Britany Diaz WNFR 2014
Britany Diaz (Fleck) is headed to her second Wrangler National Finals Rodeo coming in fifth, and is also qualified for our Canadian Finals Rodeo sitting first in the standings, which starts tomorrow evening! Britany is one of my favourite girls to be cheering for. How cool is it that the 2014 CPRA Horse of The Year & 2014 Reserve Champion AQHA Horse of the Year, was once just a ranch horse Britany brought in for extra credit in college, and has taken her this far?! SO COOL!!!
What was your favourite 2014 rodeo, or moment in the season.
The best part of the 2014 season is when my horse “Rootie” Dasher Dude was voted by our fellow competitors as the CPRA Horse of the Year and the Reserve Champion AQHA Horse of the Year. After all, she is the reason all of this is possible. It is awesome that she gets noticed. I cannot choose just one moment this year. It has been a little surreal. Rootie has qualified for every semifinals or short go at every rodeo this year that I entered her at besides Ponoka. She started off great with a win at the Colorado vs. the World in January. She made short go in San Antonio, San Angelo, Austin and so on all the way through the fall rodeos in Strathmore, Wainwright and Puyullup. She has ran tough in big or small pens, dry or muddy arenas, inside and outside, and hard or deep ground. Thanks to Rootie, 2014 has been incredible. To have been a team for so long and having done everything with Rootie since she was a baby, it means the world to me she is getting the credit she deserves. She truly is an amazing once-in-a-lifetime horse. I am very blessed.
What are your must have products on the road, horse & personal?
While being on the rodeo road all year, it takes a lot of hard work and a lot of preparation. Some items I never leave home without are Green Jelly cooling gel. I love this because you can apply it after your run and wrap legs shortly after. I love my Double J Pozzi Pro Saddles. They fit my horses and I am comfortable in them. Rootie wears Classic Equine Legacy protective gear on her legs. They cant come unwrapped and never turn. My bit of choice is the Cervi twisted dog bone three piece. Its what I run Rootie in and use on a lot of my colts. I feed Omelene 200 and use Platinum CJ to keep her going. She needs to feel great. I also have an adequate amount of Merial Ulcerguard on hand. Anytime my horses get stressed, I want to be sure they are not getting ulcers. Its preventing the problem before it starts. My team is very spoiled, so horse treats are always in my trailer:) Rootie actually looks for them when we get back to the trailer. They ride in comfort in their soft rides and with grass and alfalfa hay in front of them at all times. As far as me, I always have my Panhandle Slim/ Rock & Roll Cowgirl wardrobe. I love the jeans and shirts. When Im driving coffee and life saver gummies are always within reach:) I also read and listen to a lot of motivational and positive books. I absolutely never leave home without my best friend, Sadie. My dog goes everywhere with me.
What kept you motivated this season?
I stayed motivated this season by constantly setting goals. Rootie was tough and doing her part all year. I started the season by playing it by ear on how hard we would travel. As the season was going, I was able to set new goals. At the last week of both the Canadian and NFR standings, my main goals were to go into the CFR as the season leader and to reach $100,000 in season earnings for the NFR standings. I have never been in a situation before to set such incredible goals, but hey, set your standards high and work hard, anything is possible. God is awesome and if you believe, anything is possible. Of course, we have felt like quitting in the past, but we are so happy we didn’t. It also helps having the most supportive husband. He and I have similar goals, it is amazing to do this together. My family is also a great support system. You have to eliminate any negative people or things in your life when you are trying to do something great.
How do you keep your horses feeling their best for ten runs at the NFR? Which “alternate therapies” do you like to use? What is your routine like?
At the NFR, I will try to treat each run like any other regular season rodeo. It is hard to do when there is so much outside pressure there. Rootie will get fed and treated like she does all year on the regular season road. My vet, farrier and equine chiropractor will all be with me at some time during the finals in Vegas. They have been a part of my team all year. She will get plenty of rest and be spoiled just as she is the rest of the year. She earned her spot there. She also wears a PHT magnetic blanket and Back on Track sheets and leg wraps.
Can you tell us what it’s like to run down the alley at the Thomas & Mack?
I cant even explain how it feels to run down the alley of the Thomas & Mack. We all dream about it and hope to be there. To be actually living that is incredible. Last time we were there, I was so nervous. This year, I couldn’t be more excited. It is a long holding pen and you wait in line for your turn. The feelings of coming out of that dark alley into the bright lights of the NFR set up is like no other. You can follow me on twitter at britanyjdiaz or like our facebook page at Isaac & Britany Diaz to follow during the finals. I will be posting videos from that famous alley and behind the scenes from many rodeos and the finals.
The Canadian run gets a lot of flack for having some of their biggest runs during a time when the weather is very unpredictable. What is your opinion on rodeoing up here given the known instability of the weather?
Canada has a lot of great rodeos. They pay great and are just good set ups. The tricky thing is the weather and harder ground. If you choose to run in Canada, its always a good thing to have a horse that likes the mud and can handle different situations. With the chuckwagons being so big, we have to come in off of a track at a lot of the rodeos or run on ground that tends to be a little harder than most places. Mentally you have to look at it as just another run. Im lucky because Rootie loves mud and figures ground out very quickly. I love Canada. Great girls and horses, plus the weather in the summer is outstanding. We are just happy they will take us Americans in
Big thank you to Britany for allowing me to interview her! All the best to her and Rootie at both the CFR and NFR!
