Shaya Biever - CFR50
The 2023 Canadian Breakaway Roping Champion is headed to Edmonton for her third Canadian Finals Rodeo qualification with her great horse, CQ Badgers Thor. This year they won Innisfail, where Biever set the new Canadian record with a 1.6 second run, and won the Pile O’ Bones rodeo in Regina. Biever finished 11th in the regular season standings after 38 rodeos and winning $14,091.43./
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What is it that makes your horse so special to you?
My horse makes my job so easy to me and that makes him worth his weight in gold. However, my Dad bought this horse when he was 3, and we both got to train him together into what he is today, and I think that’s pretty special and what makes him so good.
What has been your most memorable run in 2024, and what made it memorable for you?
I think Innisfail this year was my most memorable. I’ve been under 2.0 seconds a good amount but that run I went 1.6 and I broke the Canadian record. It seemed like I was having a slower start to the season and it felt good to get the ball rolling.
What was different about your rodeo season this year compared to last year or other seasons?
This season I had a lot more struggles than I did last season. Last year it seemed like nothing could stop me and everything was easy, this year I really had to fight my way through the low parts.
Did you face any challenges this season? Tell us about them.
This year I was grateful for the opportunity to go down south to rodeos more, I was gone basically all of July. One challenge I faced was really not going home and getting to practice and regroup in between. If things were going wrong, I really had to mentally get over it without going back to practicing.
Tell the readers something good that happened to you this season, other than placing at, or winning a rodeo.
This season I have gotten to go live with a couple of my friend’s families, and I think that’s the something good that’s happened to me. I couldn’t be more grateful for my friends and their families opening their homes to me throughout the season.
Who is your travelling partner, and what do you enjoy most about travelling with them?
This year I travelled with a little bit of everyone! My main two were Jenna Dallyn and Jessie Armstrong (and on the right occasion Kendal Pierson). They are all just amazing to travel with, everyone is always rooting for the other one to win. You spend so much time with your traveling partners, it’s vital that have ones as good as these ones!!
What is the best advice you’d give to readers, about horses and or competing?
Competing will always be a battle within yourself and rodeo doesn’t define who you are it is just something we do.
Favourite Canadian rodeo this year, and why?
Armstrong will always be my favorite rodeo. The noise, the atmosphere is just unreal to rope in.
Which of the other CFR Qualifiers horses would you swing a leg over if given the chance and why?
I still think that Bradi Whitesides (owned by Ben Bamford) Teacher is the coolest. I didn’t do him a bit of justice at Circuit finals last year for how easy he is but I think it would be fun to get on him again.
What can you or your horse not live without on the road?
Can’t live without Neutrabac for my horse. Can’t live without sugar free red bull or Celsius for me.
Mental game; how do you stay mentally strong in the rodeo game, with many ups and downs?
I’m big on the two books With Winning in Mind, and Psycho cybernetics . They really ground you out and make you think more about the process of doing what you love then outcome. I feel if I can always be reading these two books I can bring myself out of the lows.
Do you have plans of heading south this winter? If so, what does this look like for you, where do you plan on entering?
I plan to go south this winter, either Texas or Arizona. I’m hoping to sneak in the top 40 again, but if that doesn’t happen I still plan on entering where I can, trying to hit some qualifier rodeos.
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?
In a prospect I’m looking for a shorter neck, low tail set, athleticism and will finish at 15 hands or under. Something that looks the part to really run and stop.
What was one thing a committee did this year that you appreciated the most?
A lot of committees have been going above and beyond for the breakaway this year and adding equal money, but this year Shane Crouch head of Sundre committee actually was pushing our calves at the all female slack. That was so appreciated by everyone, not many committees would do that.
Who is your inspiration or mentor and why?
Jeremy Buhler is a huge inspiration to me. He has worked hard his whole life to get to where he is, and it’s just straight impressive. I’m happy to call him a friend and have been able to listen to him talk about his rodeo career. He has a really great mental mindset towards rodeo and I’ve always tried my best to mimic it throughout the years.
What is your advice for someone who wants to take a shot at making the Canadian Finals Rodeo?
The best advice I can give is, don’t let the lows get to you. Rodeoing is a humbling event, and just when you think you have it mastered you’ll hit a slump. I think it’s important when you’re trying to make the finals to remember that you rodeo because you love it, not for the outcomes. When you shift from outcomes to process, you usually start winning again.
I would like to say thanks to all my sponsors this year keeping me going down the road. My family and second families for always standing behind me through everything! Also a big thanks to everyone that has pushed my calves this year!
