Lawrie Saunders - CFR50
The number one Breakaway Roper in the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association, headed to her second Canadian Finals Rodeo, is Lawrie Saunders. This year she entered 43 rodeos, and brought home $21,569.08 with her great horses, Gemma - Cindys Play Mate, and Robbie - Bobbys Last Date.
This interview is presented by 1Y Quarter Horses, raising your next winner!
What is it that makes your horses so special to you?
Both of them are quirky but yet have so much grit and try every time I back into the box.
What does it mean to you to be the 2024 Season Leader?
2024 Season Leader is a very cool accomplishment and not easy to achieve and will be a year that I will remember, but at the same time everything is so tight in the breakaway so heading into the finals it kinda feels like a sudden death finals as there is enough money to be won that everyone has a shot.
What has been your most memorable run in 2024, and what made it memorable for you?
Armstrong is one of my favorite weekend of the year so to win it for a 2nd time was special and helped clinch the season leader
What was different about your rodeo season this year compared to last year or other seasons?
Overall I felt that the rodeo season was fairly similar to last year however having a great start to the season at the Maple leaf finals helped get the season started on the right foot. As well, having 2 horses that I felt i could win on helped split some of the miles in the trailer between the 2 of them which I felt like was beneficial especially with Gemma being older.
Did you face any challenges this season? Tell us about them.
I feel like my challenge is always balancing work and rodeoing. There is a lot going on sometimes working full time and rodeoing but very lucky my work schedule can be flexible and it can also travel with me when required.
Tell the readers something good that happened to you this season, other than placing at, or winning a rodeo.
Getting married September 21st. (Congratulations Lawrie!)
Who is your travelling partner, and what do you enjoy most about travelling with them?
I mainly traveled with Mikenna Schauer this year. Mik is pretty laid back and never gets too worked up about anything which makes traveling easy with her.
What is the best advice you’d give to readers, about horses and or competing?
I feel like you have to stay in your lane and concentrate on yourself and your horses. You can only worry about the things you can control, so there is no point in worrying about what others are doing.
What was your favourite Canadian rodeo this year, and why?
This is a hard one as there are so many good rodeos, but LaCrete for their hospitality and Armstrong as the atmosphere during the rodeo is so unique
Which of the other CFR Qualifiers horses would you swing a leg over if given the chance and why?
This question seems to only get harder every year as the horse power continues to get stronger and stronger. I practice a lot with Bobbi Henderson and Popcorn. Love seeing how far this hose has come and its big stop.
What can you or your horse not live without on the road?
For my horses they always have their Hoffman’s Elite feed on the road.
For me always have some snacks in the truck and a steep tea double double from tims if we are doing some late night driving
Do you have plans of heading south this winter? If so, what does this look like for you, where do you plan on entering?
No plans of heading south, I chose the wrong profession to head south so instead you will find me in an office crushing out some tax returns.
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 do have some young ones coming up , they seem to be following suit with my current horses as for some reason I love a gritty little mare.
What was one thing a committee did this year that you appreciated the most?
I have to say LaCrete and their hospitality, it is greatly appreciated as that is a long week as most of us start in Regina/Strathmore and head north for a week or so. Some home cooked meals are always appreciated.
Who is your inspiration or mentor and why?
This is also a hard question to answer as I feel like there are so many people that have helped me to get where I am today. I have spent a lot of nights with Wally Pugh and family over the years to learn how to rope and now I still end up there to fine tune little things. I feel no matter who you are you have to go practice with someone that can see all the little details otherwise making the same practice run over and over never gets you anywhere and its easy to fall into bad habits and not even notice it.
What is your advice for someone who wants to take a shot at making the Canadian Finals Rodeo?
Stay in your own lane and worry about the things you can control. Its easy to get caught up in what's going on around you but just focus on you and your horse and make the best run you can each time and you will be surprised where the chips will fall.
There are so many people that helped me have such a successful year. Curt..my almost husband (maybe husband by the time this comes out) if he could come with us he drove and he spent a lot of nights in the practice pen opening the chute. My parents are also always around to open the chute, feed horses and really help with anything i needed, the Henderson family for letting me rope at their place all winter, the Pugh family for always letting me come rope since I was just starting out, and Terry Haddock for giving me the opportunity to ride his great horse Robbie.
As well to my sponsors this year - The Cowtown Beef Shack, Central Cable Voltage Wireline and Bare Activewear. Couldn't do it without your support
And of course to Cass and Lipstick & Cowboy boots for everything you do for us all year long.
