CCFR15 Barrel Racing Champ Caitlin Stark
Lakeland College student Caitlin Stark has loved barrel racing since day one, but it wasn’t until she got her mare Copper that she started running competitively. Out of St. Paul Alberta, 20 year old Caitlin attends Lakeland and graduating from Agribusiness – Livestock Production Stream. She had made the Canadian College Finals Rodeo last year, and had finished 3rd in the season standings and 3rd in the finals respectively. This year she dominated the arena where Copper took home ‘Horse of the Year’ and Caitlin became the 2015 College Finals Barrel Racing Champ! A good friend of mine had told me to keep my eye on her at the finals, and that I should probably get an interview with her. Well here we are, and I got to catch up with Caitlin right after her win!
How long have you been riding/barrel racing?
“I’ve been riding my entire life. I don’t come from a rodeo family, but my parents have been so great with making sure I got down the road. My Mom has always made sure we had a pony or horse to ride, taught me from day one that if I wanted to ride that I had to put the work into it, and drove me many miles down the road to all the rodeos so I could have my dream of qualifying for finals a reality. Which I don’t think I could ever thank her enough for. With my first pony Strawberry, I would pale race {she laughs} It definitely has been my passion since day one but it wasn’t until I got Copper that I started competitively racing, which has now been 6 years.”
Whats your horses registered name, and how is she bred?
“Copper, she was never papered. Her Sire is Isle Be a Bunny but I am unsure of her Dam, I just know she was a cow horse.”
How long have you been running Copper?
“6 years; I bought her as a 4 year old in the fall of 2007, I spent the next summer putting a pattern on her then started taking her to jackpots in the fall of 2008, and have been running her since.”
What are some of your previous achievements on Copper?
“We won the Turn$Burn$Earn Finals Jr. in 2009, LRA/WRA Jr. Finalist in 2010, Finished 6th in the short-go at ABRA Finals in 2011, AHSRA Finalist 2012; Finished 4th in the average, 6th in points. Reserve Champion in the Pomeroy Futurity 2012 at the Black Gold jackpot (on my other horse Doolin Luck) CCFR14 Finalist, Black Gold 1D Reserve Champion 2014, Stoney Lake Summer Series 1D Champion 2013 & 2014 and CCFR15 Champion! Copper also helped Ruby Braconnier qualify and compete in the 2013 LRA Finals.”
What kind of alternate therapies do you use on your horse?
“I use the Back on Track blankets, quick wraps and hock boots. Along with regular chiropractor work.”
What kind of bit, saddle and pad do you run Copper in?
“I use a Carol Goostree twisted wire snaffle bit, an impact gel pad, and have a Marlene Mcrae Special Effx saddle by Cactus.”
Who do you look up to as an idol?
“All the way growing up I’ve always looked up to and idolized Megan Ganzer (formally Proskiw). We may not be related but I have always looked up to her as my big sister. When I was little she gave me riding lessons and I would always watch her competing at rodeos and wanted to be just like her. Once I got a little older she would haul me to gymkhana’s and then when I got Copper she would take me down the rodeo trail with herself when my Mom was unable to take me. She really taught me the ropes. Now she is not only like my big sister but she is also one of my best friends!”
Who have you rode with that’s helped you and Copper?
“Just growing up riding alongside of Megan I have definitely learned a lot and if I had any questions I’d talk to her. But I really did everything with Copper myself, it was a lot of work but I loved every minute of it and I feel like it has definitely benefitted us throughout our entire career! It also makes all of our accomplishments that much more special!”
In each of the rounds how did you do? Did you have a fast time of the weekend?
“In the first round, the ground was really bad and the two girls right before me, fell. I knew going in that I just had to trust Copper, she has always had great footing on all types of ground, and despite the ground she handled it like an absolute pro winning the round by a tenth with a time of 14.3! That night our couch, Rusty, worked with the grounds crew and got the ground fixed. The second night the ground was 100 times better and we had a really nice run, a slight slip leaving second but she clocked in at a 14.2 ending up 3rd that night. Going into the 3rd and final round we were sitting second in the average and points. It was a really tough round, everyone was clocking super-fast runs and I was the second last to go. She really gave it her all and clocked the fastest time of the entire weekend of a 14.001 and won the Championship! We also won the average by 1.1 seconds!”
How does it feel to have won the Canadian College Finals this year!?
“Winning the CCFR this year feels amazing! Going into finals my goal was to make three clean runs. I never imagined that I’d have the finals that I did. I already felt extremely honored and proud that Copper won the Barrel Horse of the Year, and she hands down proved to everyone that she earned it at the CCFR! I am truly blessed to own her, she always runs with all her heart for me!”
What are you doing the rest of the year – rodeo wise? Getting your Permit, LRA/WRA ?
“I really want to hit the rodeo trail again; I haven’t since I made finals back in 2010. Now that I have completed school I feel like I’m at a point in my life where I can go again. Which is great because Copper came back nice and strong this year! So as long as work doesn’t conflict too much, I am hoping to hit the rodeo trail hard this summer competing in the LRA and WRA. I have been considering pulling my permit but might wait one more year.”
What are your favourite pair of Cowboy Boots and Fave Lipstick?
“I love Boulet Boots and EOS Lipbalm.”
I wish Caitlin all the best in her future endeavours and hope to see her down the trail this season!
Do you know someone I should get an interview on? Do you have a topic you want me to cover? Leave a comment or send me an email!
