Eight-time Wrangler National Finals qualifier Stevi Hillman, who has more than $1.8 million in EquiStat lifetime earnings shares her pre-and-post run routine that keeps her horses mentally and physically prepared, including 2007 gelding Cuatro Fame, who has more than $800,000 in EquiStat lifetime earnings.
Hillman and “Truck” claimed RFD-TV’s The American barrel racing championship for $100,000 in 2020, and have countless pro rodeo and open race wins. The 2012 Reserve WPRA Rookie of the Year has extensive experience in keeping her horses feeling and performing their best with pre-and–post run therapies and warm-up.
Barrel Horse News: Can you describe your pre-run routine?
Stevi Hillman: Depends on the horse, but Truck is super easy. He gets Flexineb before his run and a light warm up, just keeping him quiet and soft because he tends to be intense about his runs. When it’s back-to-back runs, he’ll get liniment on his legs, vitamins and sometimes extra oats for more energy along with more therapy treatments like our Proscope machine. Also, most of mine get MVP Gastroplex paste pre-run and some get MVP Breath paste. Each horse is different in what they need and my goal is to perfect that with each horse.
BHN: Can you describe your post-run routine?
Hillman: Truck gets electrolytes after his run, and I mud legs or wrap them, depending on how warm it is outside and how many runs we’ve made, I alternate those.
BHN: What alternative therapies do you use consistently and how have they helped your horses?
Hillman: I use our Proscope (Accuscope/Myopulse) machine the most, as well as the Bemer blanket and boots off and on. I believe rest, when we can, is the best therapy we can give these athletes when we’re running them hard and finding time to allow them to rest and give them shavings to lay in is important to me.
BHN: You yourself are also an athlete, what do you do for yourself to prepare physically and mentally for a run?
Hillman: It’s pretty routine with Truck, he’s like putting on a glove, I just know him so well, and focus on keeping him happy and feeling good. With these other horses I don’t know as well, I try to focus on what I have control over, which is my mind set, my preparation and I focus on one run at a time and each run I decide what my next goal is with that specific horse and that becomes my focus. Physically, I jog a lot and work out as much as I can. Hot yoga when I am home. That helps me the most for both mental and physical health.
