Karli Cowie 2023 CFR

Karli Cowie and her great mare, Queen Flingtima aka Fling, who is by A Streak of Fling, out of Queen Fa Tima (Dash Ta Fame) are competing at their very first Canadian Finals Rodeo. The duo won Teepee Creek, Pincher Creek, and Merritt, and placed at Taber, Falkland, Lea Park, Innisfail, Cranbrook, Lethbridge, Okotoks, Langley, Coronation, Medicine Lodge, Hanna, and Edmonton. They finished the season in tenth spot with $19,139.61 won.

What is your main mounts story?
I bought her in April of 2021 from Cornelius and Maria Weibe. Krystal Grad was riding her at the time. I always knew she was special from the first time I seen her. My story with her started out rocky as we ended up having to do four different surgeries on her and I honestly didn’t know if I would ever get to run her. I finally got to start riding her in June of 2022 and ever since then I knew she was unlike anything I’ve ever rode. She has always wanted to be a winner.  

What quirks does your horse have, and what quirks would you say that you have?
She likes to chew on her halter shanks. She has also became mean to her buddies recently, and likes to bite at them. 

What has been your most memorable run this year, and what made it memorable for you?
Oh gosh, Teepee Creek was pretty amazing, winning my first pro rodeo, especially after going through a bit of a trying couple months seasoning a young horse, but I’m not sure if anything will top Edmonton, winning 2nd when we absolutely had to win money. I was instantly in tears as soon as I seen my time, as I knew right there, we had just punched our ticket to our first CFR. 

What was different about your rodeo season this year compared to last year or other seasons?
I have went to a few pro rodeos in the past, but I told myself this year I was going to stick out a whole season out west. I usually just go to the CCA rodeos, but I knew I finally had the horse to take me wherever I wanted to go. It’s not easy going to the pro rodeos when you live in Saskatchewan, it’s 6.5 hours before I even hit Calgary, and I did a lot of 12-15 hour trips this summer. I feel like I’ve hardly been home all summer, and when I did get to come home it was only for one or two days. That was definitely hard for me. 

Did you face any challenges this season? Tell us about them.
Many. My horse is only 6, so it took her a while to figure out the rodeo ground and different set ups. It honestly wasn’t until after I got home from the Royal Crown in Rock Springs that we started winning money at the rodeos. I can’t tell you what I did differently or what happened after that, but it’s like a switch flipped in her brain and she was suddenly a rodeo horse. She placed at every single rodeo I ran her at after that except for 2 (a tenth out of the money in Armstrong and tipped to win Olds). 

Tell the readers something good that happened to you this season, other than placing at, or winning a rodeo.
The people that have helped me along the way and let me stay at their places. The friends and people you meet is one of the best parts of rodeo! There are so many good people out there that want you to succeed.

Who is your travelling partner, and what do you enjoy most about travelling with them?
I travelled alone most of the time to the rodeos as there are not many people that pro rodeo from Saskatchewan, but when Tyce and I got set up the same, he would jump in with me. I can’t tell you he drives much lol, but he is great to travel with. We never run out of anything to talk about as we have the exact same goals. We are very similar in a lot of ways so we get along well.  

What is the best advice you’d give to readers, about horses and or competing?
Never stop learning and never give up! You never know when your whole year will turn around. 

Favourite Canadian rodeo this year, and why?
It was pretty cool getting to run at Ponoka this year for the first time, even though it was a lot for my horse being so young. I’m excited to take her back next year when she is more seasoned. 

Which of the other CFR Qualifiers horses would you swing a leg over if given the chance and why?
It would be so cool to get to run any of the horses in the top 12, but I have to say I absolutely love how Carlee Oteros horse runs. I would also love to take a trip around the pattern on Brookes horse, Famey! 

Who has been your barrel racing/rodeo mentor and what is something they’ve taught you?
Kirsty White has played a huge part in my success and I can honestly say I would not be headed to my first CFR if not for her. Ever since the first time I met her in the fall of 2019 when I was struggling and came for help, I knew I wanted to train like her and learn to ride like her. She has helped me out tremendously throughout the years and she was gracious enough to let me stay at her place in Arizona all winter last year where I got to ride with her everyday and I learned so much. She is one of the best!

What products can you or your horse not live without on the road?
I cannot live without my Bemer blanket for my horses. I use it religiously everyday. I also cannot live without my CEP products. 

Mental game; what do you do to stay sharp, and shake the nerves of competing?
I don’t get very nervous anymore. I do my homework during the week, and I have just learned to trust my training and go for it at the rodeos, and even if it doesn’t go my way, I know I have done everything possible to prepare my horse for that run!

What is your coffee order?
I love a good London fog.

Thank you to CEP Canada for the amazing line of supplements, Cor Veterinary Services for getting Fling back running and always being just a phone call away, Kirsty White for all the help along the way, my boyfriend Tyce for the advice and jumping on Fling for a tune up whenever I need, and my parents for always being so supportive of me chasing my dreams.