Meet the 2024 Women’s Professional Rodeo Association first-time Nationals Finals Rodeo qualifiers. Read more about the 2024 top 15 WPRA barrel racers here.
Ashley Castleberry
Hometown: Montgomery, TX
Horses: Skyy Blue (“Skyy”), 2013 gelding, Stoli x Sweeten My Dreams x Runaway Rebel
Calfee Stormy Dash (“Stormy”), 2011 gelding, Captain Perk x Double Dog Dash x Some Dasher.
WPRA Season Earnings: $170,234.90
Rodeo Count: 74
NFR Qualifications: 1 (2024)
*EquiStat Lifetime Earnings: $394,269.37
Spotlight on First-Time Qualifiers
BHN: Can you talk about the horses you rode this year?
Ashley Castleberry: I’ve had Stormy rodeoing for six years now. This is only Skyy’s second year rodeoing. Skyy was a trooper all year long, every single run he stepped up ready to give me his 110%. He ran close to ten sub 17.0 on a standard this summer, our fastest being 16.6.
BHN: What does it mean to you to make the finals?
Castleberry: I have been trying to make the finals for six years, but I’ve dreamed of it since I was a little girl. It means a lot. It’s taken a whole process. It’s taken a team. So, I feel like the hard work’s finally paid off.
BHN: At what point did you think an NFR qualification would be possible?
Castleberry: Honestly, after last year, I ended up No. 17 and so I feel like that really lit a fire in me. I really set it out to make the finals this year and not end up short. But probably after my winter, I took advantage of the Texas Circuit Finals and all the winter buildings. And so going into the summer, I had a little bit of comfortability that I thought it could actually happen if I did have a good summer.
BHN: Did you have any challenges?
Castleberry: Not necessarily other than I had a bunch of truck issues. That’s about all, but other than that, all my horses stayed really sound. The one big surprise I would think I would say is that I learned that Skyy really thrives inside and in the coliseums, rather than just outside. So that was a surprise to me.
BHN: What was your biggest win this year?
Castleberry: Probably winning the Puyallup CINCH Playoff’s.
BHN: Is there anything you would have told your younger self about this journey?
Castleberry: I know its cliche, but don’t ever give up on your dreams. If you have them, there’s nothing too big and if you have a dream, chase it.
LaTricia Duke
Hometown: Zephyr, TX
Horses: DM High Roller (“Vanilla Wafer”), 2017 Stallion, French Streaktovegas x Happy To Run Em x Firewaterontherocks
Rey Of Fame (“Rey Rey”), 2012 gelding, Stylish Rey x Fame Baby x Dash Ta Fame
DM I Got This (“Clifford”), 2017 stallion, Blue Tracker x Hand Off Win x Hand Off Boy.
WPRA Season Earnings: $129,148.01
Rodeo Count: 87
NFR Qualifications: 1 (2024)
*EquiStat Lifetime Earnings: $2,013,216.87
Spotlight on First-Time Qualifiers
BHN: Can you talk about the horses you rode this year?
LaTricia Duke: Vanilla Wafer was my main man all year. He is a 7-year-old stallion that I bred, raised and trained. Rey Of Fame is a 12-year-old gelding that was the second in command to help Vanilla Wafer all summer and carried the California load. DM I Got This was the back up to Vanilla Wafer early in the year and then carried Tibba Smith to several checks while she kept him in shape for me this summer.
BHN: What does it mean to you to make the Finals?
Duke: The goal was to get Vanilla Wafer qualified because I believed he deserved the chance, but as for me I still can’t believe it happened.
BHN: Is there anything you would have told your younger self about this journey?
Duke: Enjoy the journey and don’t get caught up in other people’s opinions. The friends you will make at rodeos will laugh with you, cry with you and celebrate with you, they are your family.
BHN: What was your biggest win this year?
Duke: Maybe not the biggest check but the biggest accomplishment was Cheyenne, we have struggled there every year, and I had not planned on even running Vanilla Wafer there, but he showed up and gave me my first thoughts of a possible NFR qualification.
