Jackie Ganter - CFR50
After entering 41 rodeos, and cashing in $18,407.28, Jackie Ganter is set for her fourth Canadian Finals Rodeo qualification aboard Guys French Sailor, aka Sailor. They consistently placed throughout the 2024 season, but it was down to the wire for Ganter to make it into CFR50. Her third place finish at the SMS Tour Finals for $1,500, 10th place earnings of $525.75 at the IPE and Stampede, and a 12th place cheque for $476.57 in Langley helped her finish 12th in the CPRA regular season standings.
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What is it that makes your horse so special to you?
Sailor is special in every way to me. I rode his sire, Guys French Jet, to multiple NFR and CFR qualifications. Now that he is retired, Sailor is following in his footsteps and makes running barrels so much fun.
What has been your most memorable run in 2024, and what made it memorable for you?
I can’t narrow it down between two. Sundre was special because I also won 2nd on Jet at that rodeo in the past, so I thought it was neat for Sailor to do the same. But it is hard to top winning 3rd at the Tour Finale, we needed a big check and there was a lot of pressure going into that run. I was excited and proud of my horse and I to handle it and pull a check in a tough group of girls and horses.
What was different about your rodeo season this year compared to last year or other seasons?
This year was different because Sailor has been my main horse all season, in the past he has typically been a back up as he was being seasoned.
Did you face any challenges this season? Tell us about them.
We did face some challenges a little bit before the end of the season. Sailor turned up a bit sore and had to sit out a few rodeos as we got him back to 100%. Big outdoors are also not his forte, so that was a learning curve for both of us figuring out how to navigate that.
Tell the readers something good that happened to you this season, other than placing at, or winning a rodeo.
My mom and I got to have an incredible summer together with great friends in the beautiful country of Canada.
Who is your travelling partner, and what do you enjoy most about travelling with them?
My mom! We do everything as a team and are always for each other and want what is best for our horses when hauling, so it makes things easy.
What is the best advice you’d give to readers, about horses and or competing?
Two quotes that come to mind that I love are: “Barrel racing is what you do, not who you are” and “Love the horse more than the sport.”
Favourite Canadian rodeo this year, and why?
Probably Sundre because it was a big weekend for Sailor and I and my Granny got to be there to watch us.
Which of the other CFR Qualifiers horses would you swing a leg over if given the chance and why?
Famey of Brooke Wills’! She looks like a blast to ride but Brooke does such a phenomenal job of riding her it would be hard to replicate!
What can you or your horse not live without on the road?
This summer wouldn’t have been possible without the Warkentin’s and Sproule’s providing us with a home away from home. Sailor was able to rest and regroup in between rodeos which played a large part in our CFR qualification.
Mental game; how do you stay mentally strong in the rodeo game, with many ups and downs?
It can be very hard but I think a few key things are surrounding yourself with the right people and making a point to stay positive even when it’s hard. If you did everything possible to prepare yourself and your horse to compete, the results are out of your hands.
Do you have plans of heading south this winter? If so, what does this look like for you, where do you plan on entering?
South is home for me, so as much as I enjoy Canada I look forward to heading South after the CFR is over!
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 have Jet babies coming up that I am very excited about. My favorite prospect is one that has Jet listed as their sire!
What was one thing a committee did this year that you appreciated the most?
I appreciated the committees that went out of their way to have good ground at their rodeos for our horses to compete on.
Who is your inspiration or mentor and why?
My mom! She is an amazing and strong person along with an accomplished barrel racer.
What is your advice for someone who wants to take a shot at making the Canadian Finals Rodeo?
I would say to start entering and learn yours and your horse’s strengths and weaknesses to then build on that and always be willing to learn.
I would like to thank my family, friends, and sponsors for their support through this journey and every journey, it takes a team to accomplish goals like this and I am grateful for mine!
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