Dona Kay Rule - CFR 2023

The one and only, Dona Kay Rule is set to compete at her first Canadian Finals Rodeo this November, after competing at 18 Canadian Professional Rodeo Association rodeos, and winning $26,316.49. The four-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo Qualifier placed at half of the Canadian rodeos that she entered with her great horse, High Valor, who is by Valiant Hero and out of Rare High.

What is your main mounts back story?
Got him from Lana Merrick as a 4 year old, he was broke and not yet a barrel horse. The Merrick family from Cheyenne, OK have had a long-standing reputation for raising great horses, for example Easy Jet. Valor was a handful, really took a long time to get him to come down and be focused. I went to look at him and knew he was the one and bought him with the promise he would never go anywhere, if he left it would be back to Lana, and he’s not going anywhere! Haha! He is 14 this year, and still has the cool wild heart he had at 4. Valor is a special kind boy, it’s important to him to do things right and be correct. You can watch him, watch me at all times, he really stays checked in and always looks to me to be assured “all is well”.

What quirks does your horse have, and what quirks would you say that you have?
General riding Valor really doesn’t have any quirks or notables, except maybe loading him. If you’re in a hurry to get somewhere better start loading him early, he loves to assess the whole situation, smell every molecule, look out the window, really strategize and analyze the whole ordeal, and then he hops right in and is happy. Just know your horse. I don’t really have what I’d describe as quirks, I like everything the same and consistent, I think its good for my horse athlete and its good for my overall mentality aka, I’m picky as heck! Even my daughter knows not to water for me, it’s very important to me to do all of it, and pay my dues every day, and I want everything just so. My family knows not to touch the buckets!

What has been your most memorable run this year, and what made it memorable for you?
I would say my most memorable rodeo was Calgary, not because anyone WANTED me to crash and burn, but because we did crash and burn, which rerouted my year plans and redirected my objectives which then led me to Langley and British Columbia to ensure I could mark the Canadian Finals off my bucket list of goals. Every single run is special to me, every hour in the truck is meaningful, but the path to put me to these finals was rocky, and I’m sure proud to be qualified.

Did you face any challenges this season? Tell us about them.
I battled soundness issues, so that was different, but I did stay in Canada longer this year. Mostly not knowing where in the world I was at most of the time, I felt like a rookie! Having done this most of my life, I feel like a walking compass and able to find my way anywhere I wanted to be, but once my destination was kilometers away instead of miles, I maintained confusion!

Tell the readers something good that happened to you this season, other than placing at, or winning a rodeo.
See in my opinion, good things happen to me every day, from friends rescuing me, calls home for support, continual assurance I’m doing my job, a vet always ready to help me. It seems like all the “issues” I had with trucks, equipment, trailer, anything, was always happening at the “perfect time”. I managed to have help handy at every roadblock, and that’s something people need to step back and realize more often.

Who is your travelling partner, and what do you enjoy most about travelling with them?
My hairy companion is Rosie the Rodeo dog, she doesn’t talk too much, always laughs at my jokes, and doesn’t judge my singing.

What is the best advice you’d give to readers, about horses and or competing?
My best advice is be dedicated and educate yourself in every discipline, not just in barrel racing. Also, wouldn’t hurt to take a mechanic class, so you could fix your truck if you needed to! Thank others for advice, but trust yourself most.

What was your favourite Canadian rodeo this year, and why?
Raymond was my favorite rodeo. I’d won it last year on Canada Day, and was fun to get there and to see Valor on the poster, also did place this year.

Which of the other CFR Qualifiers horses would you swing a leg over if given the chance and why?
My first thought is “Gosh all of them are wonderful, just not sure I could ride all of them!”

Who has been your barrel racing/rodeo mentor and what is something they’ve taught you?
Billy Perin, but he’s not the only one, there are dozens of horsemen and women that have aided me along the way. Billy taught more about dedication and being a student of the game than anyone.

What products can you or your horse not live without on the road?
Koolspeed feed, well stocked vet box, cherry sours and Doritos, and my dog. The best products to lead you to success are the things you can give your horse, take yourself or experience for yourself, are the ones that make you and your horse comfortable. Without the right ingredients, things rarely go right.

Mental game; what do you do to stay sharp, and shake the nerves of competing?
I usually stay off to myself and focus on how my horse feels and remove myself from distraction. I internalize and stay in my own bubble, and do my best to NOT talk myself out of winning. Distractions can really make you dive into overthinking and under-riding.

What is your go to coffee order?
MANDATORY!! Black, tiny bit of sugar, and in silence!

I would like to thank my sponsors; Express Ranches, Mahindra Ag, Roxor Off Road, Koolspeed Feed, Deanna Harrison Certified
Aromatherapist, 5 Star Equine, Hart Trailers, Hart Trailers, Classic Equine, Flair Nasal Strips, Kentucky Equine Research, Bimeda-US, Shorty’s Caboy Hattery, XLR8 Turnin3Ranch. Also, to my family and close friends for staying by me and supporting me, it gets so lonely on the road and each of them were a call or text away, and it’s hard to explain how much that helps.