Lawrie Saunders - CFR 2023
Lawrie Saunders has qualified for her first Canadian Finals Rodeo after bringing home $13,767.67, competing at 43 rodeos, and a lot of miles down the road. Saunders won Kennedy, placed second at Leduc, Merritt, Kananaskis, Bowden, 2/3 split at Williams Lake, and third at La Crete.
What is your background with horses? How did you get started roping?
Grew up on a farm so we always had horses and cows around; I don’t remember a time without horses. I started roping at the PPRA (Ponoka Roping & Ridings) probably around the age of eight or so, and have continued on since then.
What is your main mounts reg name, bloodlines and does he/she have any quirks?
Gemma – Cindys Playmate (LRR Cinderella Doc X Playmates Dually)
Gemma has a few quirks but the most noticeable one is her lips, I am sure they will be in full force during the CFR, but it looks like she is talking. She usually does this when it’s about time to ride in the box, or if she is unhappy the lips will start moving.
What is your horses story?
I bought Gemma last year off Dean Louis in July. She apparently was started as a calf horse but was mainly used as a heel horse up until I bought her, other than that I really didn’t know much about her.
Our first run together will be one I never forget, as she just blew down the wall of the box and was ready to heel one, but at the same time I could feel that if we could hit the pin she was going to be something special. It took some time getting use to hitting the pin and getting crossed over, but once we got that worked out she has been a lot of fun.
What is your go to saddle, pad and bit on your main mount? What do you like about them?
Saddle – Sanchez Saddle
Pad – 5 Star pad
Bit – Chain bit with a port – it came with the horse so really don’t many details about it besides it works and haven’t touched it.
What do you do to keep a sharp mental edge in the game of rodeo? How do you stay motivated throughout the season?
For a mental edge I always try to practice with a purpose, and practice different rodeo situations to feel sharp. As well, I watch old good runs back.
For staying motivated, rodeo is suppose to be fun and for me is what I do for fun outside of work so I feel like it is usually easy to keep the fun aspect in it.
Did you face any challenges this season? Tell us about them.
June was rough, I might have pulled one cheque for the entire month of June (which is the wrong month to have a bad month) , but on July 1st we got it turned around in Williams Lake, and just continued to pick away the rest of the season.
Tell the readers something good that happened to you this season, other than placing at, or winning a rodeo.
One of my favorite things about rodeo is the places it takes you. I got reunite with old basketball teammates that are scattered all over the country, meet up with old family friends, and see places that I would have never seen without rodeo. Getting to see the Nicola Ranch by Merritt where my Grandpa once worked at will always be a special memory.
What is the best advice you’d give to readers, about horses, competing or life?
Control the controllables. It was something we talked about all the time when playing basketball, and it always stuck with me when roping. There is a lot of things out of your control, but you can’t worry about them. Just take control what you can and let the chips fall.
What has been your most memorable run over the years, and what made it memorable for you?
I have to say winning Armstrong last year; the atmosphere there is unmatched, and it was only about Gemma’s and I 5th-ish rodeo together, and her first pro rodeo win.
Who is your travelling partner, and what do you enjoy most about travelling with them?
Mikenna Schauer & Brooke Cooper – everyone got along and kept the rig fun and lots of laughs.
Which of the other CFR Qualifiers horses would you swing a leg over if given the chance and why?
I don’t feel like there is a bad horse in the top 12 but Teacher (Whitesides ride) looks like he would be a fun & easy horse to rope on.
What products can you or your horse not live without on the road?
Gemma always wants her Hoffman Elite feed, and always lots of snacks in the truck…. Can’t get hungry!
Thank you to all the companies, as well as friends and family of fellow breakaway ropers, that help us fundraise money to be able to rope at the CFR, we couldn’t do it with out them. To the committees that let us come rope at their rodeo, thank-you, and of course my entire family for helping get me to this point.
