Tell us about your family. I really have been blessed with a great family. My wonderful husband is Rob Kountz, we have 2 dogs that are about like kids to us. I had an amazing Dad who passed away last June. My wonderful Mom lives in Geyser, MT. I have three really cool sisters Raelene Konzak (John), Karmon (Shawn) Steinbach and Darcy (Ryan) Mapston who have given me 4 nieces and 1 nephew that I love to spoil!
Tell us about your horse(s) (age, personality, where you got them, etc). Dashing Duke Of Earl – “Duke” – 6 year old gelding out of Dashing With Cash. We bought him last August from Sherry & Mike Morrison. I haven’t had him very long but so far the only thing I know he doesn’t really like are cows. (My Mom says “that is OK – he doesn’t have to like cows!!” my Dad, on the other hand, I know would tell me “you should move some cows on him”!! – I’m going with Mom on this one.) He is really amazing!! Very kind, fast, handsome and easy going. I love him!
One Blue Headlight – “Benny” – 12 year old registered paint gelding. We bought him from Hank and Lori Franzen about 5 years ago. He is a half brother to Sherry Cervi’s great horse “Troubles”. He was trained on the barrels when I got him but I did train him to be a breakaway roping horse – I really like roping on him but he can be a little naughty in the box. He has been a lot of hard work and he has a few quirks but I really do like him and hope that someday he will show his great abilities. If not we will just rope on him.
Pandas Cash – “CJ” – 14 year old gelding out of Cash In Your Bucks’ we bought him from John and Lois Hill and we have had him since he was 4. I trained him on the barrels and roping. Rob and I head steers on him and I breakaway rope on him. You can do anything on him. He is a real character that can open almost any gate and is always in trouble. I call him “Precious” but Rob has other “nicknames” for him! He is a completely spoiled BIG baby.
What do you feed your horse? Lots of hay – grass and alfalfa. They also get turned out on grass during the summer. Rolled oats mixed with some sweet feed. The only supplement I use right now is Fast Track or Diamond V probiotic.
What are your other interests besides riding horses? I love to shop even if I don’t buy anything – I just really enjoy it. And I enjoy planting flowers in the summer and doing yard work. Once and a while I will make some chunky turquoise jewelry or paint leather belts.
What’s the coolest place you have ever been and why? At my Grandparents place in Belt Montana in the Highwood mountains. My little sister Darcy and I were getting their cows in for them one fall and Darcy took me up the side of this really steep hill to see if we could see anymore cows down in this coulee. It was in late September and the colors of the trees and Belt creek running through them – almost took my breath away! It was just one of those perfect days and the view was amazing.
Which reality TV show do you think you would do the best on and why? I don’t think I would be good at any of them. But I think Dancing with the Stars would be really fun!!
Do you have any superstitions or rituals before you run? Nope – just make sure my horse is warmed up good and I will say a prayer.
Milk chocolate or dark chocolate? I am not a big chocolate fan – but I would pick Milk chocolate.
How did you get started riding horses? My Mom and Dad – When I was probably 2 years old my Mom would put me, Raelene and Karmon on an old horse we had in the yard and we would ride him round and round the house – so Mom could get her house work done! Ever since then I have been nuts about horses!!
What do you listen to while you’re driving? I probably listen to country music the most. But I really like other music by The Eagles, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Leona Lewis, Bon Jovi, some of Kid Rock.. a little bit of everything.
What food(s) do you absolutely refuse to eat? Oysters and lettuce.
What do you do to stay awake when you are driving? Drink Amp, visit with Rob, sing with the radio or talk to my sisters or Mom on the phone.
Did you play any sports in high school or college? I played basketball in high school and rodeoed for MSU.
Are you a morning person or a night owl? I would have to say I am neither – I can get up early but would really rather not – and by 10:00pm I am ready to go to sleep.
What kind of saddle do you ride in? I have a Paul Ammerman right now – but I just ordered a Merrill from Joe at Three Forks Saddlery I am really excited about riding it. He let me try one for a weekend – and I loved it!
Who are your rodeo idols? I actually have 2. My husband Rob – he has the best attitude and has been very successful. I admire his hard work ethic and positive attitude. Win or lose he is the same nice guy. My other rodeo idol would be Mary Salmond. She has been my idol since high school!! She is a great roper and barrel racer – she is a great horse trainer, I love how quiet and calm she is with horses. She has won about everything you can win and made it to the NFR and she is still a nice, down to earth kind of person. I admire her talent and attitude.
Where did you grow up? I grew up on a ranch between Raynesford and Geyser Montana – Geyser is a tiny town, where if you blink when you drive by it on the highway, you probably won’t see it. I thought it was a great place to grow up.
Do you prefer mares or geldings and why? Probably have to say geldings – just because they don’t seem to get as cranky as mares can be.
