The futurity barrel horse trainers of the Northwest showed out at the Red Rocket Futurity, Cornhusker Futurity, Fizzbomb Classic Futurity and Indiana Barrel Futurity.
Red Rocket Futurity
Sue Smith and Jets Pin Up win Red Rocket Futurity Championship.
By Morgan Anderson
Never count the multiple-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier Sue Smith out. The Blackfoot, Idaho, professional barrel racer means business whenever she comes through the gate, whether it’s on a futurity, derby, or rodeo horse.
Fresh off of a 2023 NFR qualification on 2016 buckskin gelding Diamond Center (A Smooth Guy x Dashs Centerfold x Dash Ta Fame) and his dam herself, Smith has spent this year attending professional rodeos where it counts but also focusing her efforts on her upcoming colts out of the cornerstone dam of her program, 2011 chestnut mare, Dashs Centerfold (Dash Ta Fame x Diamonds Tiny Effort x Proudest Effort).
“One of my most special memories with Centerfold was when she won $30,000 at the Diamonds and Dirt Slot Race in 2016, and that very same day, her first colt by A Smooth Guy, “Hef,” was born,” Smith admitted.
Following Hef, Smith decided to breed Centerfold to Blazin Jetolena, which resulted in the 2019 sorrel mare Jets Pin Up.
“I had always been a fan of Blazin, having run against him at futurities when he was a colt; he was amazing,” Smith said.
Smith said that rodeoing heavily last year played a large role in Beth’s futurity year thus far.
“I haven’t gotten her to as many futurities as I would have liked to this year. She is really, really gritty and one of the quickest horses I’ve ever rode. With that being said, sometimes that would get us in trouble because she was almost trying too hard,” Smith said. “She is finally coming around and becoming more solid and consistent.”
Smith explained before the Red Rocket futurity, she made a bit change.
“I was riding her in an Elliot, and I felt like she was getting a little pushy in it, so I took a piggin string and made it into a combo. That’s what she won the Red Rocket futurity in.”
Smith’s swift thinking, knowledge of her horse, and bits sealed the deal at the Red Rocket Futurity in South Jordan, Utah, where she won the first round with a 16.128, placed third in the second round with a 16.219, and secured the Red Rocket Futurity Championship with a 32.347 on two runs. Together, the dynamic duo earned over $9,000 in total weekend earnings.
“She’s shown me she can shut the clock off, so I just need to get her seasoned and consistent. I entered Pink Buckle, and then we will head down to Arizona for the winter,” Smith said.
Aside from her personal horses, Smith trains a select number of outside horses for a small group of noteworthy clientele, including Busby Quarter Horses, LLC, owner of Blazin Jetolena.
An accomplished horsewoman in every aspect of the industry, Smith has earned her winning reputation by training a slew of horses that have taken her and taken her and a multitude of other riders into the winners’ circle. She is multi-talented and is able to shoe, tool leather, design a bit, and train barrel horses as one of the best in the business.
“The biggest challenge out of anything I’ve ever done was to learn how to train futurity horses. They all have different mindsets and confirmations; some are willing, and there are ways to get to most of them; you just have to take a different approach. That is pretty challenging but also very rewarding whenever it works out,” Smith explained. “I try to make a living out of this and become successful with other riders, which is also very rewarding. Being a part of someone else’s success in any way, I really enjoy that as well.”
Smith thanks her sponsors, who she says play a pivotal role in her day-to-day life. These include 3S Custom Equine, Iconoclast Boots, Elliot Bit N Spur, Three Forks Saddlery, Forco, and Zesterra.
“All of my sponsors are products I use daily,” Sue admitted with gratitude.
Red Rocket Futurity 1D Average Results: 1) Sue Smith/Jets Pin Up/32.247/$2,870; 2) Calli VanTassel/Cvt Rockyroad/32.539/$2,371; 3) Skye Miller/KG Shock N Awe/32.607/$2,122; 4) Vauna Walker/Rvfamedfrenchgoodbye/32.716/$1,747; 5) Kenna Kaminski/Ivan Drinkin/32.738/$1,373; 6) Taylor Rivera/The Sting Operator/32.879/$874; 7) Sarah Rose Waguespack/Hanksinthefastlane/32.979/$624; 8) Kaecee Knight/Kissa Goodbye/32.998/$499.
