Tell us about your horse(s) (age, personality, running style, where you got them, etc). Nowdatsreallysmokin, aka "Dave", is 9. He is a strong, free-running, freight train. I bought Dave when he was 7 from Tandi Rider of Stephenville, TX, www.hoofprintsranch.com. Dave has tons of personality. He loves people and gets along well with other horses, in fact other barrel racers always ask if they can come stand by him to calm their horses. He doesn't have a mean bone in his body. The best thing about him is my girls can ride him around at rodeos bareback with just a halter.

What horse(s) are you going to be riding at the circuit finals? Dave. Rayna said I could since she has an indoor arena now and since Chucky is working so well indoors. It was touch and go there for awhile :)

Tell us about your rig and traveling partners. My rig is a 2006 Chevy Silverado Duramax and a 2006 Bloomer 4-horse, with 15 ft of livinq quarters with bunk beds for my kids. My travelling partners are Shelby and Paige (and Flint when he can), Rayna Rice and Chucky, and Morgan Knudson. I also travelled this year with Danna Whitford and Annie Novotny. Annie was very good about following proper “rig etiquette,” Rayna and Danna...not so much. I'm sure any of them would be happy to explain.

What do you like most about being on the rodeo road? The special comraderie of rodeo people and spending quality time with my family.

What do you like least about the rodeo road? Losing.

What was your favorite 2010 Montana rodeo/committee (what did the committee do that was special)? The Libby committee was amazing. They met us at the gate, showed us where to park, gave us drink and meal tickets, fed us well (homemade pies), and were so accommodating. They also worked very hard to have beautiful ground for the rodeo competitors and nice stalls with shavings.

What was your best rodeo moment of 2010? Qualifying for my first Circuit Finals . . . and running Dave at Pendleton.

Besides pro rodeos do you compete in other rodeo or barrel racing organizations? I compete at some NRA rodeos with Shelby and she and I hit a few NBHA runs throughout the year. I am also a member of Ross and Casey Wagners amazing UBRC. They work so hard to put on very quality events.

What are your rodeo plans in 2011? I plan to again pro-rodeo in the Montana Circuit and hopefully qualify for the Circuit Finals. I also have a futurity colt (Flo’s daughter) so I hope to incorporate a few futurities.

What kind of tack and bits do you use on your horse? My bits change from time to time as Dave is so strong and runs so hard to the first barrel. So, I need to keep him listening so I change things up every so often. I ride him in a steel nose combination bit made by Dave Elliott, another combo from Molly Powell’s collection, and Molly Powell’s Pretzel bit. When I warm-up or ride at home I just use a light draw bit designed by Sue Smith.

What kind of saddle do you ride in? I ride a Charmayne James Record Breaker by Cactus and an Impact Gel contour pad.

What do you feed your horse? He is turned out on a 20 acre pasture 24/7 when at home and he gets Purina Ultium and Seabuck. On the road he gets 2nd cutting alfalfa hay and I leave grass hay in front of him at all times.

What do you do for a warm-up and do you have any superstitions or rituals before a run? I don't believe in superstitions, prayer is much more effective. My warm-up consists of lots of walking and long trotting and flexing excercises to keep him soft. Dave is pretty laid back so I try to get him pretty warm before I run.

What do you do during the week to keep your horse in shape? Dave keeps himself in shape. He is constantly sprinting in the pasture. At feeding time, when he sees me at the barn, I yell, “incoming,” because he comes in from a quarter-mile away at a dead run. I still ride him everyday though, because it keeps us in touch with one another . . . and he never gets tired of talking barrel racing like Flint does.

Tell us about your family. I have been married to Flint for 15 years and we have Shelby, 11, and Paige, 9. Shelby is an avid barrel racer, who has qualified for her 2nd NRA Finals, and she is a talented gymnast. She wants to be an equine vet (I wish she'd hurry up) and has no doubt that she will barrel race someday at the NFR. Paige thinks barrel racing is boring, but is a very serious bull riding and PBR fan. She will officially join the ranks of stock contractor when her first bucking bull is born Feb. 26, 2011. He will buck at his first futurity in 2013. And for those of you versed in the subject, he is a son of the great Houdini out of a daughter of Moody Blues. His name is “Aint Clownin,” so watch for him.

What’s your occupation, besides barrel racing? Flint and I were afraid of getting bored so we are now co-owners of The Flippin Gym, LLC., which is the home of Golden Triangle Gymnastics. The gym employs 4 coaches and has over 100 gymnasts enrolled. The gym is located 15 miles north of our ranch in Conrad. We also own and operate Cowboy Way Performance Horses where we are raising and training barrel horses. Over the last several years we have aquired own daughters of Dash Ta Fame, Frenchmans Guy, PC Frenchmans Hayday (aka “Dinero”), Cash In Your Bux, along with granddaughters of Dash For Cash and Royal Quick Dash. Check us out at www.cowboywayhorses.com