Lindsay Sears and SME One Of A Kind show up at the Ponoka Stampede Showdown to win $7,500
Lindsay Sears is no stranger to the winners’ circle being a seven-time Canadian Finals Rodeo qualifier, seven-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier, two-time world champion barrel racer and two-time reserve world champion with the help of her great mare Sugar Moon Express, better known as “Martha.”
Now, Sears sees success in the arena aboard her home-raised and -trained stallion SME One Of A Kind, a 2016 model by First Down Dash out of Martha, winning the showdown and over $14,000 at the Ponoka Stampede in Ponoka, Alberta.
Sears won the average four times and the showdown twice at the Ponoka Stampede aboard Martha, who continues to leave her mark in the arena through progeny like “Mojo.”
Before Ponoka, Mojo had already won over $107,000, according to Equistat.
“Mojo is very correct and honest throughout the pattern, and the most important thing is he allows me to help him throughout the run, which makes it very easy to run in arenas like Ponoka, where it is a bit of a challenge and not your typical jackpot barrel race. I have learned to not pick apart winning runs,” Sears said.
Sears focused on making a nice, smooth run and staying out of Mojo’s way as much as possible.
“He has not made any competitive runs since the first of January, so my goal was smooth and solid and then we could build from there,” Sears said.
Traveling to Canada to visit family and to go to her favorite Canadian rodeo, Sears doesn’t have plans to hit the rodeo road anytime soon.
“I’m hoping to go to Cheyenne on my way home, and that is all that I have planned at this moment in time,” Sears said. “It has been a long road over the past year with a lot of ups and downs along the way, and everyone stayed the course and never gave up on him. This was such a special win for him and the entire group of people who have had a hand in getting him back to the arena. He will never be the same as he was prior to the incident that occurred on May 1, 2023, but we are all so very grateful he is able to compete again.”
Sears thanks the entire team of people who have poured their heart and soul into bringing Mojo back from his injuries.
Ponoka Stampede Barrel Racing Results
1. Halyn Lide, 17.07 seconds, $6,888; 2. Carlee Rae Otero, 17.09, $5,855; 3. Emily Beisel, 17.38, $4,822; 4. Pam Morrison, 17.43, $4,133; 5. Valerie Gillespie, 17.49, $3,444; 6. Vanessa Leggett, 17.54, $2,411; 7. (tie) Karli Cowie and Lisa Groves, 17.57, $1,550 each; 9. (tie) Lindsay Sears and Bobbi Henderson, 17.58, $1,119; 11. Jayden Wilson, 17.59, $861; 12. (tie) Sidney Forrest and Kennedy Smith, 17.70, $344.
Finals: 1. Emily Beisel, 17.38 seconds, $2,000; 2. (tie) Bobbi Henderson and Lindsay Sears, 17.70, $1,250 each; 4. Halyn Lide, 17.81, $500.
Average: 1. Emily Beisel, 34.76 on two runs, $6,888; 2. Halyn Lide, 34.88, $5,855; 3. (tie) Bobbi Henderson and Lindsay Sears, 35.28, $4,477 each; 5. Valerie Gillespie, 35.33, $3,444; 6. Lisa Groves, 35.41, $2,411; 7. Pamela Morrison, 35.53, $1,722; 8. Sidney Forrest, 35.61, $1,379; 9. Jayden Wilson, 35.82, $1,205; 10. Vanessa Leggett, 35.91, $1,033; 11. Kennedy Smith, 36.43, $861; 12. Karli Cowie, 42.05, $689.
Showdown: 1. Lindsay Sears, 17.47 seconds, $7,500; 2. Emily Beisel, 17.57, $3,750; 3. Bobbi Henderson, 17.59, $2,250; 4. Halyn Lide, 22.78, $1,500.
