ridden lightly and never competed on. Christine Nevala got him from Dianne as a 9 year old when he was "green broke" and finished breaking and training him. She got a good foundation under him before she started him on the barrels and seasoned him to rodeos. It took a year before she started hauling him to barrel races. Jane Melby had him for a while and was in the top 25. Heidi bought him from Layna Kight four years ago and he's still doing great for "an old man."

Two weeks after Heidi bought Bull, he cut his leg and couldn't compete. Then it took a year for Heidi to work through his quirks. "He can still run off on you, then turn around and place well."

"He's been good, but it's almost time to retire him."

Heidi had him out to pasture for a while before taking him to Denver, CO and then San Antonio, TX.

"We work hard on him every Monday, making sure he's not sore. We use a regimen of icing, laser, acupuncture, and vitamins. I've really been fortunate that he's never had colic. He was really on his game in San Antonio but because of Bull's age, I can't ride him all the time."

Heidi has a couple back-up horses, Gabe and Cause I like Money. "Melita Knapper started him and she and Tammy Whyte rode Gabe and did well. Then Amy (Wheeler) rode him in the circuit finals. Amy Wheeler had Gabe in 2006 when he was seven years old, then Jane Melby had him for a while. Jane is trying to organize a clinic in June."

If you ever go to the Great Lakes Circuit Finals, or any circuit finals for that matter, stick around for the award ceremony and photo session. I guarantee you'll see the barrel racers making sure their horses are in the pictures with them. Barrel Racing is best summed up as three barrels, two hearts, one dream.




Heidi wishes to thank Dr. Charlie Buchanan at Brazos Valley Equine Hospital, Sam Young, Oxy-gen, United Vet Equine, her parents, Mike and Mary Meuwissen and her brother, Taylor, who are always there for her and never hesitate to lend a helping hand.