BHN: At what point did you think an NFR qualification would be possible?
Duke: After Cheyenne I thought maybe but never let myself think it was a possibility until I made the final eight at Sioux Falls.
BHN: What was the most challenging part of pro rodeoing?
Duke: For me it’s different than most. With hauling a stallion, finding safe places to keep him adds to all the other stress but also allows you to stay at some amazing people’s homes that become friends.
Halyn Lide
Hometown: China Spring, TX
Horses: Jettin Ta Heaven (“Keeper”), 2012 gelding, JL Dash Ta Heaven x Zeros Gypsy Jet x Three O Jones
Hez Runnin Ta Heaven (“Heaven”), 2013 gelding, JL Dash Ta Heaven x Sheza Cashin Nonstop x Cash Not Credit.
WPRA Season Earnings: $121,965.70
Rodeo Count: 84
NFR Qualifications: 1 (2024)
*EquiStat Lifetime Earnings: $273,996.79
Spotlight on First-Time Qualifiers
BHN: Can you talk about the horses you rode this year?
Halyn Lide: For the past few years, I’ve primarily hauled Keeper and his best friend, Heaven to the rodeos. My family and I raised Keeper. He loves running barrels and thrives at rodeos and on the road. He is confident and prefers to be in charge. Heaven is sweet and silly and a real pleasure to be around. He earned our first check of the 2024 season, placing fourth at Rosenberg in October.
BHN: What does it mean to you to make the Finals?
Lide: That’s hard to put into words. Making the finals was just a dream I had, too big to even be a hard-to-reach goal. Keeper has continued to show me that he is what dreams are made of, so I started to set bigger and bigger goals. Honestly, I’ve felt like Keeper deserves a spot among the top 15 horses, so I couldn’t be happier that I was able to do my part effectively and let him get where he belongs.
BHN: What was your biggest win this year?
Lide: I think our biggest money win was at the Ponoka Stampede, but we didn’t win the rodeo. Greeley was probably our highest paying rodeo win. These two combined with a win at Oakley, Utah led to Keeper being the high money earner over the 4th of July weekend. That was a big goal I set for myself and Keeper this year, so it was a very exciting win for us!
BHN: Did you experience any surprises along the way this year?
Lide: Rodeo is never without surprises. There are good surprises and bad ones. We’re constantly reminded of how little control we have. Sometimes, I thought the rodeo was going to be great for Keeper and it just didn’t work. This happened a few times at Reno, Nampa, and Caldwell. Other times, I was hesitant about the rodeo and Keeper loved it. This was the case with Ponoka.
The real surprise is in the friendships formed at rodeos. We’re all facing some of the same challenges. We have different things going on at home, and we’re all trying to make the most of every rodeo and juggle both sides of our lives. We want our horses to shine, and most of us want to provide light when others are struggling. Coming together to support each other is the surprise that makes rodeo so special.
BHN: Is there anything you would have told your younger self about this journey?
Lide: In rodeo (and in life) there is a lot that is out of our control. I’d remind myself to maintain focus, try my best, and let it be. Then do that again every day. I’d also tell myself that if it’s too hard to believe in yourself, believe bigger in your horse and your God.
BHN: At what point did you think an NFR qualification would be possible?
Lide: I’m not sure I believe it still! The pressure didn’t hit me until September first. All summer I had told myself that we were going to rodeo to see how great Keeper could do. We would keep going until he told me he was ready to go home. He continued to thrive, but I did worry about our position through most of September as I saw the ladies on the bubble making moves.
BHN: What was the most challenging part of pro rodeoing?
Lide: The first challenge was leaving home. I left right after my baby’s Kindergarten graduation and spent four months on the road. Thankfully, my kids were able to meet me about 10 days later and stay through the summer. My husband came to help as often as he could. During August and September he was basically a single, working parent of two nearly feral boys. That’s tough on all of us. When things didn’t go smoothly, it left me second guessing my decisions. But Keeper stayed strong, and by September there’s really no backing out!
