For Port Lavaca, Texas, native Katie Jo Halbert, things fell into place in the perfect order to result in a big ProRodeo barrel racing win and new arena record, worth $6,097 in 17.19 seconds at Sisters Rodeo in Sisters, Oregon, June 9-11 on Miz Milania.
“I came up north for the Calgary qualifier,” Halbert, 27, said. “She placed in the first round, but we didn’t have any luck in the second round because she stumbled—we ended one hole out of making it back in the average. It was a great experience, but I planned on just hitting Sisters on the way back. I told my husband if I didn’t get the Sunday performance, I wasn’t going, and we got it.”
Halbert, a two-time College National Finals Rodeo qualifier noted that her run didn’t feel exceptional, and certainly shocked her when the time beat out No. 2 finisher, Megan Mcleod-Sprague, by nearly 0.40 seconds.
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“I thought it was going to be slow because she made mistakes,” Halbert said. “She was running so hard (to the first barrel) I thought ‘Please, just slow down!’ But she let me put her where I needed to place her, I had to grab her at the second and she just came back to me and kept her feet moving. I was so scared of the third—it’s so far off the fence. But she smoked it and just worked fantastic. It didn’t feel that fast, she was just rolling. She never quit grabbing and pulling her through her turns.”
Forward motion has been a focus for Halbert and Miz Milania. “Milania,” is a 2017 daughter of Tres Seis and out of Makeala by Make it Anywhere. Halbert praised Jodee Miller for her foundation and training put on the mare.
“She hits her spots every time, stays solid,” Halbert said. “She’s strong through the turn, just stays balanced and is correct. That’s what we saw in her originally and what made us want to try to buy her. We thought she would make a great rodeo horse.”
“She’s fast and running-bred,” Halbert said. “I don’t know why she likes to turn, but she does and I’m grateful. She’s spicy, confident—no, cocky. I don’t know if I’d be her friend if she was a person. She might bully me.”
Katie Jo Halbert
Halbert purchased the mare from a friend and finished out her futurity year last fall after the tragic loss of her 7-year-old FuryOfTheWind daughter, Fury on the Run.
“It was so hard to understand that happening at the time,” Halbert said. “But that’s how God works. It all works out.”
Halbert is operating with a “flexible,” goal approach for the year. She’s got her faithful 12-year-old mare, a full sister to NFR-qualifying stallion, Freckles Ta Fame, “Can Man,” and her youngster, a 4-year-old daughter of JL Dash Ta Heaven and out of the great KR Last Fling on the trailer as well, and she’s planning on hitting her fair share of futurity and derby races in between rodeos. She’s found that balancing futurities and derbies around her rodeo schedule can help her green horses stay confident.
“It gives these young ones a chance to build confidence,” Halbert said. “It’s so hard for them to adjust to everything (at rodeos) and it rattles them. When you run them on great ground I can stand them up, give them some trust in me and in themselves and when I take them back to rodeos, they know they can do it.”
Halbert was born and raised in Port Lavaca, Texas, and works at her family’s civil engineering firm that specializes in coastal and marshland projects. Halbert isn’t just looking forward to her next month of hitting the Colorado Classic Futurity and Derby in Montrose, Colorado, the Ruby Buckle West Race in South Jordan, Utah, and a jam-paced Fourth of July run—she’s all about soaking up the cooler weather.
“I’m all about staying out of the Texas heat,” Halbert said. “I don’t really have a game plan, I’m just listening to (Milania) and seeing what she can handle and playing it by ear. I’ve learned that out here, it’s better to enter and give yourself a chance to win something. You can always draw out, and lots of times that will actually help somebody who needs to run that day. So just go for it.”
ProRodeo barrel racing results
Sisters Rodeo
Sisters, Ore., June 9-11
1. Katie Halbert, 17.19 seconds, $6,097; 2. Megan McLeod-Sprague, 17.51, $4,877; 3. Mary Thomas, 17.60, $3,963; 4. Cambria Estep, 17.61, $3,048; 5. Sharon Gow, 17.62, $2,439; 6. Julia Johnson, 17.70, $1,829; 7. Serena Randall, 17.72, $1,524; 8. Jennifer Kalafatic, 17.75, $1,372; 9. Cathy Cagliari, 17.76, $1,219; 10. (tie) Arley Hughes and Payton Schoeppach, 17.77, $991 each; 12. Deanna Davis, 17.80, $762; 13. Jennifer Marshall, 17.83, $610; 14. Taycie Matthews, 17.84, $457; 15. Tristan Parrish, 17.85, $305.
