Brooke Pomeranz - CFR50
After being on the outside of the bubble for three years, Brooke Pomeranz is set for her first Canadian Finals Rodeo. She finished eighth in the regular season standings, cashing in $15,283.39 after entering 41 rodeos. She and her horse, ZBAR BP MR DJ CACTUS aka DJ, split the win at Taber, finished second at Brooks, Rocky Mountain House, and Kenndy, and picked up third place cheques at Falkland, Fort MacLeod, and Innisfail.
What is it that makes your horse so special to you?
I bought him as a two year old, he was small, lengthy, skinny, long neck and but high colt that I got a good deal on. I started him and have done all the training on him, he is now nine so he has been with me awhile. He is special to me because my dad watched me train him and he was the one who pushed me to enter him in his first team roping jackpot when he was just three. You can head, heel and breakaway he is one of best head horses I have rode for his size. I know he loves breakaway the best, so I try not to head on him too much. He is so solid for me now, I have gained confidence thanks to DJ.
What has been your most memorable run in 2024, and what made it memorable for you?
Innisfail this year was a short score and really tough. I had it in my mind I was going to throw fast no matter what and it worked out and I was 2.0. My grandpa and my mom were there watching it was great to share that run with them! I also got an interview afterwards and for some reason at the end of it I said ‘I’m not afraid to miss and I just want to go fast’. I had unintentionally quoted Ricky Bobby from Talladega nights, who my friends and family sometimes jokingly compare me to. As soon as I said I was laughing at myself and when I get back to my phone my friends were making fun of me sending the Ricky Bobby memes. I wasn’t even embarrassed I just had to laugh at myself.
What was different about your rodeo season this year compared to last year or other seasons?
Well, I have been one spot away three years in a row to making it the CFR, so I really had to think about this question to really pin point what was different this year. I knew if I had a good year I would make it because the other years I felt like I didn’t perform to my best ability and I still was so close. A little backtracking but after last year being so close I wanted to try something different so I tried to sell my horse all winter and I wasn’t able to sell him. After this, I took that to heart and I decided that it was Gods plan for me to keep DJ and to stick with him. I spent some money on getting him feeling his best and we started the season off strong and he was working the best he ever has. I feel like he felt that change in me, I didn’t have any doubt in him, I had faith he is supposed to be in my life and take me to the CFR. I started just concentrating on myself, being confident in my roping and staying out of my horse’s way and doing my job. I also read the bible more this year and I got mental coach at the end of the year!
Did you face any challenges this season? Tell us about them.
Well, I think everyone has their winning and losing streaks it is part of the game! I know I feel the most stress on the last two weekends of the season because every check counts and it was so crazy close in the breakaway. I took the misses pretty hard in that time I thought I could have been safe and one of the last weekends I had an off weekend and didn’t place and I moved five places down in the standings it made me stress more then I needed to. But luckily things worked out and I pulled through this year!
Tell the readers something good that happened to you this season, other than placing at, or winning a rodeo.
I had a rope horse in the All Around Horse Sale in August, and he sold the 3rd high seller of the sale and this felt so great! I spent five years training with him and it was great to show him off and show my skills as a rope horse trainer and get my name out there and on the board!
Who is your travelling partner, and what do you enjoy most about travelling with them?
I travelled with a few different people this year, but I ended the year off with Kashley Seitz, we were pretty new to each other but we got along really good! I knew it was a good fit when she loved my pug Willis and wasn’t bothered by his snoring. She does a really good job at keeping a positive attitude even after the misses it helped me do the same and have a short memory!
What is the best advice you’d give to readers, about horses and or competing?
Take it all in! I love the quote ‘just remember five years ago, you dreamed about where you are now.’ Sometimes we get caught up in the misses and the hardships but we have to take a step back and be grateful for what we get to do! Every weekend we get to go to rodeo and rope for money, we get to travel with our friends to all these different rodeo arenas, and we are living the best years of our lives!
Favourite Canadian rodeo this year, and why?