I’d like to mention that there are plenty of challenges to pro rodeoing, but there are also a lot of ladies out there willing to help. I’d hate for someone to miss out on giving it a try because it seems too hard. Find someone you trust, and ask for help or guidance.
Andrea Busby
Hometown: Millsap, TX
Horses: Jets Top Gun (“Benny”), 2015 gelding, Blazin Jetolena x GL Famous First Lady x Dash Ta Fame
Blazing With My Dude (“Tito”), 2015 mare, Blazin Jetolena x Dasher Dude x Texas High Dasher
Born On Derby Day (“Derby”), 2017 mare, Freckles Ta Fame x KR Last Fling x A Streak Of Fling
Famous Heartbreaker (“Heart”), 2010 mare, Dash Ta Fame x Lady Oh Raylene x Shawne Bug
RC Black In Famous (“Pickles”), 2015 mare, Famous Gold Coin x RC Back In Black x Ninety Nine Goldmine.
WPRA Season Earnings: $115,838.17
Rodeo Count: 94
NFR Qualifications: 1 (2024)
*EquiStat Lifetime Earnings: $415,838.65
Spotlight on First-Time Qualifiers
BHN: Can you talk about the horses you rode this year?
Andrea Busby: Jeff and I bred and raised Benny and Tito. Bryce Manning started both of them and then Jana Brown trained and futuritied Benny and Sue Smith trained and futuritied Tito. Brittany Tonozzi won the world title on Benny in 2023. I started running right about the 4th of July and he brought me my biggest wins this year and is why I made the finals. He is the greatest horse I’ve ever ridden. His style is so much fun, he’s so honest and is as fast as he is fun. Derby was raised by Seth and Ashley Schafer. Seth broke her and Ashley and Derby had an outstanding futurity year and then we bought her almost two years ago. Pickles is a 9-year-old mare we bought from Chuck Nelson about two years ago. I think everybody that has rode this mare before me has won on her and that says a lot about her. We bought Heart from Syndi Blanchard several years ago. She sustained a suspensory injury that probably should have ended her career a couple of years ago, but thanks to Dr Marty Tanner and two years of rehabilitation, I was able to have her in the trailer with us this year again. I ran her at limited rodeos but she did pull checks at most of the places I ran her.
BHN: What does it mean to you to make the Finals?
Busby: To me, it means that God’s timing is always perfect. Learning to find the Lord in process of this journey and not just thanking him at the pinnacles of the journey taught me to love the process, not just the outcome. Accomplishing what we set out to do a long time ago means that goals were met, challenges were conquered, lifelong dreams were fulfilled and years of hard work are being rewarded.
BHN: At what point did you think an NFR qualification would be possible?
Busby: I remember getting back to the trailer after I had won Logan, Utah — it was just Jeff and I taking care of Benny and he told me I’d also won Hermiston, and I said to him “I think I can get this done.” Then I didn’t breath again until I made the eight-man round at Mandan over a month later!
BHN: What was your biggest win this year?
Busby: I could easily say Hermiston, Logan or Preston because I won first at those, but I think the true “win” for me was my first run on Benny this year at Killdeer, North Dakota. I ran a 17.0 on a standard — it was our first run together this summer and our first run together in over a year. I ended up third I think, but It was huge in terms of my confidence with him, and that really set up the rest of my fourth of July which then carried us on into the rest of the summer.
BHN: Did you experience any surprises along the way this year?
Busby: Every day on the rodeo trail is a surprise! The resiliency one must have to find success in this sport is almost mind boggling. One minute everything is fine and the next minute 15 things are falling apart and going wrong. It’s why you have to fall in love with the process. There is no overnight success in this game, so without falling in love with the process your time on the road will be short. For the first time ever, Jeff was able to be out there with me all year, and two of the horses I won on were two we bred and raised. Time is something you never get back so to do this together was truly the sweetest gift for Jeff and I. He is my greatest supporter and best friend. Getting to share this journey with him day in and day out definitely made the victories sweeter and divided the pain. Lastly, the only guarantee in this sport is you will lose, you will break down, your horse will get sore or sick or limp and you will be more exhausted than you thought possible. But, all that said, it’s also why those other girls competing right along beside you become some of your most cherished lifelong friends. Those girls know your struggles, feel your pain and literally often walk through it with you.
