“I knew she could work in this pen,” McLeod said in an interview before being whisked away to her first-ever gold buckle ceremony at South Point. “She works really good in small pens. She set the arena record at Nampa (Idaho), and I was able to go to Northside (Cowtown Coliseum in Fort Worth, Texas, which is comparable in size to the Thomas and Mack) a few weekends before coming out here. She ran phenomenal times there, so I had my confidence up.”
After an accident nearly one year ago, McLeod has built on a foundation of support from her family to attain that confidence. 
“I got hurt on her last December pretty bad. I had my face shattered and four plates put in. It’s taken me almost a year to get back comfortable to really ride her, so it’s kind of a bittersweet win,” McLeod said. “I haven’t really wanted to jump up there and ride her all that much, and then watching Lindsey win the National High School Finals, I was like, ‘Oh my word, I have to buck up and ride her!’”
McLeod’s daughters, Katelyn and Lindsey, have both won major titles on the mare, who is owned by Jason Martin and Charlie Cole of High Point Performance Horses. Keeping Skye in winning form has been a team effort for the McLeod family.
“My oldest, Katelyn, is in the back with me and has been warming her up every day. Lindsey is up in the stands and she comes down each night and coaches me,” McLeod added.
Fallon Taylor maintains her hold on the world standings lead with tonight’s second-place finish in 13.85 seconds, followed very closely by a pair of 13.88s turned in by Lisa Lockhart and Britany Diaz to tie for third. Mary Walker and Perculatin continue to gain momentum on the clock, posting a 13.90 tonight for fifth, and Carlee Pierce rounded out the top six with a 13.93.
The third barrel was the Achilles heel of the six ladies who hit barrels tonight – including Kassidy Dennison and Kaley Bass, who were first and fourth in the average coming into tonight’s round. Even the top 15 have tough days, as Christy Loflin took an unfortunate tumble at the first barrel, resulting in a no-time. The only barrel racer who has left the barrels standing throughout the first five rounds is Lisa Lockhart, and that penalty-free, 70.69-second aggregate is what’s keeping her ahead of Fallon Taylor in the hunt for the $48,732 average check.
Don’t miss the February issue of Barrel Horse News to read in-depth coverage of all the great stories from the 2014 Wrangler NFR.
Barrel Racing Results – Fifth go-round:
1. Michele McLeod, Whitesboro, Texas, 13.66
2. Fallon Taylor, Whitesboro, Texas, 13.85
3/4. Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, S.D., 13.88
3/4. Britany Diaz, Solen, N.D., 13.88
5. Mary Walker, Ennis, Texas, 13.90
6. Carlee Pierce, Stephenville, Texas, 13.93
7. Nancy Hunter, Neola, Utah, 14.02
8. Samantha Lyne, Cotulla, Texas, 14.29
9. Trula Churchill, Valentine, Neb., 18.93
10. Kassidy Dennison, Tohatchi, N.M., 18.95
11. Jana Bean, Ft. Hancock, Texas, 19.07
12. Christine Laughlin, Pueblo, Colo., 19.12
13. Kaley Bass, Kissimmee, Fla., 19.13
14. Sherry Cervi, Marana, Ariz., 19.28,
15. Christy Loflin, Franktown, Colo., NT
Aggregate Standings – Fifth go-round:
(Rank/Name/Aggregate/Aggregate Prize/Total NFR Earnings
1. Lisa Lockhart 70.69/5 $0.00 $51,643.62
2. Fallon Taylor 75.11/5 $0.00 $64,362.97
3. Michele McLeod 75.60/5 $0.00 $33,407.44
4. Kassidy Dennison 75.94/5 $0.00 $34,020.43
5. Britany Diaz 76.13/5 $0.00 $9,654.44
6. Carlee Pierce 76.26/5 $0.00 $14,098.55
7. Kaley Bass 76.78/5 $0.00 $4,903.85
8. Samantha Lyne 77.14/5 $0.00 $0.00
9. Trula Churchill 80.27/5 $0.00 $26,358.17
10. Sherry Cervi 81.09/5 $0.00 $24,212.74
11. Jana Bean 81.23/5 $0.00 $12,872.60
12. Mary Walker 85.21/5 $0.00 $7,968.75
13. Nancy Hunter 85.32/5 $0.00 $18,082.93
14. Christine Laughlin 100.63/5 $0.00 $0.00
15. Christy Loflin 66.16/4 $0.00 $4,903.85
Windham Weaponry World Rankings – Fifth go-round:
(Rank/Season earnings/NFR earnings/Total world earnings)
1. Fallon Taylor $131,471.13 $64,362.97 $195,834.10
2. Lisa Lockhart $121,617.00 $51,643.62 $173,260.62
3. Kaley Bass $155,279.55 $4,903.85 $160,183.40
4. Michele McLeod $100,645.02 $33,407.44 $134,052.46
5. Kassidy Dennison $92,051.12 $34,020.43 $126,071.55
6. Nancy Hunter $104,289.49 $18,082.93 $122,372.42
7. Sherry Cervi $93,048.33 $24,212.74 $117,261.07
8. Britany Diaz $102,946.71 $9,654.44 $112,601.15
9. Mary Walker $99,712.14 $7,968.75 $107,680.89
10. Carlee Pierce $90,430.58 $14,098.55 $104,529.13
11. Trula Churchill $75,874.35 $26,358.17 $102,232.52
12. Christy Loflin $91,736.41 $4,903.85 $96,640.26
13. Christine Laughlin $93,134.61 $0.00 $93,134.61
14. Jana Bean $70,415.60 $12,872.60 $83,288.20
15. Samantha Lyne $70,577.07 $0.00