Do you like a particular bloodline or cross? Since buying Duke – I would have to say Dashing With Cash. I think the stud Dash For Cash is amazing – 7 of the horses running at our Montana Circuit Finals go back to him. My other horse CJ goes back to Dash For Cash and he too is super fast and easy going.
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)? I like bigger long-strided horses that are quick on their feet. I like them to be flexible and really bend at their ribs. I think this is important for turning a barrel and also important for a rope horse to keep them nice and flexible in the box and not drop their shoulders when turning a steer. I probably ride a free running horse a little better since I am not the most aggressive rider.
Do you raise and train your own horses? No we don’t raise any colts. I can’t call myself a barrel horse trainer but I have trained a few, the two I am running now were trained when we bought them. I did train the horses I rope on.
Charlotte Barry, January 12
Tell us about your family. Husband, Walter, and daughters Macee 9, and Mylee 3
Tell us about your horse(s) (age, personality, where you got them, etc). My new horse “Giver” (Jusaflapper) is 8 years old. She is very kind and she lets my kids do lots of thing around her. She came from Bobbi June Radford.
What do you feed your horse? Grass/alfalfa hay and sweet feed.
What are your other interests besides riding horses? My family, bowling and crafts.
What’s the coolest place you have ever been and why? I’ve been to lots of places rodeoing and they all have their own unique things. But I loved the Astrodome in Houston. It was unreal to run in.
Which reality TV show do you think you would do the best on and why? I’m not really into reality TV but the ones I know of I wouldn’t be very good at any of them.
Do you have any superstitions or rituals before you run? Yes lots of superstitions. I always try to do the same thing before I run.
Milk chocolate or dark chocolate? Milk chocolate.
How did you get started riding horses? I was raised on a ranch and was around horses all my life. My whole family rode so was just natural for me to ride.
What do you listen to while you’re driving? Whatever is on the radio mostly country. I’m not really up on music. Walt likes George Strait and Macee and Mylee like Taylor Swift and Hannah
Montana. So I listen to these.
What food(s) do you absolutely refuse to eat? Raisins
What do you do to stay awake when you are driving? Eat Spit sunflowers and drink Diet Coke.
Did you play any sports in high school or college? I ran cross country and did track. I loved track.
Are you a morning person or a night owl? Morning person.
What kind of saddle do you ride in? An Alan Pursley, I love it.
Who are your rodeo idols? Charmayne James . . . what a cool World Champion she is.
Where did you grow up? 40 miles northwest of Cut Bank, right on the Canadian Border.
Do you prefer mares or geldings and why? Mares. Both horses I made it to the NFR on were mares. Both of them had a lot of try.
Do you like a particular bloodline or cross? No, not really.
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)? I like pretty much any kind of horse. Both my good horses were on the small side and I would say they were free and quick. I like them to have a lot of try.
Do you raise and train your own horses? The first horse I went to the NFR on we raised and trained. Cola we bought trained.
Candy (Frankish) Wilcox, January 21
Tell us about your family. Husband Layne Wilcox, 2 dogs, Chip, Dally
Tell us about your horse(s) (age, personality, where you got them, etc). Roan Bar Dynamite (aka Nino) 13 yr old bay stallion, Purchased from Mark Herringtion. Zippin Crickett Smoke (Crickett) 7 year old sorrel mare purchased from working cow horse trainer, Mike Hoffman.
What do you feed your horse? alfalfa hay, Moor Glo, performance oil, whole oats. Good mineral.
What are your other interests besides riding horses? Have a back country outfitting business
What’s the coolest place you have ever been and why? Luckenbach, TX, it is real Texas
Which reality TV show do you think you would do the best on and why? Amazing Race, because of the tough challenges and the hard decisions.
Do you have any superstitions or rituals before you run? I have to wear a pair of new socks.
Milk chocolate or dark chocolate? Dove Milk Chocolate
How did you get started riding horses? When I was 13 years old I went to a Marlene McRae Clinic in Standford, Alberta, Canada.
What do you listen to while you’re driving? Everything from rap to country.
What food(s) do you absolutely refuse to eat? Anything that swims.
What do you do to stay awake when you are driving? Eat Spitz Sunflowers
Did you play any sports in high school or college? Figure Skater, Swim Club
Are you a morning person or a night owl? Night Owl
What kind of saddle do you ride in? Marlene McRae Special Effex Saddle
Who are your rodeo idols? Marlene McRae
Where did you grow up? Foremost Alberta, Canada
Do you prefer mares or geldings and why? Stallions, they try harder.
Do you like a particular bloodline or cross? Cowbred horses
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)? I like small quick horses, that can adapt to different size pens.
Do you raise and train your own horses? I train my own horses on the barrels and like to take lessons from other trainers in the cutting or reining world.
