Stacey Ruzicka CFR 2022
Stacey Ruzicka is headed back to the Canadian Finals Rodeo after taking home $24.404.72 after 35 rodeos. Stacey and Kaye won Pincher Creek, finished second in Hanna, and won the round in Innisfail on the final day, as well as placing at numerous other rodeos.
What was your very first horse’s name, and what did you learn from this horse?
Fawn, a palomino pony. He was my babysitter while my mom did yard work, and what I recall learning from her still to this day is, do not grab the reins or lead rope from the ground by her foot; she stepped on my hand and lots of tears were shed. I always got back on though.
How did you get started barrel racing?
My Uncle, John Ruzicka was is a team roper and I grew up probably the age of six years old going with him and my mom to Wainwright at Fletcher‘s and Anderson’s arenas. I used to use his black rope horse Wylee to go around the barrels, and from there other horses got the call and pretty soon I was hooked! I’d get to cool off my uncle‘s horse after roping being a wee little thing, and I was proud as punch that I was able to do that!
When did you know Kaye was going to be a great one? Tell us some of the ups and downs you may have had together over the years.
I guess everyone else kept telling me she was the great one and I was in somewhat denial, that “oh it was just one time, I’ll never win again” and then I did and I would say the same thing, “that won’t happen again” and now I look back at all her winnings, it just amazes me and I’m just so grateful for her. Yes, she’s great and has been so great to me for so many years. She’s given me more out of life than I ever could have imagined. She’s my everything.
I have had her since she was three years old and her first CARA rodeo was as a five-year-old and I placed third. We were not super fast or anything but that was a steppingstone for us.
We won the CARA finals in 2011 and then I went to go amateur LRA WRA FCA Making the finals in all three associations, wining the LRA in 2015 and 2018.
Some downs would’ve been in my amateur year where I hit almost $8000 worth of barrels! Of course, these were all rider issues, not hers.
How was your 2022 season, tell us about the highs and the lows of being on the road chasing the CFR dream again.
Making the CFR on my 19yr old mare whom I’ve had since she was three! I went into this year with zero expectations (because of her age) and had a late start because I didn’t know if I was going to afford to go if I wasn’t placing.
The highs were that when I came out of the arena and heard my times I would just always be in shock because she is 19 years old and that she is still running with them! She brings tears to my eyes still when we come out near the top! At Pincher Creek I was crying all the way back to the trailer, I had the fastest time I believe by a couple of tenths in the slack and Bertina Olafson was riding back with me as I came out of the gate as I was crying like a baby lol it was a very special moment and I got to share it with her.
Making the Long go back at Ponoka was really cool too, to be in the top 10 was very special!
The lows are the cost to go down the road and when you’re not winning it makes it tough to keep going but then things turn around and you have to keep faith that it’s going to work out. As a good friend of mine Diane Skodpapole once told me, “trust the process”.
What do you do to keep a sharp mental edge in the game of rodeo?
I really just try not to let things other people say get to me, like the ground. For years now I’ve not looked at times, I don’t look at the results from previous performances to see who’s leading it. I’m just going to do my job with Kaye and when you come out and the announcer says, “you’re the new leader”, it’s the best feeling! Then you know you’re on top.
What has been your most memorable run from this year, and what made it memorable for you?
Pincher Creek as stated above and I was winning it in 2019, in my rookie year and then Shelby Speilman came in at the end and nudged me to 2nd by 100th of a second. That’s what got her to the CFR…if she would’ve gotten second she would’ve not made it there. So that was a special moment for both of us because this year she was second behind me!
Langley was as well because I was the very last girl bottom of the deep ground on the Saturday and I was the fastest time I believe I left their sitting second or third, Kaye just ploughed through it all!
What do you look for in a barrel racing prospect?
Good confirmation, I like to see strong gaskins, deep shoulder, long neck, short back, long underline and most importantly straight legs!
What is one piece of advice you would give to readers regarding, life, horses, or barrel racing?
Know that there’s always gonna be ups and downs and when the downs are more than the ups just keep going. (Not just in rodeo I mean…work, relationships, all of it!) When you look back on things you’ll realize everything comes around for the better and there’s always a lesson to be learned…have patience.
Trust your training.
What equine discipline would you ride in if you did not barrel race?
Hmmmm I really like rodeo, I like the adrenaline rush from the crowd but I’d like to team rope a bit for fun though. I’ve also always wanted to sit on the back of a great cutting horse one time and just let them work, that would be cool!
What is your favourite memory from this years rodeo season?
La Crete is always fun, they treat us great with food and have the best ground and because everyone is there for a night or two and you get to hang out and visit with everybody.
Armstrong is electric! It is a pretty cool experience, the crowd is wild, Brett Gardner announcing is the icing on the cake!
How many shrimp rings did you purchase this year?
It’s still the recession, so I might’ve cheaped out a little bit more this year, but I did still bring them to some rodeos though! They have these little ones at Walmart that are great for in the truck, but if I open them I’m sure to eat 99% of them before my travelling partner gets them, you can ask Diane!
Do you have any up and coming prospects you are excited about?
Well I have my yearling “Loretta” from 2019‘s CFR stud draw. She is by MP HotHayday
“I’m always grateful for my sponsors! Brook Robertson the western Canada rep with Seven Saddles (I love my neoprene lightweight and my pencil roll leather). I won’t ride in anything else! She’s also one of my best friends who has seen me through all the highs and lows and is the first person I call after a run when we do good! Kathleen Menard is the owner.
Endurance Equine in Ponoka Klay and Chelsey Whyte have been so great to Kaye and keeping getting her fit in the spring before rodeo and again before CFR. They are so caring and treat her like their own
CEP Canada with Jenny Massing as the rep who cares about my horses needs with Total Impact IV and Xcelerate
Evergreen Coop in Rimbey (Kevin Woolsley) for the feed (Working Horse Ration) I’ve been using for 10+ years
Not a sponsor but
Shout out to Brett Buss, fellow competitor and Cfr team roping qualifier and his chiropractic treatments to keep Kaye feeling her best. He has been a big part of our team this year for sure.
Shane, who has supported me from the sidelines, pushing me to keep going, even though I was gone most of the summer.”
