Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Riata Ranch Cowboy Girls at the WNFR Contract Personnel Banquet

The Riata Ranch Cowboy Girls recently returned from the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo an Specialty Act Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada. The girls all had a great time catching up with old friends and making new ones, and also had a pleasurable experience at the 1st and 3rd go rounds.

One experience the Cowboy Girls will not take lightly is the contract personnel meeting. Lecile Harris gave an amazing accent to a question asked. The basis of the speech was that specialty acts can not just expect hand outs and contracts; in order to secure rodeos, one must continually improve, modify, break down and build back up their act. Being hired is an accomplishment, a testament to all the long hours one puts in perfecting their craft. You were hired based on the individuality, appearence and appealing aspect of your act, not because a committee was forced by contract to hire you. The rodeo isn't just about the specialty acts either, it's the prCa for a reason, Pro Rodeo COWBOYS Association, one should never forget that. Do for yourself; work hard and be rewarded by getting hired, for then you know that you have earned it.

Each Cowboy Girl slowly smiled and looked at one another. Isn't this what Riata Ranch has taught since 1957? To never stop working, progress and push yourself to the next level, beyond limitations. To give the best possible performance every time, for every committee, for every rodeo, every venue. To exude professionalism whether getting a bottle of water or standing in front of 17 000 people Texas Skipping. Lecile Harris touched on the very foundations of what Riata Ranch is built upon, and it was refreshing to hear someone that shares our thoughts, beliefs and ideas. What an honour to be in the same room with those people, one that a Riata girl does not take lightly.

Not only did the Girls get to see old friends like Dale and Carol Miller, Bob Tallman and other acts such as Max Reynolds, but they also got to meet new and upcoming talents that were very inspiring, such as Abigail Petersen and the Wild Rose Trick Riders. Courtesy of Sean Davis and with the help of Kenny Petet, Brandi and Aly were able to attend round 3 as spectators that got to get the crowd motivated (you know how good the girls are at that!). As usual, a cowboy girl's adventures are never ending.

Now is the time for rejuvination, revitalization and resurrection of the act. Time to improve, tone and tighten. Boy, are we ready.

Friday, November 13 2009

Friday the 13th!

To most people, friday the 13th is an unlucky day. But not to a Riata Ranch Cowboy Girl!! The number thirteen happens to be Riata's lucky number.

After much hard work in the past few months, rehearsels and countless practices, the younger girls will be appearing in a Christmas Show as the Five Golden Rings!Accompanied by director Jennifer and new member Mindy, the girls will definitely get their time to shine :). Of course the older team will be there to assist and support their younger team mates, from completeing show makeup to helping with choreography, Riata girls stick together.

There are many great things about being a Riata Ranch Cowboy Girl, but one in particular stands out today as we recieve pictures from Mr Mathieson, who took great shots of the girls interacting with troops and their family at the airforce base, to shots backstage by Tami Jo Gramont, friend of the team and phenomenal photographer. The pictures are not only of performing, but of a softer side that isn't made public often; not only are these girls true show people, but are also exceptional young people outside of the arena. Pictures of Brandi holding a little girl that just wanted to be a part of the fray, to pictures of them prepping horses for practice, with silly grins and not an ounce of tired etched on their faces, even though they had done many school appearences the day before and a Bass Pro Shop appearence earlier that day. These girls understand the hardwork that goes into making Riata Ranch what it is simply because they are the ones that do it. There are no grooms, no agents, no managers (besides Dad Chad!); only young women that are joined together, drawn in by the tricks and stayed on for the values, that know hard work equals success.

On such an "unlucky" day, Riata Ranch continues to do what they do. Ranch tomorrow, with practice for the team and some riding as well.

Tuesday, Nov 10 2009

Welcome Back!

With some time off, the Riata Ranch Cowboy Girls are back in action! During some well deserved time off, the Cowboy Girls met some amazing people from Ayala Farms and were honoured to ride some of their fantastic mounts. Also, in early October, the team welcomed new member Mindy Garrison, 2008 Ms.Woodlake Rodeo Queen.

This previous weekend the girls performed at the World's Toughest Rodeo in Glendale, Arizona. A great show, (and Mindy's first) for Jennifer, Brandi, Spencer, Aly and Mindy. Friday being a great media day, the girls got the pleasure of entertaining at the Luke Airforce Base for those that serve this country and their families. Interacting with those brave people really left an impact on all the girls.

