Justine Elliot CFR 2021
Covy Moore Photo
Justine Elliot is now 19 years of age and is headed to her third Canadian Finals Rodeo, as the 2021 Season Leader, and will be wearing the number two back number. Blondys Starlight (by Von Starlight, out of a Small Town Baker mare) was named as Barrel Racing Horse With The Most Heart for a second year in a row.
Elliot has been around horses her entire life, as her father, Jody Elliot is a well known cow horse trainer in Alberta. She began barrel racing when she was twelve years old, and started rodeoing in sixth grade in the Junior High School Rodeo Association. She won Provincials three years in a row in the Alberta High School Rodeo Association, was the season leader for the Wildrose Rodeo Association and Lakeland Rodeo Association in both the 2016 and 2017 seasons, and placed third at the National High School Finals Rodeo in her grade nine and grade ten seasons.
In 2014 at the Canadian Barrel Horse Incentive Futurity and Derby, Justine and the bay mare ran a 17.0. Justine was just 12 at the time. I always knew they would do great things together, and here we are; another CFR, and another year as season leader.
During the season, the dynamic duo won Lea Park, Cranbrook, Regina and Benalto Pro Rodeo. They also placed at Kennedy, Strathmore, Bruce, La Crete, Dawson Creek, Okotoks, Coronation, Taber, and Hanna to win a total of $18,578.04. Justine also competed at the Calgary Stampede, taking home $8,000 in Pool A.
Season Leader and Horse with the Most Heart both have a nice ring to them. What does this mean to you?
This truly means the world to me, I’m so grateful for everything this year. Blondy tried so hard every run and worked her butt off to get us here. I certainly know how special Blondy is but it’s amazing to think others believe she’s as special as I know she is.
Tell us about your experience at the Calgary Stampede this year, and what was your favorite part about it?
The Calgary Stampede was truly a once in a lifetime opportunity, every bit of it was so exciting. The adrenaline rush I felt running down that alleyway was truly indescribable. I don’t really have a favourite part, the whole thing was a dream come true.
What is your background with horses? How did you get started barrel racing?
I’ve been around horses my entire life, I can’t imagine growing up without them. My dad had rodeoed when he was younger and I had always wanted to be like him and rodeo. So I started going to local ABRA jackpots on my dad's good penning horse and the roller coaster of barrel racing hasn’t stopped yet.
What is your main mounts registered name and does she have any quirks?
Blondys registered name is Blondys Starlight. She has quite a few quirks, but that’s what makes her special. She doesn’t like being hauled with other horses, she enjoys her space and you can only pet her when she wants to be pet. She’s very spunky even when I’m just trying to lope her around at home, everything she does is with sass. It’s Blondy’s world and I’m just living in it.
What is your go to saddle, pad and bit on your main mount? What do you like about them?
My go to saddle is the Frontier barrel saddle, it fits all my horses and I love the way it sits me when I’m riding my horses. I use the Synergy natural fit performance pads, the pads are contoured to have constant relief on the horses withers, and never move under the saddle. I use the Brittany Pozzi three piece long shank twisted wire snaffle bit, I’m able to keep my horses shoulders elevated helping her through her turns without having to pull her around.
What is your horses story?
Blondy’s story is what makes her so special to me. My brother (Logan) had purchased Blondy as a yearling from the Supreme Sale as a yearling in the hopes she’d be a cowhorse. For the first few weeks of starting her we couldn’t even keep a saddle on her, she was a bit of a bronc. When it came time to show her as a three year old it was easy to realize she was too hot for the cow horse pen, so we started her on barrels and she loved it. It was only a few times taking her through the pattern we knew we had something special on our hands. Blondy has truly never given me anything less than 100% of her effort since the very beginning, in everything she does.
What do you do to keep a sharp mental game edge in the game of rodeo? How do you stay motivated throughout the season?
Rodeoing is a very humbling sport. It is inevitable that you’re going to go through low spots, the key is to not think less of yourself, your horse or your ability as a rider. When you hit a low spot, it's time to sit down and think about what’s changed, go back to slowing things down and work hard towards your basics. The harder you push yourself when you're in a low spot the lower you're going to go. I try my best to always think the best of myself and my horse, no matter the runs we’ve been having.
What does your feed program look like, keeping your horses in peak condition going down the road and even in the off season?
My feed program is very simple, my horses get a grain mix and Calf-manna. Blondy gets Purina Pur-athlete and Daily Gold along with grain and Calf-manna. My feed program stays the same all year.
What do you do to condition your horses leading up to the season, and what does your pre CFR routine consist of?
Leading up to rodeo season I do a lot of breezing and long trotting to make sure their lungs are built up and strong, this also helps their muscles get stronger again. During the rodeo season Blondy gets ridden lightly 2 times a week just to keep her lungs and muscles up. Leading up to CFR she gets a week and a half off and then she gets rode 3-4 days a week.
What is the best advice you’ve been given regarding life, rodeo, horses or barrel racing?
The best advice I’ve been given was to never doubt my abilities, I can accomplish whatever goal I have set for myself, no matter how crazy it may seem if I put a little heart into it.
What has been your most memorable run over the years, and what made it memorable for you?
The most memorable run I have is from CBHI 2014, Blondy ran a 17.0 at the Calnash building. It’s memorable to me because I had just started running Blondy a few months before that ( she was 5 and I was 12) and this was the run where we first clicked and she hasn’t stopped giving me the same will and try as she gave me in that run.
What is one thing you cannot live without on the road
I can’t travel down the road without good music. It makes the long drives seem a little shorter and way more fun to be sitting in the truck for hours at a time.
Favorite Canadian rodeo and why?
My favourite rodeo is hands down Armstrong. The atmosphere is so much fun, the crowd is amazing and get so into the rodeo. It’s the most fun rodeo I’ve ever been to.
Which of the other CFR Qualifiers horses would you swing a leg over if given the chance?
If I had the chance to swing on any of the horses these girls ride would be an amazing opportunity, but if I had to choose just one it would have to be Lynette’s horse, Cowboy. He is truly an unreal athlete.
Who has been your barrel racing/ rodeo mentor and what is something they’ve taught you?
My mentor has always been my Dad, Jodi Elliot. I wouldn’t have barrel raced or even rodeoed if it wasn’t for him. He taught me so many things but one really important thing is that everything takes time, but when you’re willing to put in the effort, time, and have the heart you can do whatever you set your mind to, no matter how crazy the dream may seem in the beginning.
What are your goals for 2022
My goals for 2022 are to work my hardest on improving my riding and horsemanship skills during the off-season so I can be at my best for my horses for the season so we can work towards making CFR 48.
Canada lost rodeo last year. What did you do with your time off, and what does it mean to you to have rodeo come back and to now be headed to the finals.
With my time off I spent a lot of time with all my horses. We were able to take a few trips with the horses to the mountains. From not knowing at the beginning of this year if we were going to even get to have a season to be heading to the finals is a great feeling! It felt so good to be able to travel and do what I love to do again, I’m very grateful for the season we got to have this year.
I would like to thank my sponsors for sticking by me all year! Synergy by Weaver, Weaver, Lucky Star Ranch (Cody and Kayla Walbeck) and Jody Elliott Training Stables.
