2020 FUTURITY/DERBY AND JUNIOR DIVISION WOMEN’S PROFESSIONAL RODEO ASSOCIATION 431 S. Cascade Colorado Springs, CO 80903 Phone (719) 447-4726 • Fax (719) 447-4631 www.wpra.com FUTURITY/DERBY PROGRAM The WPRA Futurity and Derby program old and younger that are competing for the first is the beginning steps of turning barrel horse time, while the Derby program is for 6-and prospects into champion rodeo horses. 7-year-old horses, as long as they did not The program, which began in 2006, is compete in Futurities as a 4-year old. A horse for building better rodeo horses that will last that starts his competitive career as a 4-year- through the years. The program gives members old has two years of eligibility, but as a 5- and a place to take young horses and introduce 6-year-old. them to the competition arena but in a more The program has proven a great training relaxed atmosphere. ground for building rodeo horses of the future. The Futurities are open to horses 5-years- FUTURITY AND DERBY TITLES Young Horses Rise to the Occasion By Kristen M. White xcited and pleased to win? Yes. Somewhat surprised? Also a yes. All three ladies who won top honors Ein the WPRA futurity and derby world championship races were happy to add the accomplishments to their resumes, albeit something they perhaps didn’t see coming. For 1D futurity champion Molly Otto, she and the owner of 4-year-old Teasin Dat Guy, Molly Otto never dreamed when Katie and Dustin Lindahl brought over the expectations were pretty minimal, so to 4-year old Teasin Dat Guy, otherwise known as Chewy, to her barn that the palomino would turn into a world champion horse. Chewy and Otto capture such a big title was quite a shock. captured the WPRA 1D Futurity World Title in 2020. WPRA photos by In the 2D futurity race, VR Jojo Wood Pay James Phifer, Rodeobum.com was a “cute little horse” that Bailey Webb- Olson purchased sight unseen off Facebook, better known as Chewy – would win the 1D then saw there was something special in the futurity title, she might have gotten a good horse. It eventually led them to the title. laugh over the question. And in the derby competition, Margaret Chewy came to Otto from owners Katie Jones was happy to have the win all to herself and Dustin Lindahl. Just a 4-year-old, Katie – last year she tied for the derby title on a Lindahl told Otto that she was “really lazy different horse – this year aboard Shes Packin and super slow and probably was going to be Dynamite. just a kid’s horse.” “She didn’t think the horse wanted to go An unforeseen victor fast. She didn’t even lope nice circles!” Suffice it to say, if you asked Otto a year Otto said. “She really didn’t have very high and a half ago whether Teasin Dat Guy – expectations when she sent her to me. But FUTURITY/DERBY PROGRAM helped Otto get to the Badlands Circuit Finals Rodeo and placed her in a round there. But headed into the WPRA Finals, the 1D futurity title was by no means wrapped up. Otto and Chewy were leading the standings by just 2.5 points, so Otto knew she needed something good out of the horse at the finals. “At the beginning of the year, we didn’t only run WPRA sanctioned events. We didn’t chase points. We just went where we wanted to run,” Otto said. “So we thought it would be cool to win (the WPRA title).” At the finals, Chewy and Otto tied for In the 2D futurity race, VR Jojo Wood Pay was a “cute little horse” that second in the first round in 15.999 seconds. Bailey Webb-Olson purchased sight unseen off Facebook, then saw Unfortunately they hit a barrel in the second there was something special in the horse. It eventually led them to the round, taking them out of contention for a top 2020 WPRA World Title as the 2D Futurity Champions. WPRA photos by finish in the average, but it was enough to James Phifer, Rodeobum.com solidify the year-end victory. Otto and Chewy finished with 412.5 points over another of Margaret Jones’ horses, Smooth Operraider, after having her for about five minutes, I who had 367.5 points. didn’t know what she was talking about. I Otto will continue running Chewy at pro think she was just bored and needed a new rodeos and she said she and Lindahl are challenge.” excited to see where the young horse will go Otto took her through the barrel pattern and from here. by the third day, she was loping through. Otto called the young horse really smart and said she picks up things very quickly, and seems to New experience leads enjoy working, so the challenge of the barrel to new title pattern might have been just what she needed. Webb-Olson bought little Clover as a When she first began to exhibition Chewy, yearling because she “thought she was cute” she would duck and dive a little bit across the and considered it a project horse “for the pen, so Otto figured she needed to be hauled heck of it.” But an interesting turn of events a little more because at home, she was solid. transpired as she and her husband began Otto took the horse to her first jackpot, not riding her. looking for a fast run, but simply looking for a “I don’t usually start my own horses. My straight, solid, confidence-boosting one. What husband always puts in the first 60-90 days she got was quite different. on colts and then I take them over,” she “She went out and broke the arena record!” explained. “But he had about 30 days on this Otto said. “I was just laughing so hard. I’ve mare and then suffered a pretty good injury held the arena record there on some legit 1D to his arm, taking him out of riding for six horses (including Famous Charm and I’m a months.” Rare Bug) so I knew this was real. Webb-Olson said she thought about just “From there on, she literally placed in leaving Clover until he was ready to get back the 1D at every single futurity I ran her at, on her, but her husband encouraged her to winning money every weekend I’ve run her.” ride her, reminding her that the goal was to Otto and Lindahl laughing together about futurity her as a 4-year-old, so time was of the how amazing Chewy had become, and Otto essence. also ran the horse at some pro rodeos. She “I got on her, and immediately she was FUTURITY/DERBY PROGRAM telling me I’d won, and I almost didn’t believe it was real!” Webb-Olson said with a laugh. “Even standing in the arena, it just didn’t seem real. This is my most proud accomplishment. This was my first horse that we really started from a baby up, and I’m proud to say that I did everything except for the first 30 days!” Webb-Olson said she plans to derby Clover, and she hopes one day she’ll make a good rodeo horse. She’d like to try the “pretty gritty” horse in some bigger places. She purchased her WPRA permit in October of 2019, so she’s excited for her and Clover to continue on. “I think she’s a lifer with us,” Webb-Olson said. “We like her quite a bit. She’s nice to In 2019, Margaret Jones had to share the Derby world title aboard ride and she travels well and handles well.” Classy and I Know It but fast forward a year and she was happy to have the win all to herself in 2020 aboard Shes Packin Dynamite. She did so after collecting 265 points to Karen Gleason’s 255 for the title. WPRA Prepping a horse for photos by James Phifer, Rodeobum.com the future Last year when Jones, riding Classy and I broke and handy. I set up the barrels and she Know It, tied for the win in the derby with acted like she had done it a million times,” Hilary Van Gerpen, she had high hopes Webb-Olson said. “She is a very grown-up for the horse to be her daughter’s sidekick. and mature horse, even at 4. Just easily Unfortunately, Classy had a freak accident in trainable, easy to get along with, willing to do January and Jones isn’t sure if or when he’ll anything I ask.” be able to return. Which brought Jones to Webb-Olson said she was a bit concerned Shes Packin Dynamite (Esther). about the curveballs thrown their way with the “I futuritied her as a 5-year-old and she just coronavirus, because she’d already entered got more and more solid through that year,” Clover back in December so she couldn’t Jones said. “So, I really wanted her for my hold her back for her 5-year-old year. But daughter, again.” they entered where they could and Clover did Jones and her daughter, Sydney, alternated well, pulling checks, finishing in averages, runs on Esther. She would take her to WPRA instilling confidence in Webb-Olson. derbies, while her daughter ran her elsewhere. Her husband had been checking standings “I figured if I just ran her once or twice a and they had hoped Clover could finish in the month and made sure she stayed honest, she top 10 or five.