June 05-June 11
Lea Park Rodeo
Marwayne, Alberta, June 9-11
1. Bertina Olafson, 16.39 seconds, $4,207; 2. Donna Kay Rule, 16.40, $3,576; 3. (tie) Vanessa Salisbury and Justine Elliott, 16.42, $2,734 each; 5. Bayleigh Choate, 16.44, $2,103; 6. Kylie Whiteside, 16.50, $1,472; 7. Haylyn Lide, 16.52, $1,052; 8. Jessi Fish, 16.55, $841; 9. Cora Guest, 16.58, $736; 10. (tie) Kennedy Smith and Kate Beierbach, 16.61, $578 each; 12. (tie) Colby Bonnett, Karli Cowie, Sherylynn Johnson and Blake Molle, 16.62, $105 each.
Bonnyville Pro Rodeo
Bonnyville, Alberta, June 9-10
1. Lane Wills, 17.12 seconds, $2,059; 2. Jessi Fish, 17.26, $1,750; 3. Karli Haeberle, 17.27, $1,441; 4. Bayleigh Choate, 17.29, $1,235; 5. Rene Leclercq, 17.31, $1,029; 6. Farrah Fogg, 17.43, $721; 7. Toni Dixon, 17.47, $515; 8. Lynette Brodoway, 17.48, $11.72; 9. Reata Schlosser, 17.50, $360; 10. (tie) Blake Molle and Kyla Simmons, 17.52, $283 each; 12. (tie) Lakota Bird and Diane Skocdopole, 17.54, $103 each.
Livermore Rodeo
Livermore, Calif., June 10-11
1. Kay Cochran, 17.31 seconds, $3,377; 2. Shelby Bates, 17.35, $2,702; 3. Hayle Gibson, 17.40, $2,195; 4. Kathy Petska, 17.43, $1,689; 5. Kaillee Hamre, 17.44, $1,351; 6. Leia Pluemer, 17.45, $1,013; 7. Kristi Youngblood-Spurr, 17.58, $844; 8. Paige Dove, 17.60, $760; 9. Shelley Holman, 17.63, $675; 10. Taylor Arakelian, 17.64, $591; 11. Tarryn Lee, 17.67, $507; 12. Jan Reis, 17.69, $422; 13. Nellie Miller, 17.71, $338; 14. Kelsey Cadwell, 17.76, $253; 15. Kaiden Ayres, 17.82, $169.
Bonnyville Pro Rodeo
Bonnyville, Alberta, June 9-10
1. Lane Wills, 17.12 seconds, $2,059; 2. Jessi Fish, 17.26, $1,750; 3. Karli Haeberle, 17.27, $1,441; 4. Bayleigh Choate, 17.29, $1,235; 5. Rene Leclercq, 17.31, $1,029; 6. Farrah Fogg, 17.43, $721; 7. Toni Dixon, 17.47, $515; 8. Lynette Brodoway, 17.48, $11.72; 9. Reata Schlosser, 17.50, $360; 10. (tie) Blake Molle and Kyla Simmons, 17.52, $283 each; 12. (tie) Lakota Bird and Diane Skocdopole, 17.54, $103 each.
Livermore Rodeo
Livermore, Calif., June 10-11
1. Kay Cochran, 17.31 seconds, $3,377; 2. Shelby Bates, 17.35, $2,702; 3. Hayle Gibson, 17.40, $2,195; 4. Kathy Petska, 17.43, $1,689; 5. Kaillee Hamre, 17.44, $1,351; 6. Leia Pluemer, 17.45, $1,013; 7. Kristi Youngblood-Spurr, 17.58, $844; 8. Paige Dove, 17.60, $760; 9. Shelley Holman, 17.63, $675; 10. Taylor Arakelian, 17.64, $591; 11. Tarryn Lee, 17.67, $507; 12. Jan Reis, 17.69, $422; 13. Nellie Miller, 17.71, $338; 14. Kelsey Cadwell, 17.76, $253; 15. Kaiden Ayres, 17.82, $169.