Cornhusker Breeders and Open Futurity
Hilary Hilzendeger and RS Bumble Bee Sting sweep Cornhusker Breeders and Open futurities.
By Morgan Anderson
Professional futurity barrel horse trainer Hilary Hilzendeger of Avon, South Dakota, has had an electric year aboard a five-year-old bay mare, RS Bumble Bee Sting, owned by Kenneth and Julie Strickland.
The talented, gritty, and fast mare has already amassed Equistat earnings of more than $128,800.
“It’s the most I’ve ever won in a year before on a futurity horse; it’s pretty surreal, really,” Hilary admitted. “She is a really special horse; definitely one of the nicest I’ve ridden thus far in my career. And the opportunities to win big money in the incentives at the futurities is just like never before.”
Hilary explained that she knew “Bumble Bee” had a lot of raw talent, even at the beginning of the training process.
“She just wanted to run barrels from the very beginning; it was really easy for her. I remember calling the owners after about four months of having her in training and being like, well, I’m not sure what I’m supposed to do now,” Hilary exclaimed. “She was working amazingly, and I thought she would get bored, so Cody started roping on her some.”
With minimal opportunity to exhibition up North and with a full trailer of competing horses, Hilary planned to wait and enter futurities until she felt the mare was confident and ready after some jackpot runs.
“Bumble Bee had different plans. The first jackpot I took her to in Arizona, she placed fifth in the 1D. I think I had only taken her three places to the exhibition beforehand. The rest was history; she’s been great ever since,” Hilary explained.
Hilary swept both rounds of the Cornhusker Breeders and Open Futurity in McCook, Nebraska, with a 30.020 on two runs. Even more impressive, she set the arena record and ran the fastest time of the weekend in the second round with a 14.828, bringing their weekend earnings to over $17,000.
The very next weekend, they ventured over to Gillette, Wyoming, to the Fizzbomb Classic, where they were crowned the Fizzbomb Futurity Reserve Champions and the 2024 Fizzbomb Blue Collar Breeders Futurity Champions, where Hilary and Bumble Bee won close to $40,000.
“Not only is she a great barrel horse, but she is also a really nice rope horse. She is so willing and good at anything she does,” Hilary explained. “My husband, Cody, heading on her before the big futurities always makes a big difference. It really helps back her off and slow her feet down a little bit.”
Hilary has plans to attend the Pink Buckle in Guthrie, Oklahoma. Then, they will take three trailer loads of both personal and outside horses to Arizona for the winter between her and her husband, who is a professional rope horse trainer.
“I really can’t thank the Stricklands enough for being so great to ride for. They are so supportive and positive to ride for. I also have to thank my husband; he is such an instrumental part of my program, helping me with my horses. I can’t thank him enough,” Hilary said with gratitude.
Hilary also thanked her sponsors: 3S Custom Equine, Robbie Phillips Saddlery, Med-Vet Pharmaceuticals, Complete Pro Equine, South Grove Tack, and Double C Western Supply.
Cornhusker Breeder’s Futurity 1D Average Results:
1) Hilary Hilzendeger/RS Bumble Bee Sting/30.020/$3,198; 2) Bailey Alvarez /Jfive Stoned In Vegas/30.763/$2,665; 3) Jada Haken/Brecklynn/30.768/ $2,265; 4) Britany Diaz/Duude/30.996/$1,732; 5) Amelia McCumber/Aint Seen My Design/31.050/$1,332; 6) Maesa Kummer/ Oh By Golly/31.265/$932; 7) Kylie Wells-Schnoes/VF Got A Light Eddie/31.290/$666; 8) Cody Adams/ZZ Zeke/31.584/$533.
Fizzbomb Classic
Vauna Walker and Rvfamedfrenchgoodbye crowned Fizzbomb Classic Futurity Champions.
By Morgan Anderson
No stranger to the winner’s circle, professional futurity barrel horse trainer Vauna Walker of Pingree, Idaho, was the 2018 Pink Buckle Futurity Champion aboard a special 2014 palomino gelding, The French Goodbye, whom Vauna and her husband, Randy, raised.
