Gayleen Malone, March 7
Marty and Gayleen in Las Vegas.
Tell us about your family. My husband’s name is Marty. He is retired from the Agricultural Extention Service and is now Park County Commissioner. Our daughter, Milee is my horsetraining and traveling partner and also a great friend. Milee has a horse business located at www.paradiseequestrian.com Our son Ryan, manages Three Peaks Ranch, which is located nearby. His wife's name is Miriah and they have two children, Ava is 4 and Koyle is 2. They are special!
Tell us about your horse(s) (age, personality, where you got them, etc) Lady Bee Sparkin aka "Bee" is an eight year old mare that I raised and trained. Lenas Rookie aka "Rookie" came from Texas at the age of three. I trained him on the barrels. He is 14 this year. He has always been my good buddy. For the past 3 years he has had a lot of health issues. Those of you that have had these troubles know of the expense and stress it puts on our lives. I'm also running a six year old mare "Bling" at jackpots this winter. She is coming along great and I do have her for sale. I also have two three year olds by Midnight Corona that I'm training.
What do you feed your horse? I feed my horses really good alfalfa grass mix hay. Bee is on Triple Crown Complete.
What are your other interests besides riding horses? Besides riding horses there is not a lot of spare time, but I am a seasonal land steward for Montana Land Reliance, and I am a supervisor for the Park County Conservation District.
What’s the coolest place you have ever been and why? One of the coolest places I have been is New Orleans. Marty and I went there for one of his National Extension Agent annual meetings. The meeting was the same time as the Worlds Fair. It was fun!
Which reality TV show do you think you would do the best on and why? Reality Show - What's that? I don't watch much TV!!
Do you have any superstitions or rituals before you run? I always stretch my horses legs before I run.
Milk chocolate or dark chocolate? I love milk chocolate.
How did you get started riding horses? Grew up riding and always dreaming of being a barrel racer. I remember going to the Livingston Roundup and watching the Carraher girls (Terri Kaye Kirkland and sisters) from Anaconda with their braids and pretty ribbons running real nice horses.
What do you listen to while you’re driving? Sirius radio - variety of music since I travel with Milee. I especially like to listen to the '60s
What food(s) do you absolutely refuse to eat? I refuse to eat liver.
What do you do to stay awake when you’re driving? I turn the radio up loud, trade drivers or I will pull off the road and take five!
Did you play any sports in high school or college? I competed in college rodeo at MSU
Are you a morning person or a night owl? I am a morning person.
What kind of saddle do you ride in? I ride a Merrill saddle and really like it.
Who are your rodeo idols? I don't have any idols. I try to learn from people who have been out there and have been successful. I learn something knew all of the time.
Where did you grow up? I was raised on a ranch in Paradise Valley, just north of Yellowstone National Park. I still live in the valley.
Do you prefer mares or geldings and why? I like either mares or geldings. I ride a lot of mares because people buying horses usually want geldings so I end up with the mares. They're great. It depends on how you handle them.
Do you like a particular bloodline or cross? I really like speed and brains. I have a Leo bred mare that raises most of my favorite babies. I like to breed her to speed bred sires. I am excited about my Midnight Corona off springs that I have in training right now.
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 prefer horses with speed that will rate down good. I want them to listen to me, move off my legs and know how to stop. I like my horses right around 15 hands.
Do you raise and train your own horses? I do raise most of my horses and with Milee's help we do all of the training on them.
Christy Fullen, March 25Christy at the San Angelo 2008 PRCA Rodeo. Dudley Photo
Tell us about your family. My immediate family consists of 2 dogs (Charlie Rose & Addie), 2 cats (Lisa Marie & Gladys) and 6 1/2 horses (Lizzy, Spirit, Turtle, Ruby and baby on the way, Cricket and Bling). The rest of my family is my Mom, sister, niece, brother-in-law and Dad in Idaho.
Tell us about your horse(s) (age, personality, where you got them, etc) The two horses I am competing on are; Firewater Spirit (Spirit) and Mucha Ohs Firewater (Lizzy). Spirit is 8 yrs old and Lizzy is 9 yrs old. I got them both from my friend in Texas, Alicia Montgomery. Both mares are by Firewater Flit, and out of a granddaughter of Three Ohs so they are appendix bred.
Spirit is one of the most loving and kind horses I have ever ridden. I am ownership partner in Spirit with my “adopted mom,” Kay Ballenger. Spirit would do anything in the world for you if you asked it of her. She has a heart that just doesn't quit which makes her worth her weight in gold. I am truly blessed to have this horse in my life, and I thank Kay for being a part of this experience, and helping me make it happen.
Lizzy is probably the most athletic horse I have ever ridden, but she has a bit of a disposition. It takes a long time for her to warm up too you, but when she does she is a real “softie.” Everyday is full of surprises with Liz. She may bite you, kick at you, or try to climb in your lap like a dog. You just never know, but I wouldn't trade her for anything. She has more talent than I have ever seen in a horse, and I just love her.
What do you feed your horse? 12% pelleted feed, grass hay, Mare Magic, and Oxy-Max.
What are your other interests besides riding horses? I love to fly fish, scuba dive, travel, drink good wine and eat good food.
What's the coolest place you have ever been and why? Hawaii, Belize, and Cabo San Lucas because I was able to fly fish and Scuba dive in beautiful tropical water.