This year it had to be Innisfail, I love how big the crowd is, the atmosphere and they always have a good announcer and sound guy!
Which of the other CFR Qualifiers horses would you swing a leg over if given the chance and why?
I have two that I would like to ride, Jennas horse Doc she cracked him out at the end of the season he just looks so solid and fun! Also, Bobbi’s horse Popcorn also look really sweet and will drag her ass no matter where you are!
What can you or your horse not live without on the road?
Well on the road I always have some good chips for snacking, would like to take Willis my dog everywhere I go he always is happy to see me after the run goes good or bad!
Mental game; how do you stay mentally strong in the rodeo game, with many ups and downs?
My mental game is something I am always working on, I try not to dwell on a miss or let it tear me up. If I have a bad run I try and find the positive in that run, like I scored really good, I had a good first swing, and I need to work on and so and then I won’t watch the video again I will move on! I try to understand we can not win every single time and it is part of the game to win and lose. I also try and take care of myself best as possible by packing meals to eat and getting enough sleep to keep me feeling good. (Ask Kashley I am a sleepy girl and need those zz’s)
Do you have plans of heading south this winter? If so, what does this look like for you, where do you plan on entering?
Yes, I will be going to my place in Arizona after the maple leaf finals for the winter, I don’t enter any rodeos there I will just focus on my colts and maybe enter some novice horse jackpots with them!
Do you have any up and coming prospects, and or, what do you look for in a prospect that you could share a little about with readers?
I am very excited about my line up coming up! I have a very young herd the oldest I have is 3yr old, I have 2 red roans both 3-year-olds, one gelding and one mare. They both are on track with roping on them as a 2-year-old and ranched on this summer. They are both a little spooky and aren’t the quietest so I might have to keep them for myself. They are both naturally very stoppy, I can’t wait to breakaway rope on them all winter and start hauling them. The gelding Rio, is from one of Tyson Franks Mares and a stud by Peptoboonsmall. The mare Rosa, came from Shady Willows Ranch she is by a stud by Wimpys Little Step and out of a mare who goes back to Highbrow Cat and Peptoboonsmal.
When I am looking for prospects, I usually look at it from a view that they will potentially be going into a sale, they need to be good looking, good disposition, big enough that they can head, heel, and breakaway. Good papers I do strive for but I am not afraid of some basic papers if I rode sibilings or heck if they are cheap enough lol.
What was one thing a committee did this year that you appreciated the most?
Sundre committee was one of the first rodeos to have breakaway and add a lot of money for us. This year we had equal money with the other events which was amazing! This year they had a slack just for barrels and breakaway, which helped the parking situation a lot! But there were short of pushers around for the roping. Shane Crouch, the head committee guy for Sundre got in there and pushed probably more the half of the slack for us, and Darby Crouch was in there pushing too! It was awesome and I hope he knows we are all appreciated of his help and money he got for us breakaway ropers.
Who is your inspiration or mentor and why?
My inspiration is my dad, who is now passed away sadly. He was my best friend and my coach for everything he pushed me out of my comfort zone with my roping and training. He was my biggest fan I can only imagine what he would be thinking right now! But he gets to watch from the best seat in the house, Heaven.
What is your advice for someone who wants to take a shot at making the Canadian Finals Rodeo?
Don’t give up! And do what you have to do for what suits you and horse to be successful it is different for everyone! Also don’t be afraid to reach out for help on anything. I know I am always willing to tell anyone about what the calves are like or what the start is or any advice!
I would like you thank my family for supporting me and my goals, my mom, my sister, my grandpa Dennis and my cousin Clint! They have always been so invested and supportive in my lifestyle and dreams!
I would also like to thank my sponsors who help me get down the road and believe in my skills!
Tin Haul, Roper, Stetsons supplying me with top of the class boots, shoes, jeans, and shirts!
Alliance Equine for having the best of the best protective boots for my horses.
Lori Mcivor with Journey Farms supporting me and allowing me to ride some of the best bred colts.
Rocky Acres, Zoltan Liba, my grandpa in Genesee, AB.
