Lakota Bird - CFR 2023
Lakota Bird is back for her third consecutive Canadian Finals Rodeo, heading to Red Deer in tenth position, with $11,720.21 in the bank. She split first, and second at Rocky Mountain House, third at Grand Prairie, and placed at numerous other rodeos this season. Lakota is the Breakaway Roping Director for the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association, and the Bird family provides timed event livestock to many CPRA rodeos.
What is your background with horses? How did you get started roping?
I grew up on my grandparent’s ranch and starting roping when I was in Jr. High. My Dad and brother both roped, and that’s what got me started.
What is your main mounts reg name, bloodlines and does he/she have any quirks?
This year I rode both Dynamite (Gamble on a Lena) and 50 ( Doc Hickory’s 50).
What is your horses story?
Dynamite has been my main mount since high school, and he is 20 this year. I have been trying to slowly leave him home more so I don’t have to haul him as much. This year I started seasoning 50. I bought him a couple of years ago at a sale and started breakaway roping on him. I started him as a breakaway horse with the help of my Dad and brother.
What is your go to saddle, pad and bit on your main mount? What do you like about them?
I ride a tree that I helped develop at Cowboy Country. It’s specially designed for breakaway roping. It fits your horse like a calf roping saddle but has shaved bars to have a more narrow feel for the rider. I think it helps my stay to the front and doesn’t feel as wide as a traditional calf roping saddle. I use bits made by TM Bits, on both of my horses.
What do you do to keep a sharp mental edge in the game of rodeo? How do you stay motivated throughout the season?
This year I felt like I struggled with my mental game. Not knowing which horse to ride is tough and every time I didn’t win I felt like I should have ridden the other one. Trying to make the finals keeps me motivated.
Did you face any challenges this season? Tell us about them.
I roped awful the second half of the season. It was super challenging and I kept trying to think it would turn around ant the next one and it never did. Luckily I had a pretty good spring and made the finals anyway.
Tell the readers something good that happened to you this season, other than placing at, or winning a rodeo.
I was able to haul and season my younger horse. Hopefully we will have more confidence in each other next year.
What is the best advice you’d give to readers, about horses, competing or life?
You just have to keep at. Roping isn’t a steady incline like we think it should be. You have ups and downs, you just have two work through it.
What has been your most memorable run over the years, and what made it memorable for you?
I will never forget the first calf I ran at the CFR in 2021. I watched the CFR in the stands so many times not thinking that I would ever get to compete. Riding in the box that first time was surreal.
Who is your travelling partner, and what do you enjoy most about travelling with them?
I mostly travel with Reata Schlosser, but we also went with my brother Logan, and Cooper Resch quit a bit. We all get along really well, and have fun. We help each other out, videoing, pushing calves and helping with the start.
Which of the other CFR Qualifiers horses would you swing a leg over if given the chance and why?
I don’t know if Shelby Boisjoli will ride Onna, but if she does it would have to be her. She’s a badass.
What products can you or your horse not live without on the road?
As long as I remembered my saddle and my ropes, I could probably get by lol.
Thank you to my sponsors, Weaver Leather, and Cowboy Country Western Store. Thank you to my parents for their support, to my traveling partners Logan Bird, Cooper Resch, and Reata Schlosser for pushing calves, helping me practice and putting up with my attitude when I didn’t win. Which was a lot.
