Darae Larson, August 2
Tell us about your family. Husband Jim of 37 years, son Lee and wife Kelly, 2 granddaughters Ava age 4 and Mia age 1. Son Jay and fiancée Lesley Doll.
Tell us about your horse(s) (age, personality, where you got them, etc). Jeweled Impressively AKA Gizzy now 24 years old and living with Cedar Kohr in Gillette, Wyoming. We raised Gizzy and he did not start his rodeo career until age 16, he humbled me many times both in and outside of the arena. Jetomatics Sparkle AKA Bertha, 14 year old mare, is currently my main mount. I got her 2 years ago from Sydney Huttering. Bertha has a lot of heart and is very fun to ride and run.
What do you feed your horse? Whole Oats and Dominator, and hay from our ranch.
What are your other interests besides riding horses? Being with my family.
What's the coolest place you have ever been and why? The island of Kauai (one of the Hawaiian Islands), because it has very many special family memories.
Which reality TV show do you think you would do the best on and why? I don’t watch any reality TV shows.
Do you have any superstitions or rituals before you run? Put leg wraps and bell boots on the horse in the same order every time.
Milk chocolate or dark chocolate? Milk chocolate
How did you get started riding horses? My grandmother bought me a Shetland Pony when I was 5 years old, and I have been riding ever since.
What do you listen to while you’re driving? Nashville Country on XM Radio, and travel partner Justin’s talking (lol)
What food(s) do you absolutely refuse to eat? Squid, had it in a salad once and it was awful.
What do you do to stay awake when you are driving? Drink coffee and crank up the stereo.
Did you play any sports in high school or college? Track in high school.
Are you a morning person or a night owl? Night Owl.
What kind of saddle do you ride in? Currently I am riding in a Circle Y.
Who are your rodeo idols? Wanda Bush, and Monica Gruel because without Monica I would not have decided to begin a rodeo career.
Where did you grow up? On a farm/ranch outside of Belt, Montana.
Do you prefer mares or geldings and why? I always used to think I preferred geldings, but after getting Bertha I now prefer mares.
Do you like a particular bloodline or cross? No, I just like a horse that knows how to turn and run, with as little help from me as possible.
What style of horse do you prefer for barrel racing and breakaway roping (small or large, free runner or push, quick or long-stride, etc)? A stout horse with a long stride.
Do you raise and train your own horses? I raised and trained Gizzy, but no others.
Phyllis Brosz, August 7
Tell us about your family. Husband Rod, (the nicest man in the World) my true supporter and friend. Kids- Valerie/Lee and their two sons, Tyler 22 and Trevor 19: Shawn/Nikki and their two girls, Shay 14 and Kali 9: Eva/Kerry and daughter Carly and son Rod. The grandkids are awesome! However, so are their parents.
Tell us about your horse(s) (age, personality, where you got them, etc). Of course Joe (Next Millennium), he is 12 and I love him very much even when he doesn’t do his best. I got him from Pam Smith in WY. Then I have Trubiehe is my new project almost too nice to run on the barrels but I am going to anyway-got him from Donna Johnson.
What do you feed your horse? Whole oats w/Silver Lining and Stamina Plus supplements, grass hay.
What are your other interests besides riding horses? Like to read and spend time with family.
What’s the coolest place you have ever been and why? Yellowstone Park because it is spectacular and close to home.
Which reality TV show do you think you would do the best on and why? Probably none of them because they are such fakes.
Do you have any superstitions or rituals before you run? Up until this year it was no money in my pocket and hat on the bed-but I gave them both up because it really doesn’t matter.
Milk chocolate or dark chocolate? Definitely milk chocolate.
How did you get started riding horses? Always lived on a cattle ranch and that is what we did in order to make a living.
What do you listen to while you’re driving? Country Western
What food(s) do you absolutely refuse to eat? Liver
What do you do to stay awake when you are driving? Eat sunflower seeds and drink diet coke.
Did you play any sports in high school or college? They didn’t have girls sports when I went to school—that is how old I am.
Are you a morning person or a night owl? Definitely morning—ask Shirlee Ha Ha
What kind of saddle do you ride in? Not sure what kind it is—one I won on Joe.
Who are your rodeo idols? However, she is much younger—Charmayne
Where did you grow up? Lodge Grass, MT (Crow Indian Reservation) although I don’t have a drop of Indian blood in me.
Do you prefer mares or geldings and why? Geldings—don’t have to deal with their cycling.
Do you like a particular bloodline or cross? Easy Jet
What style of horse do you prefer for barrel racing and breakaway roping (small or large, free runner or push, quick or long- stride, etc)? Probably in between small or large, also in between push or run, and definitely long-stride.
Do you raise and train your own horses? I am too old to raise my own, I don’t have time for them to grow up. I like to buy them when they are about 5 years old and have been used on a ranch and not started on the barrels. Just so they don’t buck or run off.