Life Lessons Learned from Horseback

As always, there was a lesson to be learned at this performance. The girls got to work with some experts that have helped make performing an art, and a lot was learned. Jennifer also gave many inspirational and motivational coaching points to the girls, one being that you get back whatever you put in to the show. For example, if you only put in 50% of the dedication and hardwork into the show and show prep, your only going to get 50% of your abilities in the arena.

After much time off, the Girls are back at it! Next up, Kidsfest and the WNFR Specialty Act Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada. Welcome back, Aly, and welcome on Mindy! Stick around for more entries!

Saturday, August 29 2009

Life Lessons Learned on Horseback
Today was definitely a day out of the norm at Riata Ranch. A television film crew had taken interest in the Ranch and decided to come out and do some test shooting for a possible project. As the Riata way, the girls made sure the ranch was spic and span for the coming crew. Cobwebs dusted away, hay stacked and banners put up, the ranch was cleaned top to bottom. As the film crew set up and the girls got used to them being around and doing takes, Jennifer gave a very important coaching lesson. Say your name! Take control of the situation! Dont let your emotions control you, control them! Your given one thing in life that only you can own, and that is your name. Even in the least formal of occasions, you should always be proud of your name and who you are. The door to oppertunity is marked push; your character and your work ethic are what keep that door open.

Overview of Trick Riding and Shooting

We welcomed back from St. Louis, Missouri, Shaye Bouckaert a 7 year team member. A wonderful personality and a great hand, Shaye jumped right in and helped out, even though her flight arrived at 11 pm the previous night. She partnered up with Cisco and worked on getting back into her stroud layout.

Brandi, Aly, Ashley and Spencer worked with the four show horses Jesse, Buddy, Cisco and Cochise, doing the tricks done in the show as required for shots.

Bresia and Nicole hopped up on the horses after for some coaching, a big congrats goes out to Bresia for completeing her first Backbend at a run! Great job Bresia, you really rode well today. Nicole continued to work on her hippodrome stand and did a nice job on Cochise. Alyssa also came out later in the day to help out at the ranch.

The shooting went really well, everyone carried on like professionals in the 102 degree heat. A big thanks goes out to the production crew for their patience with us goofy gals. We're really NO fun at all ;).

A very successful day for the girls, many lessons learned. A great eye opener and another page to add to our "summer novel". Hopefully many more days like this to come!

Moses Lake, Washington and R2 Ranch, Madras Oregon

Performing at Moses Lake, Washington

Credit Miller Photo

August 20th, 21st, and 22nd in Moses Lake Washington

After a lengthy drive and some troublesome tires, the Riata gang arrived in Moses Lake, Washington at 3 p.m. Wednesday afternoon. Cleaning and freshening up, the group was asked to perform some rope tricks at the demolition derby that night on top of the winning cars. Going with the flow, the Riata girls didn't skip a beat as they texas skipped and big looped on top of those cars!

The actual rodeo began on thursday August 20th. The ring was in great condition for some roping and trick riding. With school starting, Riata girls have had to buck up, and this show was no exception. With Brandi, Spencer, Aly and Jennifer, they pulled of a normal routine that would have taken 6 girls and still managed to get a standing ovation before the trick riding had even begun. Every night went excellently, with the antics of JJ Harrison and the great announcing Will Rasmussen lighting up the arena.

After such a long haul, the group decided to stop off and see some old friends at the R2 Ranch. If there's ever people to learn from, it's the R2 company. Real ranchers by day and night, they work from dawn until dusk, tending to 60 000+ acres and livestock. They showed real cowboy hospitality by taking the gals out on the lake, teaching balance through some wake boarding and strength while clinging on for dear life to an inner tube. We also found out that our Canadian is deathly afraid of open water and fish, not a good combination for the day, that Jennifer is good at everything BUT wake boarding, Brandi has the stickiest hands and stayed on the longest on the inner tube and Spencer doesn't last too long when it's cold and she's tired!!!

With our summer winding down, the days start to blend together as everyone slowly drifts back to their everyday lives. Aly returns to Canada in a week until NFR in December, and the team will be slowing right down until then. Bear with us as the days get a little less exciting and the time we have off is used to push harder and produce a better show for next season.

Thanks for keeping track of us everyone! We'll try to update whenever we can, stay tuned!

