Take a look at what a team of strong women can accomplish together. Wild ‘N’ Wooly won 4th in the average at the 11th annual WRRA finals! 
Tag: Colorado
Tips From the Top Horse Rodeo Winner
Here are a few pointers from Joette Donnell, the winner of Top Horse at the 11th annual WRRA finals:
“Winning at a competition is the ultimate reward for all the time you put in practicing and money you spend traveling. It’s a lot of work to make it to the top of any sport. I will never feel like I have actually made it that far, but each successful competition I do well at, I feel like I am one step closer to being at the top. I have been blessed to have a family who is very good at training horses and competing in roping events. I have tried to take full advantage of my opportunity to learn from them. Dad used to enter ranch rodeos with my brother, JT, and I when we were in middle school and high school. We had a lot of success. I am very proud that my father would allow us to enter with him, he always had a group of grown men that would enter with him any where he wanted to compete.
Winning Top Horse was a great accomplishment! I am so proud that they chose B.P. and I. It took both of us as well as the Wild and Wooly team to achieve the honor. I love the ladies on our team! They have great work ethic and positive attitudes. That goes a long ways when you are trying to fulfill a dream.
I believe anyone who would like to win Top Horse needs to consistently work hard at their trade. They must ride all the time and keep their horse tuned up as well as themselves. They also need to perfect their roping and sorting skills in order to be on the top of their game. It doesn’t happen over night. Having a team that pulls their weight and beyond, is also a big benefit. It makes competition easier when things are going well. Your horse is much easier to show to the judges when everything your team accomplishes is fairly smooth and doesn’t leave a negative memory in the judges mind. As the saying goes…”It takes a village”, well that is true in so many facets of life. I believe anyone’s “village” helps them to accomplish their goals and realize their full potential!” -Joette Donnell
Moments Before the Rodeo
There is a side to rodeos that many don’t know about. It’s the quiet moments before the competition. Be it sharing a cup of coffee and a cinnamon roll with your teammates or giving your daughter a tight squeeze as the hubbub slowly begins. Each one is a sweet slice of life that makes you feel an itch of nostalgia and a yearning for the next ride.
The ever talented Wild ‘N’ Wooley team is wearing: The Women’s Minot Shirt & Slim Fit Nyona Jean.
Joette and B.P.
After such preparation, the Wild and Wooly team finally made it to Loveland, Colorado, where the rodeo was held. With just a enough time to squeeze in an early morning warmup, Joette and B.P. watched the sunrise from the empty outdoor arena, slowly turning laps in the brisk air.
It was such a peaceful moment between horse and rider that I felt lucky to be there. No words were spoken. It was quiet. Perhaps those were the only quiet minutes of the hectic and fun weekend. They were connecting and enjoying all that crisp morning had to offer, charging up for the competition ahead.
Denise and Janis Joplin
In 5th grade, Denise got the best present a kid could ever hope for, a white pony for Christmas. Can you imagine the sheer joy that must have beamed from her face? Since then, she’s been a creature of the outdoors and a lover of animals.
As they prepped for an evening ride, the setting sun dripped all over Denise and Janis Joplin. (The latter is her horse, not to be confused with 60’s singer/songwriter.) That’s when it occurred to me that there is a good bit of magic in every horse, not just Christmas ponies.
Denise is wearing the Minot Shirt in the photos above. It’s flexible and comfortable enough so that she can ride and rope with ease. Take a closer look here.
Ranch Rodeo Practice Tips From Team Wild ‘N’ Wooly
Ranch Rodeo Practice Tips From Team Wild ‘N’ Wooly:
1.) Learn to work together!
2.) Having a plan for any changes that may happen.
3.) Know the best technique and leverage to be fast but efficient for handling cattle on the ground to doctor or tie them down.
4.) Communication is key! Teams that talk to each other work much better together.
5.) We really focus on where everyone’s position is while we are roping a steer. Everyone has a place and a secondary position in case one of us should miss.
The Crowley Jacket
The remarkable Crowley Jacket is comfortable and well built for any workday. It’s water repellent, wind resistant, and outfitted with 4-way stretch. Denise is wearing it as she preps Janis Joplin for a brisk evening ride. Where would you wear this jacket?
Take a closer look at the Crowley Jacket for yourself.
Belt Buckle Pride
Like I’ve said before, belt buckles are quite often the prize in a rodeo. And these are no ordinary belt buckles. They are works of art, a badge of honor, and can even be a right of passage when you earn your first one. You have to remember that a skilled craftsman is behind each one of those beauties.
What does your belt buckle mean to you? Email craftedincarhartt (at) carhartt.com with a photo of you and your belt buckle. You may find yourself on the blog!
Cowgirl Joette Donnell
Meet Joette Donnell. She possess the heart and soul of a cowgirl, right down to her homestead. That’s right, Joette lives in a real homestead. It’s only been owned by one family before it came into Joette and her husband’s hands. The home and surrounding land is rich with history and strong family ties.
Now when you’re a cowgirl, you have to act the part. That means waking up early every morning to feed the animals and waiting to rest your bones till all the chores are done well after sundown. And as you know the buck doesn’t stop there. You have to dress the part as well. Joette sure has that covered. She owns 36 awe inspiring pairs of cowgirl boots, and each is filled with personality. On top of that, she’s won over 30 belt buckles.
In case you didn’t know, belt buckles are one of the many coveted prizes for competing, and Joette has been in the game since she was 5 years old. Now that’s a cowgirl through and through.
Joette is wearing the Amoret Vest. This little bundle of warmth will keep you cozy and still give you enough movement to get all those chores done. It’s water-repellent and reversible, so you get all the more opportunity to wear it often. It’s on sale-click here!
Dust Swirls and Cotton Candy Skies
Last week we got to see what it was like to be on the road to the rodeo. In all the hustle and bustle around a weekend that’s jam packed with friends and fun, it’s easy to forget the heaps of preparation that go into a competition. This mighty talented crew of women from Wild ‘N’ Wooly rodeo team got to strut their stuff as they practiced the night before the big event.
Crafted in Carhartt 