Now, in 2024, she is winning again on RvFamedfrenchgoodbye, who just so happens to be a full sibling to the 2018 Pink Buckle Champion.
“After Randy and I both retired from a career in nursing, we really focused our efforts on riding our own horses, and we also rode for my mother-in-law, Ruby Lee Walker, who raises some really nice horses, too. It is really the cream of life to raise these colts and be able to futurity them,” Walker said with gratitude.
From the time “Rodney” was born, he had been a favorite at the Walker residence, as he was one of the few foals that wasn’t born at the vet.
“From the very beginning as a baby, Rodney was so interactive with people. He would run to the fence as soon as you called. He has always had a huge personality,” Vauna said.
Vauna explained that Rodney is the fourth full sibling she has ridden out of the same cross as The French Goodbye.
“I feel like this colt has been a little different in that it has taken him a little longer to become confident and solid. But once I started running him a little more, he really came on, and now he’s really firing,” Vauna said.
Vauna, a highly respected horsewoman in the futurity horse industry, has been winning for years and is known for building a very solid horse in its career.
“I know that about futurity colts; they all mature at a different time. They decide when it’s their time. It’s always really rewarding when they reach that spot where they really get confident and start running,” Vauna said.
Vauna said the first day at the Fizzbomb, Rodney let out a little squeal at the gate before he took off, and that’s when she knew he was going to be fast.
The team turned in a time of 15.262 in the first round to place third. They stayed solid in the second round, just out of place, but were fast enough to secure the Fizzbomb Classic Futurity Championship with a time of 30.433 on two runs.
“One of the things that keeps me training horses year after year is to be able to look back and see where we started and how far we have come. It’s so rewarding. I also love the feeling whenever the colts put it all together and become confident enough to take charge on their own throughout the training process, and at that point, it becomes me trying to stay out of their way,” Vauna humbly admitted.
Vauna plans to take Rodney to the Pink Buckle Futurity in Guthrie, Oklahoma. Then she and Randy will head down to Arizona for the winter with Rodney and her upcoming futurity colts for next year.
Vauna thanks her vets, who keep her horses feeling their very best. She also thanks her husband, Randy, who helps and supports her in all aspects of training winning futurity horses. She also thanks her sponsors: 3S Custom Equine, Med-Vet Pharmaceuticals, Iconoclast Boots, and Phytosana CBD.
Fizzbomb Classic 1D Futurity Average Results: 1) Vauna Walker/Rvfamedfrenchgoodbye/30.433/$4,740; 2) Hilary Hilzendeger/RS Bumble Bee Sting/30.464/$3,950; 3) Brittany Diaz/Duude/30.478/$3,358; 4) Bailey Alvarez/Jfive Stoned In Vegas/30.485/$2,568; 5) Taylor Cherry/Blazin Sugar Daddy/30.495/$1,975; 6) Cady Earb/This Smoke N Pistol/30.519/$1,383; 7) Krystal Grad/A Famous French Kiss/30.538/$988; 8/9) Ashley Schafer/Lei Roy/30.553/$395; 8/9) Mindy Holloway/Hande/30.553/$395.
Indiana Barrel Racing Futurity
Brian Wheeler wins career-second Indiana Barrel Racing Futurity Championship.
By Jessica Lash
The Indiana Barrel Racing Futurity kicked off its 48th running from September 5-8 at the sprawling Hoosier Horse Park in Edinburgh, Indiana. An annual favorite for barrel racers East of the Mississippi River, this year’s event saw 3,033 entries make a run at nearly $272,000 in payout.
In addition to the generous payout, many who attend the IBRF each year look forward to enjoying the event’s laid-back atmosphere, capitalizing on the opportunity to visit with long-standing industry friends.
“It’s a unique environment,” co-producer Chris Duke shared. “It’s not a cut-throat type of show. It seems like people are always rooting for each other. They cookout together, play cards around their trailers, and just genuinely enjoy being together. It’s a fun, family-oriented show — it has a different energy than a lot of the other futurities out there.”
Through the years, the event has seen its share of greats on the show grounds — from late Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifier Dottye Goodspeed to leading futurity trainer Troy Crumrine, talent continues to abound at the IBRF.