Friday, Saturday, Sunday Aug 14,15,16 Napa Valley Mexican Rodeo and Tehachapi PRCA Rodeo

Spencer with Cochise
Brandi with Jesse
Aly with Buddy
Bresia and Jennifer with Cisco

Napa Valley, California Rodeo
After visiting the wrong fairgrounds, the Riata Ranch Cowboy Girls arrived at the Napa Valley performance. With a few hours to spare, the girls introduced the horses to the sights and sounds of the fair. The Riata horses have been exposed to just about everything, but sometimes it's better to be safe than sorry when in a new environment. Cisco had a small sensory overload which Jennifer helped work him through in order for Bresia to trick ride on him. All of the horses did very well on the straight away pattern, Cochise especially excelling.

The group number down to four for this performance, Bresia Aguleria was asked to step up to the plate and was given the oppertunity to perform in the trick riding and roping, for the first time. Having little practice in the roping, Bresia did a great job making sure all the horses were in the station and lined up. She rode extremely well under the circumstances, with lots of help from the older team members.

About 8 p.m., the team loaded back up and headed down to Tehachapi, California for a PRCA rodeo.

Tehachapi, California PRCA Rodeo
Back again to Tehachapi for another great rodeo with better friends. It was like spending time with family out in Tehachapi, with Dale and Carol Miller of Miller Photo, and "Uncle" Mike Hayhurst, the barrelman/rodeo clown, as well as the great folks from Dodge.

After experiencing some highly stimulating circumstances in Napa, Cisco calmed right back down and became his old self. The parade started at 10, which meant girls had to be up by 7:45 to be parade ready. After driving all night and falling into the trailer at about 5 am, the girls put on the makeup and rode with their regular, cheerful greetings to the audience and kudos to Brandi for Texas Skipping on top of the trailer!

The first night was both trick riding and trick roping, seperated. Bresia did amazingly well again, remaining cool and calm under pressure and catching on to the intricate dance steps quite quickly. The horses ran smooth and sure, Cochise and Buddy needing a little guidance with the transition from straight away to normal trick riding pattern, but they pulled it together and rode it right.

The second night was strictly trick riding, and boy, was it a good one. All tricks went really well, Bresia even doing the suicide drag for the very first time in her first show! Everyone worked communicating with the audience and really selling the act to them. Overall, Tehachapi was a great performance, a lot of fun times singing around the camp fire with people we consider family.

Life Lessons Learned on Horseback
Driving down the road gives the girls a lot of time to think upon their lives and where it's going, what's happening in it and how to get where you need to go. Jennifer gave a great thought while driving up to Tehachapi; sometimes oppertunity knocks when you least expect it. Referring to Bec leaving, Jennifer remarked that even though it's hard to close that door, you have to
in order for the next to open, because you never know, it could be a greater oppertunity. Bresia received oppertunity this weekend, because she was at the right place and the right time and look what happened; she proved herself a quick learner and a cool head that prevails.



Look out Moses Lake, Washington. The Riata Ranch Cowboy Girls are headed your way!

Thursday August 13, 2009

Prep for Napa Valley Mexican Rodeo and Tehachapi PRCA Rodeo

Today was a good day out at the ranch. We brought Bresia home with us from Disneyland, and had her work on some tricks today. Bresia is the level 5 state champion for uneven bars in gymnastics, so she has a great wealth of strength and stamina. Bresia is currently working on the backbend, one foot stand and hippodrome stand. Look out for her in Napa Valley!! Spencer did a great job coaching her.

Not only did those two practice, but Aly and Brandi washed the horses and loaded up the trailer with saddles and other equipment. Wardrobe was sorted and everything was put in it's place.

Now the energy is mounting. Like electricity before a storm, charges go through the air. everyone knows what comes next. No strangers to long hauls and late nights, Riata girls pull up their bootstraps and put on the best possible show. And believe me, audience, the next few weeks are going to be grueling. Not the shows, per say, but the hauling and the wear and tear of going from an emotional high in the arena to the long nights of caring for the horses, cleaning up tack, packing up and moving on out to the next show. But for a Riata girl; that's the joy. That's what we work so hard for. We practice and take care so that we can share our passion with every one who comes to the venue, be it the prestigious Reno Rodeo or a local school that needs some girls doing rope tricks to come say hi to an after school group of kids. Impressing on them the pride, dignity and confidence all in yourself that comes from being a Riata girl. Riata doesn't just teach you some tricks; it teaches you to believe in yourself, to become who you want to be. Those are the kind of lessons you will take anywhere with you, any time, and any place.

Everyone is really looking forward to the next couple of weeks. We've got some exciting times ahead. Who knows what will happen?