Local barrel racing phenoms Bailee and Lacey Brewster-Stanton are closing out another stellar year on the rodeo circuit with a trio of podium finishes.
“It was a hell of a season,” said Bailee Brewster-Stanton, who mostly raced in the Edmonton region on the Lakeland Rodeo Circuit. “We had crappy weather that was rough on everybody. We were freezing our butts off and the horse was getting sore.”
For Bailee, the season included top results, including a win at the Buffalo Lake Rodeo on her great mare Kat.
“It was a mudhole, but my horse eats it up. She’s getting the winter off though, because in the cold weather, she gets a sore back.”
The win capped off a successful season for Bailee, who was lucky enough to travel with fellow barrel racer Carlee Edge for much of the year. She said it helped to have a friend and competitor on the road.
“I was at the top of the standings for most of the season, but dropped off at the end. It’s a competitive association.”
Going into the year, she knew it would be her last chance to ride for a full season before going away to veterinary school in Saskatoon.
“It was worth it. It was a lot of fun and now I’m set for school,” Bailee said. “I went to a lot of rodeos. Every weekend I would have three.”
Sister Lacey tore it up on the futurities circuit, ripping up the course with her horse Tipsy in Melville, Sask. for the Canadian Barrel Horse Futurity. She won both the first and second runs to claim the overall win.
“It was our first in the outdoor arena… I wasn’t afraid to turn her loose and got the lead,” Lacey said.
The duo also found success in Brooks, where Lacey finished second in the short go finals.
Riding Tipsy, Lacey said there are two speeds.
“She goes fast or not at all,” she laughed.
With a month left in the season, she plans to race in Montana before taking an equine osteopath course in Texas. It’s something she became interested in after Tipsy became sore and she wanted to find a non-traumatizing solution.
“It helps figure out what’s the cause of the pain in the first place and treats that,” Lacey said.
However she’ll be back next year on the rodeo circuit.
“With Tipsy, I’ll try to rodeo a little harder and rodeo over the winter. I want to make the Canadian finals,” Lacey said.