Eastern Oregon Livestock Show
Union, Ore., June 9-11
1. Amberley Snyder, 17.35 seconds, $2,209; 2. Rachelle Riggers, 17.37, $1,878; 3. Arley Hughes, 17.63, $1,546; 4. Kacey Gartner, 17.68, $1,325; 5. Lindsey Ham, 17.69, $1,105; 6. Tristan Parrish, 17.70, $773; 7. Jordan Minor, 17.75, $552; 8. Abby Sutfin, 17.77, $442; 9. Cambria Estep, 17.90, $387; 10. Italy Sheehan, 17.91, $331; 11. Mary Munkers, 17.93, $276; 12. (tie) Natalie Deking and Julia Johnson, 17.98, $110 each.
Wisconsin River Pro Rodeo
Merrill, Wis., June 9-11
1. Kricket Gintner, 17.31 seconds, $1,359; 2. Sandi Brandli, 17.40, $1,165; 3. (tie) Julie Erkamaa, Lucy Ferch and Mikalie Maunu, 17.46, $820 each; 6. Morgan Anderson, 17.47, $518; 7. Lexi Hall, 17.48, $388; 8. Nikki Singler, 17.51, $259; 9. Tasia Behnke, 17.55, $194; 10. Kari Diedrich, 17.62, $129.
Rocky Pro Rodeo
Rocky Mountain House, Alberta, June 9-11
BARRELS CANCELED
Goshen Stampede
Goshen, Conn., June 11
1. Brooke Klinger, 15.38 seconds, $670; 2. Jodi Colton, 15.53, $583; 3. Madison Iager, 15.69, $495; 4. April Masterson, 15.77, $408; 5. Beth Borowy, 15.79, $321; 6. Montanna Lambrecht, 15.80, $233; 7. (tie) Mackenzie Dance, Kerri Frazier and Renee Gardner, 15.85, $68 each.
Woodward Elks Rodeo
Woodward, Okla., June 7-10
1. Lisa Lockhart, 16.94 seconds, $4,100; 2. Hailey Kinsel, 17.08, $3,280; 3. Ivy Hurst, 17.14, $2,665; 4. Ivy Saebens, 17.17, $2,050; 5. Summer Kosel, 17.19, $1,640; 6. Sadie Wolaver, 17.23, $1,230; 7. Sabra O’Quinn, 17.27, $1,025; 8. Ilyssa Riley, 17.29, $923; 9. Ashley Parks, 17.31, $820; 10. Kelly Allen, 17.33, $718; 11. Shelley Morgan, 17.40, $615; 12. Emily Griffin, 17.42, $513; 13. Nicole Driggers, 17.44, $410; 14. Tamara Reinhardt, 17.45, $308; 15. Ali Armstrong, 17.47, $205.
Parker County Sheriffs Posse Frontier Days And PRCA Rodeo
Weatherford, Texas, June 7-10
1. Loni Yates, 16.76 seconds, $4,200; 2. Sable Emerson, 17.02, $3,360; 3. Leslie Smalygo, 17.07, $2,730; 4. (tie) Ivy Hurst and Tamara Reinhardt, 17.09, $1,890 each; 6. Summer Kosel, 17.10, $1,260; 7. Dena Kirkpatrick, 17.13, $1,050; 8. Dania Lamarche, 17.14, $945; 9. Cheyenne Wimberley, 17.18, $840; 10. Jentri Haivala, 17.23, $735; 11. Ashley Castleberry, 17.28, $630; 12. Taylor Johnson, 17.34, $525; 13. Lydia Bierschwale-Luce, 17.37, $420; 14. Jimmie Smith-Tew, 17.38, $315; 15. Shelley Morgan, 17.39, $210.
