Lakota Bird CFR 2022
Nanton, Alberta cowgirl, Lakota Bird is headed back to Red Deer for her second Canadian Finals Rodeo, with Dynamite aka Gamble On A Lena. During the 2022 season she won Edmonton and the SMS Pro Tour, and placed consistently at many rodeos, cashing in $11,376.64 after 38 rodeos.
What is your background with horses? How did you get started roping?
I grew up on my family’s ranch west of Nanton. I have been riding horses since the time I could walk. I got my start in rodeo trotting an old ranch horse around the barrels at the Nanton Nite rodeos at about 3 years old.
What is your horse’s story?
My dad bought him as a calf horse prospect when he was five. When I was in ninth grade of high school rodeo, my breakaway horse got hurt. Dynamite was the farthest along calf horse we had at the time so dad was going to let me ride him until my other horse got better. He was terrible in the corner and jumped the barrier at about the first five high school rodeos. Even though he would jump the barrier he would catch up fast and I would catch on him (which was rare for me at the time). I ended up winning Alberta in High School Rodeo that year and qualifying for nationals. I begged dad not to put Dynamite for sale until after nationals, which he agreed to.
Fast forward to 15 years of me begging him to keep him just a little longer, and me making him look bad when people came to look at him, I still have the horse.
Dynamite is 19 now. I’ve brought him back now from colic surgery and a broken coffin bone. He’s old but he doesn’t know it and I can’t replaced the confidence I have when I back in the corner on him. We’ve been to the High School Finals the College Finals, and now the Canadian Finals, which is not a place I ever thought I would get to go.
What is your go to saddle, pad, and bit on your main mount?
I ride a Cowboy Country Breakaway tree that my mom and I designed. It fits a horse like a calf tree but has shaved bars so it’s not so wide for the rider and helps you get to the front. I use a Weaver Navajo pad underneath a Weaver felt pad. This is a Manerd Bird Calf Horse/ Breakaway horse must have and we use this combination on every horse. I change bits a lot. I think my old horse stays sharper when he doesn’t get too used to one. Lately, I’ve been using a hinge port.
What do you do to keep a sharp mental edge in the game of rodeo? How do you stay motivated throughout the season?
My mental game is the best when I am confident in my rope. I stay confident in my rope by staying sharp in the practice pen. Winning motivates me. I can’t say I ever really struggle with staying motivated. I am grateful to even have the opportunity to get to pro rodeo in the breakaway, and I like working at it.
What does your feed program consist of, and how do you keep your horses in shape? What is your riding routine usually like?
I feed Omega Alpha Sinew-X for joint health. Something I have been focusing on lately is not running too many in the practice pen on my good horse. I will run one calf 1-2 times a week and score a few on my good horse. Other than that he rests. I might up his exercise program now that he is not getting rodeoed in every weekend.
What is the best advice you’ve been given regarding life, rodeo, horses, or roping?
Work at it. It’s not easy and sometimes you will feel like you are going backward. The last few years there have been times I feel like I’m getting worse instead of better, but you just have to keep grinding, it will come around.
What has been your most memorable run over the years, and what made it memorable for you?
The first calf at the CFR 2021. The feeling in the tunnel when they announced breakaway roping for the first time at the CFR was unreal. It was not something I ever thought I would have the opportunity to do.
Who was your travel partner this year, and what is your favourite thing about your travel partner?
My traveling partner for most of the year was My cousin Reata Schlosser. She is good to travel with because we both enter the barrel racing and breakaway roping. Most other breakaway ropers don’t want to enter with a barrel racer because affects your chances of getting what you ask for. It’s nice to travel with someone who prioritizes looking after your horses and taking care of business.
What does it mean to you to have the Breakaway Roping at the CFR?
Having breakaway roping at pro rodeos has honestly changed my life. It gives me the opportunity to continue breakaway roping at a high level and continue working at it. If pro rodeos in Canada didn’t have breakaway roping I probably would have stopped roping.
“I would like to thank my parents for their support. I would also like to thank my brother for always knowing what my calf does, pushing a lot of calves, and giving me scoring advice (even though I stopped taking it). Thanks to my sponsors Weaver Leather and Cowboy Country Western Store!”