BHN: Is there anything you would have told your younger self about this journey?
Busby: It’ll be one of the hardest things you’ll ever do, but you will get it done and it will be worth it. Also, keep going, keep working and don’t worry about the outcome. Gods timing not yours.
Abby Phillips
Hometown: Marshall, TX
Horses: VF Expensive Taste (“Andi Anderson”), 2017 mare, Eddie Stinson x Expensive Crystal x Southern Cartel
VQ Im Buzzed (“Big P”), 2014 gelding, Dash Ta Fame x Honor This Nonstop x MR Honor Bound.
WPRA Season Earnings: $115,510.22
Rodeo Count: 85
NFR Qualifications: 1 (2024)
*EquiStat Lifetime Earnings: $286,461.48
Spotlight on First-Time Qualifiers
BHN: Can you talk about the horses you rode this year?
Abby Phillips: Andi Anderson is a 7-year-old mare I bought as a 2-year-old and trained myself. It’s been so special to experience a horse that was homemade help me qualify to my first NFR. I always explain her as a business woman. She’s incredibly talented and passionate about being good at her job. Her mind always thinks of leveling up and that mindset has brought her to the highest levels. Big P is a 10-year-old gelding trained and ran by Ryann Pedone in the futurities. I bought him in 2020 which was his derby year and I seasoned him to the rodeo world. He is the kindest gelding who just really loves his people. He’s a pleaser and there’s nothing he won’t try if he knows you believe in him. Big P can run in just about every set up and ground condition.
BHN: What does it mean to you to make the Finals?
Phillips: It’s truly hard to put into words how special it is to qualify for the NFR. I’m so incredibly grateful to my team of horses who have made this dream come true. It’s a pretty surreal feeling. For as long as I can remember I have dreamed of what it would feel like to come down that famous alley way in the Thomas and Mack arena, and I’m just so proud and thankful I’m getting the opportunity to compete there.
BHN: At what point did you think an NFR qualification would be possible?
Phillips: The first time I truly thought I had a shot at qualifying for the NFR was after I won Sundre and Wainwright, AB at the end of June. My horse is young and this was her first full year of competition. She had such an amazing start to the year, but I always tried to remind myself I’m building a horse for the long run and not just for one year. Listening to her and letting her grow at her own pace was important to me. She is a gritty mare and she just kept proving it was our time week after week. I’m truly so proud of her and Big P.
BHN: What was your biggest win this year?
Phillips: It’s hard to pick just one win as they are all special to me, but winning reserve champion at the WPRA World Finals clinched my spot into the big winter rodeos and really helped me jumpstart my year. Since I wasn’t already qualified into the big winter rodeos it changed my year drastically as we were chasing our first NFR qualification.
BHN: Did you experience any surprises along the way this year?
Phillips: There are always surprises along the way, but I do think I finally have the experience I need to handle them better now. Things are not always going to go your way and sometimes it’s just plain not your week. I’ve learned to not let those runs or weeks define me. I’m confident in my team of horses and their abilities. Keeping my faith in that helped me take all obstacles I had head on.
BHN: Is there anything you would have told your younger self about this journey?
Phillips: Be persistent and learn to be comfortable in uncomfortable situations. Not everyone’s journey is easy, and I think staying positive in the hard times is the most challenging part. When it’s your time, it’s your time….keep going no matter what season you’re in.
Editor’s Note: *EquiStat Lifetime Earnings are as of reports pulled October 10, 2024, and include WPRA rodeo earnings through August 2024 and other barrel racing event earnings through August 2024. EquiStat only began recording WPRA rodeo earnings in 2010, therefore some individual’s earnings may be significantly more than reported through EquiStat.
This article was originally published in the December 2024 issue of Barrel Horse News.