Eagle Rodeo
Eagle, Idaho, June 7-10
1. (tie) Paige Dove and Sue Smith, 17.63 seconds, $2,308 each; 3. Coti Fuller, 17.67, $1,746; 4. Abigail Knight, 17.69, $1,497; 5. Tristan Parrish, 17.75, $1,247; 6. Deanna Davis, 17.82, $873; 7. Italy Sheehan, 17.92, $624; 8. Sammy Nelson, 17.94, $499; 9. Darby Fox, 17.96, $437; 10. (tie) Haley Proctor and Abby Sutfin, 17.98, $343 each; 12. Megan McLeod-Sprague, 18.02, $249.
Coleman PRCA Rodeo
Coleman, Texas, June 8-10
1. Dee Ratliff, 17.61 seconds, $2,004; 2. Stevi Hillman, 17.64, $1,703; 3. Preslie Reid, 17.73, $1,403; 4. Ashley Castleberry, 17.76, $1,202; 5. Hailey Kinsel, 17.77, $1,002; 6. Shaylee Hindman, 17.84, $701; 7. Jentri Haivala, 17.90, $501; 8. Natalie Bland, 17.91, $401; 9. Michelle Alley, 18.03, $351; 10. Millie Marquart, 18.07, $301; 11. Stephanie Fryar, 18.09, $251; 12. (tie) Taylor Baize and Jimmie Smith-Tew, 18.16, $100 each.
101 Wild West Rodeo
Ponca City, Okla., June 8-10
1. Sandy McElreath, 7.79 seconds, $2,344; 2. Lisa Lockhart, 17.31, $1,993; 3. Sidney Forrest, 17.42, $1,641; 4. (tie) Chloe Gray and Ashley Rogers, 17.55, $1,289 each; 6. (tie) Ivy Saebens and Sarah Waguespack, 17.57, $703 each; 8. Ivy Hurst, 17.63, $469; 9. Andrea Haden, 17.77, $410; 10. Cayla Small, 17.80, $352; 11. Angie Meadors, 17.81, $293; 12. (tie) Kelly Allen and Tracy Nowlin, 17.86, $117 each.
Ute Mountain Round-Up
Cortez, Colo., June 8-10
1. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 17.31 seconds, $2,030; 2. Cindy Smith, 17.46, $1,726; 3. Tibba Smith, 17.50, $1,421; 4. Kim Schulze, 17.58, $1,218; 5. Tara Seaton, 17.60, $1,015; 6. Doskie Edwards, 17.67, $711; 7. Kelly Yates, 17.70, $508; 8. Kassidy Dennison, 17.77, $406; 9. Jaime Hinton, 17.82, $355; 10. Sophie Nolen, 17.84, $305; 11. (tie) Sydni Blanchard and Barbara Johnson, 17.86, $228 each.
Gladewater Round-Up Rodeo
Gladewater, Texas, June 8-10
1. Abby Pursifull, 17.08 seconds, $2,054; 2. Courtney Durrum, 17.25, $1,761; 3. (tie) Makala Pierce and Kristin Shoppa, 17.28, $1,369 each; 5. Abby Phillips, 17.29, $978; 6. LaTricia Duke, 17.30, $782; 7. Sissy Winn, 17.40, $587; 8. Erin Wetzel, 17.46, $391; 9. Ashley Parks, 17.53, $293; 10. (tie) Jamie Olsen and Jimmie Smith-Tew, 17.55, $98 each.
Pony Express Rodeo
Eagle Mountain, Utah, June 8-10
1. Haylee Woodward, 15.66 seconds, $1,435; 2. Marcie Wilson, 15.73, $1,230; 3. Stacy Glause, 15.83, $1,025; 4. (tie) Kylie Martinez and Italy Sheehan, 15.85, $786 each; 6. Caitlyn White, 15.90, $547; 7. Lauren Butler, 15.96, $410; 8. Amberley Snyder, 15.99, $273; 9. Teressa Peck, 16.00, $205; 10. Jillette Atkinson, 16.03, $137.
Johnson County Sheriff’s Posse Rodeo
Cleburne, Texas, June 7-10
1. Jimmie Smith-Tew, 16.29 seconds, $2,077; 2. Sara Winkelman, 16.31, $1,766; 3. Abby Pursifull, 16.35, $1,454; 4. Keyla Costa, 16.39, $1,246; 5. Michelle Alley, 16.49, $1,039; 6. Jamie Olsen, 16.54, $727; 7. Ilyssa Riley, 16.55, $519; 8. Sadie Wolaver, 16.58, $415; 9. Tillar King, 16.63, $364; 10. Martha Smith, 16.65, $312; 11. (tie) Shaylee Hindman, Kaycee Killingsworth and Jodee Miller, 16.66, $156 each.