By all accounts, Brian Wheeler is having a banner year aboard 4-year-old mare Designerleaptoheaven. By JL Dash Ta Heaven son Heavenly Firewater, and out of Designer Ruby by Designer Red, “Penny” started her futurity year with a bang, winning both the Barrel Futurities of America Juvenile World Championship and Future Fortunes Juvenile Sires’ Slot — a career first for Wheeler.
Since November, Penny has amassed more than $165,000 in earnings, with solid placings in the go-rounds, averages, or both, at the Oklahoma City, Ashley Brooks Memorial, Kinder Cup, and Diamond Classic Futurities. She was also a finalist at the Old Fort Days Futurity in Fort Smith, Arkansas, and won the Open 1D Championship at the MEGA Barrel Race in Jackson, Mississippi before carrying Wheeler to his second IBRF Futurity win.
“She’s had a very good year,” Wheeler said of the Mission Ranch-owned mare. “There have been some ups and downs — we backed off a little bit in May and then it got really hot, so we didn’t go as much. She came back strong in August and overall has really had a strong year.”
Although it’s hard to imagine now, Wheeler admits he wasn’t overly optimistic about the mare’s potential when she joined his program in 2022.
“She was pretty hard to get going,” he confessed. “She took a lot of extra riding — and I mean a lot. She wasn’t one I would have said early on was going to be ready, but once she finally got it, everything was easy for her.”
Even after Penny’s training leveled out, Wheeler says he still wasn’t sure she had the speed to be a top contender.
“Honestly, I didn’t think she was that fast,” he admitted. “I went into the BFA with a plan to run three 15.9s. I thought, ‘Three 15.9s will get us a check.’ But Penny had other plans — she went in and ran two 15.8s and then came back with a 15.4. When she ran that, I thought, ‘Holy smokes, I do have one fast enough!’ Honestly, she hasn’t looked back since.”
Coming off a solid win at the MEGA in August, Wheeler says he was confident heading into the IBRF. But in the end, he attributes his most recent win to luck more than anything else.
“I was third in the first go with a 15.2, and Troy [Crumrine] won it with a 15.1,” he explained. “The ground is good in that arena but it’s different. In the South, we don’t see ground like that, so it was Penny’s first time running on anything that firm. The other horse I ran is a lot more four-wheel drive, so it didn’t affect her, but Penny really uses her butt and sticks a leg. It just didn’t have the give she’s used to, so she struggled with that a little bit, and we saw that reflected in how she clocked.”
Wheeler says he went into the second go knowing a good, fast run could keep an average win within his reach.
“In my mind, I was thinking we could still catch up,” he said. “Then she ran a 15.3 in the second round, and I knew that wasn’t going to be fast enough with what was coming up behind us. As it turned out, a couple people hit barrels, there were a few mess ups, and I just got lucky enough to win. Some days it really is just luck.”
Wheeler, who had a successful youth career aboard his family’s homebred, -raised, and -trained horses, says he has wanted a career with barrel horses for as long as he can remember. Now 28, the Summit, Mississippi, trainer is seeing more than a decade of hard work come to fruition.
“I’ve wanted to train since I was 12 or 13,” he shared. “I think it took me eight or nine years of training before I ever won my first futurity, but since that first win, things are clicking and really coming together for me the past couple of years.”
Outside of the Futurity, Wheeler’s work was also on display during Saturday night’s Joe Trentman Memorial Juvenile Showcase, where two of his homebred, -raised and -trained 2025 hopefuls topped the field of 59 3-year-olds preparing to start their futurity year in November. Calm, collected, and quick, Wheeler’s horses looked ready to take on 2025.
“I start most of my horses myself,” Wheeler shared. “When I work them, I keep things really simple. I don’t do anything fancy — I trot to my points. I may stop them or drive them up into the turn just depending on what they need, but then I just go around the barrel right where I want them to place their feet in a run. I want them to know the rules don’t change — they’re going to go in there, run, and turn the barrel. I don’t ever want to confuse them. That keeps them confident in their job.”
This article was originally published in the November 2024 issue of Barrel Horse News.
