Fellow barrel racer Renee George recalled hauling with Haislip. She said she was one of the most organized people—she had to be with as many irons in the fire as she had, but Christy Burleson had to chirp in that she did show up for slack at Industry, California, once and had to borrow jeans because she’d forgotten to bring hers.
Tillar Murray and Royal Star Commander won round seven of the 2017 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo—a testament to Haislip’s breeding program. Photo by Kenneth Springer
“She had everything planned,” George said. “We would only drive so much and let those horses out. She had it exactly figured out. She knew when and where for every trip. She always planned ahead where we were going to stay so the horses could get good rest. We never stayed at rodeo grounds. We’d show up in time for the rodeo, but never before then. She didn’t want to be around too early with all the commotion.”
George and Haislip kept their faith at the forefront on long trips together.
“I had so much respect for her. It was such a joy hauling with her and I learned so much, things that I’ll treasure forever. She was a wonderful person. I loved hauling with her,” George said. “We used to share a lot about the Lord while we were driving. We’d stop at Target and buy a new worship tape and sing worship songs. Now if we ever got tired, she’d stop and say, ‘Now we have to put in Cher.’ I thought that was so funny, but it did keep us awake.”
By 2001, the long roundtrips to fit in big rodeos in between her work and family obligations had taken a toll. Wanting to spend more time at home with all her boys, Haislip became a circuit cowgirl. She and Scarlett had won the California Circuit championship from 1998 to 2001, having made nine trips to the circuit finals rodeo. Haislip continued to be a force at the California barrel races, too with other horses she raised out of Wild N Groovy. Ima Royal Lady Jane, Scarlett’s full sister, helped Liz Pinkston qualify for an NFR and won many races with Haislip. Oh Sweet Star, who was by AR Star, a stallion the Haislips co-owned with Marilyn Camarillo, won a lot with Ruth as well.
After retiring Scarlett to fulltime broodmare duty in 2008, Haislip along with her husband, Jim, developed a powerful program around the mare, much like they did her mother.
“She loved raising horses,” Haislip’s friend Stacey Freitas said. “She loved the babies. They were like her kids. She said she had to sell them when they were really young, because it was too hard after they were older. She had decided to sell an older one and we made a sale video. When I asked her what she wanted the ad to say, she burst into tears. She loved all her horses.”
While she didn’t like parting with her equine children, Haislip was immensely proud of what her horses had accomplished and she didn’t want the barrel racing world to forget how great Scarlett was and miss out on how good her babies were. Haislip did her part keeping her horses in the limelight, even climbing back in the saddle herself. Now, it’s assured her breeding program will not be forgotten.
Royal Star Commander, who now belongs to the Murray family of Fort Worth, Texas, qualified Deb Guelly to the 2015 NFR. “Commander,” whom Ruth loved for his quirky nature and for being Scarlett’s first foal, also won the Barrel Futurities of America Derby in record fashion and qualified for RFD-TV’s The American Rodeo.
Royal And Famous was a top futurity horse for the Matthews family’s Mission Ranch in Wynne, Arkansas, and is now standing at stud. A Streak Of Scarlett sold at the 2015 Barrel Futurities of America Sale for $100,000 as a yearling stallion prospect.
“That night of the sale, she was so excited,” Jim said. “She kept talking about it. She just said ‘Our program is finally starting to work.’ She just glowed.”
Haislip herself ran Famous Scarlett, affectionately known as “Jewel.” The sorrel mare reminded her so much of her great mother, Go Royal Scarlett, that the fit was instant. Haislip and Jewel qualified for the 2015 California Circuit Finals. They last competed together at the BFA World Championships in Oklahoma City. Word of Haislip’s passing shocked the barrel racing community.