Flagstaff Pro Rodeo
Flagstaff, Ariz., June 8-10
1. Cindy Smith, 17.47 seconds, $1,238; 2. Doskie Edwards, 17.48, $1,061; 3. Jaime Hinton, 17.58, $884; 4. Kelly Robertson, 17.69, $766; 5. Courtney Cline, 17.72, $589; 6. Halle DeWitt, 17.73, $472; 7. Carly Longo, 17.74, $354; 8. Karsen Jackson, 17.79, $236; 9. Rebecca Kenner, 17.84, $177; 10. Jana Bean, 17.86, $118.
American Heroes PRCA Rodeo
Hawley, Minn., June 9-10
1. Fonda Melby, 14.30 seconds, $800; 2. (tie) Kendra Hoovestol and Lori Nelson, 14.60, $643 each; 4. (tie) Hallie Fulton, Michaela Roemmich and Jillian Zaun, 14.70, $383 each; 7. (tie) Allison Ness and Allison Pauley, 14.80, $122 each.
Tarkio PRCA Rodeo
Tarkio, Mo., June 9-10
1. Shannon Jensen, 16.23 seconds, $610; 2. Katie Larson, 16.47, $530; 3. Shanna Simmons, 16.54, $451; 4. Annie Herr, 16.59, $371; 5. Rachel Schroeder, 16.61, $292; 6. Micala Dummit, 16.65, $212; 7. Jenna Beaver, 16.75, $133; 8. Caitlyn Clair, 16.76, $53.
San Juan Stampede
Monticello, Utah, June 9-10
1. Savannah Bennett, 15.66 seconds, $1,490; 2. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 15.71, $1,277; 3. Lauren Butler, 15.76, $1,065; 4. Halle DeWitt, 15.91, $923; 5. Sophie Nolen, 15.92, $710; 6. Amanda Butler, 15.93, $568; 7. Karsen Jackson, 15.98, $426; 8. (tie) Sabrina Ketcham and Kim Schulze, 16.00, $248 each; 10. Baillie Screws, 16.15, $142.
Mesquite Championship Rodeo
Mesquite, Texas, June 10
1. Rainey Skelton, 14.69 seconds, $680; 2. Keyla Costa, 14.97, $591; 3. Sierra Scott-Williams, 14.98, $503; 4. (tie) Jodee Miller and Candie Wolf, 15.01, $370 each; 6. Summer Cooper, 15.19, $237; 7. Makala Pierce, 15.22, $148; 8. Rebecca St. Martin, 15.39, $59.
Goshen Stampede
Goshen, Conn., June 10
1. Jaime Fowler, 15.26 seconds, $835; 2. Brooke Klinger, 15.55, $726; 3. April Masterson, 15.62, $617; 4. (tie) Montanna Lambrecht and Dawn Powell, 15.64, $454 each; 6. Amy O’Neill, 15.67, $290; 7. Jenny Guzzi, 15.81, $181; 8. Danielle Ventrella, 15.86, $73.
Cowtown Rodeo
Woodstown Pilesgrove, N.J., June 10
1. Riley Shetron, 17.50 seconds, $466; 2. Ali Montgomery, 17.60, $405; 3. Beth Borowy, 17.78, $344; 4. Belle Lawrence, 18.00, $284; 5. Karissa Landis, 18.53, $223; 6. Katie Hryckowian, 18.75, $162; 7. Carly Sellers, 18.81, $101; 8. Michelle Guglielmo, 18.88, $41.
Jurupa Valley Community Pro Rodeo
Jurupa Valley, Calif., June 9-10
1. Taylor Arakelian, 14.42 seconds, $497; 2. Anne Miller, 14.70, $412; 3. Paloma Alvarado, 14.72, $326; 4. Alyssa Horner, 14.73, $240; 5. Jessica Jones, 14.87, $154; 6. Tonya Burchard, 15.22, $86.