Which reality TV show do you think you would do the best on and why? I’ve never seen any of these shows, so I wouldn’t know what I would be good at.
Do you have any superstitions? NEVER put your hat on the bed.
Milk chocolate or dark chocolate? It’s a toss up, I like them both.
How did you get started riding horses? My Grandad owned a cattle ranch, and the day I was born he gave me a horse. She was a buckskin mare named “Old Pat.” I rode her all over the ranch, and started rodeoing on her when I was three years old. She was a dandy!
What do you listen to while you’re driving? The King.......Elvis Presley.
What food(s) do you absolutely refuse to eat? Bananas.
What do you do to stay awake when you are driving? Sing with Elvis, talk to my dogs, and talk on the phone.
Did you play any sports in high school or college? In high school I played basketball, volleyball, softball, and I high school rodeoed. In college I rodeoed.
Are you a morning person or a night owl? I'm up at the crack of dawn and in bed with the chickens. It's all I can do to stay awake past 9:00 pm.
What kind of saddle do you ride in? Larry Coates........is there any other?
Who are your rodeo idols? Anyone who is a good hand, humble and nice to everyone no matter how good they may be. This limits the possibilities quite a bit, but there are a few.
Where did you grow up? I grew up in Kuna, Idaho home of the Kuna Kavemen.
Do you prefer mares or geldings and why? Mares are the only way to go I think. I've had a couple good geldings in my life, but my heart really belongs to my mares. They are a challenge, but when you get their love and trust they will work so incredibly hard for you. The other factor is, if something happens to them, you can always breed them.
Do you like a particular bloodline or cross? I LOVE Firewater Flits. I am currently riding a horse for a friend that is a daughter of Sun Frost, she is incredible. She is the first Sun Frost I have ridden, but if they are all this way, I'm sold.
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 the ones that win. I've ridden all kinds, and people always say that the Firewater Flits are so "turny", but I've had a couple that were not. They were real “free runners,” and I liked them too.
Do you raise and train your own horses? I've been training horses for sometime now. In the past I have bought horses that were broke, then started them on the barrel pattern. But things are changing a little. My mare Ruby who is by Firewater Flit out of a Racing Free mare is going to foal for the first time. I am so excited! Jud Little took an embryo from her this year and bred it to Cash Not Credit, that baby is due March 20th. My baby that Ruby is carrying is due April 9th and is by Bugemforcash. I know it takes a long time to get a colt to a place that you can train them on the barrels, but my new adventure is fixin to begin. We'll see how it goes.
Charlene Murphy, March 26
Charlene with granddaughter Sari.
Tell us about your family. Gosh!! 4 kids. Wade married to Michaela 4 children, Dawson County High School asst. principal & head boys basketball coach. Darcy Glade married to Wyatt, 3 children lives in Miles City, Clint single lives & works in Denver, Co. Sterling married to Dianna 2 children lives in Blgs. My mom (81) lives in Yuma, AZ in the winter & MT in the summer. Brother Terry married to Marge lives in Pasco,WA. Brother Ron married to Susanne, 3 boys lives in Denver, CO. And my fiance, Quentin has 4 kids also. Keeps me pretty busy keeping up with sports, dance, birthdays etc.
Tell us about your horse(s) (age, personality, where you got them, etc) TM SAK EM LILLY (Lilly) Bought her from the sale barn. She is only 4 so not much to tell except she is probably one of the smartest horses I have. She fell thru the ice in Dec. & was standing in freezing water almost to her withers. We chopped ice all around her right next to her head & she never got flustered or excited. Finally had to just hook on with the tractor & pull her where she could get on top of the ice. Other than a few scrapes she is ok. Hopefully she is my next barrel horse!
What do you feed your horse? Grass hay, oats & a little supplement when traveling.
What are your other interests besides riding horses? I love to crochet baby blankets.Now I'm sewing for grandkids! I've also had a job night calving heifers for the last 5 yrs.
What's the coolest place you have ever been and why? The first time I stayed in Arizona. It is just so different down there in the winter. It's like snow & below zero is non-existent. I love all the huge swap meets!
Which reality TV show do you think you would do the best on and why? I really like Dancing with the Stars. I love to dance & think it would be loads of fun.
Do you have any superstitions or rituals before you run? I have the exact same sequence of getting me & my horse ready & I always do everything myself.
Milk chocolate or dark chocolate? Dark
How did you get started riding horses? My family & I started riding in the O-Mok-Sees ever since I can remember.
What do you listen to while you're driving? Talk shows & Creflo Dollar.
What food(s) do you absolutely refuse to eat? Sushi
What do you do to stay awake when you are driving? Eat sunflower seeds.
Did you play any sports in high school or college? Ran track.
Are you a morning person or a night owl? Both
What kind of saddle do you ride in? Sharon Camarillo
Who are your rodeo idols? Charmayne
Where did you grow up? Billings, Mt
Do you prefer mares or geldings and why? I love mares. They have so much personality & heart.
Do you like a particular bloodline or cross? Anything with 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)? I think I like the smaller quicker ones best. But doesn't really matter as long as they have a lot of try.
Do you raise and train your own horses? I do all the training. I've raised some & bought some. I have a mare in foal to Midnight Corona this year. EXCITING!!