Lynette Brodoway - CFR 2023
Wearing the number one back number at the 2023 Canadian Finals Rodeo is CFR Veteran, Lynette Brodoway. This year she won the Bruce Stampede, and Edmonton Pro Rodeo, placing at 24 other rodeos, and pocketed $47,815.82, which is $19,329.41 ahead of second place. This will be Brodoways sixth CFR appearance. Lynettes horse is, SR Boots On Fire aka Cowboy, who is by Root Beer Boots and out of JDS Wind River, who was voted the 2023 Horse With the Most Heart.
What has been your most memorable run this year, and what made it memorable for you?
Placing at Strathmore is my most memorable run this year. I have never done well there and it is a very good paying rodeo so needless to say I have left there very disappointed many times. Cowboy rocked a run in the last performance, rewarding me with my first check from that rodeo!
What does it mean to you to have your horse be voted Horse of The Year by your peers?
It is such an honour to have your fellow competitors recognize Cowboy's abilities. There are so many tough horses on the rodeo trail and to be at the top of the list chosen by your peers is very humbling!
What was different about your rodeo season this year compared to last year or other seasons?
Cowboy's consistency is what made this year so fun! He is nine years old and now has 3 years of rodeo experience. Last year was a real struggle for Cowboy and I, and it pretty much took the complete season to get sorted out what was behind his inconsistency. A bridle change looked like the best way to move forward so through the process of elimination we found one! It is under lock and key in my horse trailer...lol.
Did you face any challenges this season? Tell us about them.
Of course there are always challenges and this year one of the challenges happened a week before the Pincher Creek/Cranbrook weekend. We found Cowboy in his pen and he would not move. It took the better part of the day to figure out what was going on and the emotional part was raw as I was sure my season was over. It turned out to be a poisonous bug bite causing his left front triceps to swell making it difficult for him to move his leg. There was a lot of extra work that went into that but in the end we were able to get him ready for the following weekend!! It did blow up a few more times in the next month but nothing that stopped us from competing.
Tell the readers something good that happened to you this season, other than placing at, or winning a rodeo.
I got set up In Armstrong leaving me with a few extra days in between performances so a friend travelled with me and we ended up staying at the Exhibition grounds in Salmon Arm. What a great place to shop, eat good food, soak up some sun and go for long walks in the evening. It was a refreshing time for both of us and likely something that will never play out that way again!
What is the best advice you’d give to readers, about horses and or competing?
Rodeo competition has a lot of highs and lows. Knowing how to manage those highs and lows is really important. I am a huge John Maxwell fan and have read most of his books. He says it is important to never let failure or success go to your head. I remind myself of this often!
Do you have any up and coming prospects you could share a little about with readers?
For the last couple of years I have tried to get some back up horses ready to ease Cowboy's rodeo count but I have been plagued with injuries, fortunately nothing career ending but definitely sidelined them for this summer. Now it is looking like I am going to have several for next year. Party, a Root Beers Boots filly, will be a futurity colt and then I will have two six years olds that will go to derbys and run at some rodeos. I am excited to have some extra horseflesh in the trailer next year!
What is your favourite thing about the sport of rodeo?
One of my favourite things about rodeo is that I can do what I love and still live my life according to my values and principles. I believe the rodeo community has a deep rooted core belief that we treat one another with respect and kindness!
I really appreciate my amazing team of experts that have helped ‘Cowboy’ and I get to the finals again this year. Carlotta Weerstra for her endless dedication towards equine therapy and conditioning, Synergy Equine and Dr. Hewlett, Pursue Victory for their great attire, Martin Chrysler, and Herbs for Horses, as well as Second Chance Excavating Ltd., Ample Ag Solutions, and New-Way Kubota.
I am also grateful for those who have helped us along the way, such as my various traveling partners and my friends who have offered ‘Cowboy’ and I a safe, comfortable place to stay. Many thanks to my family for their endless support and encouragement and for picking up the slack when needed. I have to single out especially, my good husband Ken for all he does to help me get up and down the rodeo trail.
I want to take this opportunity to congratulate all of the deserving competitors who qualified for this year’s CFR. I wish you all a safe, successful and fun week in Red Deer.
