Taylor Manning CFR 2018
After chasing 42 Canadian Professional Rodeo Association rodeos, and banking $31,333.99, in the number two position, only behind the number one girl about the amount of a go round win at the Canadian Finals Rodeo, IS the one and only Taylor Manning.
During the 2018 season, Manning was the Medicine Hat Champion, Benalto Champion, & Armstrong Tour Finals Champion. She also placed second at Strathmore Stampede and the Williams Lake Stampede. Her and Matlock also were the Spring Thaw Long Go Champions in Ponoka early in the year.
Manning will be bringing her main mount Matlock aka Good Little Nick, who is by As Good As Nick Gets, and out of Fols Dream of Cash. She is also hauling Merlin aka Ima Hot Bug who is by Hot Colours and out of a Copper Bug mare. Both of these horses come from the Grant Little breeding program and are trained by Rayel Little.
What kind of quirks do your horses have?
Matlock loves getting all the attention from me and he will get jealous of I pay any attention to other horses. Merlin will try to buck me off 1-2 times a year. He always lets me know when hes going to. Merlin is also scared of everything.
What was your favourite rodeo this year and why?
Both Benalto and Armstrong are my favourite because the stands are packed and my brother and I both won Benalto. Tristen is in the Junior Steer Riding. Matlock and I both love the crowd at Armstrong, it is such a fun rodeo! I wouldn’t be able to do this without my Mom, Shelly.
What do you do to keep a sharp mental edge in the game of rodeo? How do you stay motivated throughout the season?
I just hang out with my horses, my Mom always tells me to go have fun, and whatever happens today we will fix tomorrow. That’s Rayel Littles favourite quote.
What does your feed program look like, keeping your horses in peak condition going down the road and even in the off season?
We feed Buckeye “Gro ‘N’ Win” and “Cadence Ultra”, as well as Sharpedge supplements and probiotics. I pre bag all my feed a week at a time so they don’t miss a meal. They love their Back On Track products as it makes them feel great.
I do a lot of slow work and riding in the field. They will have December and January off for them to have a rest and I will start riding them 3-4 times a week in February out in the field.
What is the best piece of advice you were ever given regarding barrel racing?
My best advice I ever heard was from Rayel Little, “Whatever happens today, we will fix tomorrow.”
What has been your most memorable run you have ever made?
My most memorable run would have been at the WRA Finals in 2016 when my Mom said I could buy Matlock from her and I won the WRA Finals from only running him a couple times before.
Shelly told me, “As she was riding him, I thought, Oh my God, thats a match. She called Taylor over and told her she could have him.”
What are your plans and goals for 2019?
My plans and goals for 2019 is to compete at the same rodeos again and to have fun and enjoy getting to do what I do.
If you could make a run on any one of the other CFR qualifiers horses which one would you choose?
It would be awesome to ride any of the CFR horses, but I would pick Ripp, Carmens horse.
What is one thing you can’t live without on the road?
One thing I can’t live without on the road is my Mom. She has helped me so much from helping me become a better rider to helping me become a better person. Without her, I wouldn’t be where I am.
*(I’m not crying you’re crying.)
What are you looking forward to the most as you head to the 2018 Canadian Finals Rodeo?
What I am looking forward to most at the 2018 CFR is getting to run the first time at Red Deer and to get to compete with my twin brother, Tristen!
I want to thank all my sponsors who have supported and helped me get down the road. Andersons Builders Group, Impact Gel, Cross Country Pipeline, Back On Track Canada, Sharpedge Supplements, Frontier and HillBilly Hallows.
