The WRANGLER Horse and Rodeo News is an equine and rodeo publication with circulation in Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota, Utah and Idaho.
Issue link: http://thewrangler.uberflip.com/i/1364308
4 The WRANGLER, Horse and Rodeo News • April 20 - May 4, 2021 Wri en by Hope Raley VGBRA Barrel Daze is one of the industries top events, and with 2020 being cancelled due to Covid19, 2021 VGBRA Barrel Daze was certainly one for the record books. The very first Barrel Daze weekend was held in 1979 with the first futurity of the event being added in 1981. For over forty years, people from all over the U.S. travel to the northwest, united in one common cause, good ole barrel racing, and 2021 was no different! THE STORY OF LEVEE Topping the charts in the futurity was Nebraska's own Samantha Flannery aboard Tenley Epperson's 5-year-old gelding Promise Me Fame Guys. Doted the futurity horse to beat in 2021, the striking grey gelding by Aint Seen Nothin Yet was a plan put into ac on by his owner Epperson. "Levee" as he is known around the barn is out of Epperson's 'heart horse' Bar Blue Lass whom she ran barrels on for over twelve years with li le to no maintenance. "I really wanted to get some babies out of her since she was so solid and always so sound," explained Epperson. "So, with the help from my parents and Chinook Vet Clinic we were able to do two embryo transfers, the second being Levee. I was able to finish out my college rodeo career on "Abby" without her having to take a break to physically have a baby. Now looking back, it was one of the best decisions I have made!" "Levee" was born amongst the cows and calves at Epperson's families ranch -Keller Sandy Creek Ranch- where he grew up turned out with the cows, climbing hills and crossing creeks. At two, Epperson sent him to get 60 days put on him by Travis Young. A er returning home, Epperson worked with him on some drills, but mainly just did cow work. As a VGBRA Barrel Daze Wrap Up three-year-old, "Levee" was sent to Dean Briggs for another 30 rides and some rope handling before being sent to Milee Dailey for 20 rides and some pa ern work while Epperson and her husband were in Guatemala for a medical mission. Epperson explained that she has always described the gelding as super trainable and always willing to please. Barrel racing for "Levee" was easy and Epperson admi ed that she loved being along for the ride. She had him exhibi oning beau fully before she could no longer ride due to being six months pregnant with her first child. A er sending "Levee" and his maternal brother "Ruger" to good friend Taylour Russell for the summer, Epperson did a lot of praying about who "Levee" could go to for the start of his futurity year. "I came across Sam's name thanks to Jill Lane," said Epperson. "Sam was able to get Levee around the end of September and that is where he has been since. I am fairly sure that they were meant to be!" Epperson and her husband welcomed a beau ful baby boy into the world in November and Epperson is fully embracing motherhood. When asked what the future held for her and "Levee", she explained that although she cannot hardly contain her excitement for when she does get to run him, realis cally she cannot hit half of the big futuri es le in 2021 while working full me as an ICU nurse. She also wants to spend as much me with her son as she can and has faith knowing the Good Lord has a plan for her and "Levee". Meanwhile, "Levee" will stay with Sam and both ladies are excited for what the future holds. CATCHING UP WITH SAM Flannery describes the grey gelding as "amazing" and one that just knows how to win. "He isn't hard to ride and my only job is to let him do his job," Flannery explained. "He's smooth and has minor wear and tear to himself. I feel that he knows how to win." Promise Me Fame Guy "Levee" is the first Aint Seen Nothin Yet offspring that Flannery has ridden and now she owns one herself and has a breeding to him for this year. What she loves most about them is their smoothness. "I have been preaching smooth is fast for years and now I am proving it with Levee", said Flannery. "ASNY offspring are also trainable, consistent, good minded as well as the obvious- fast!" Flannery admits that she and "Levee" have now found their 'niche' which includes a quiet warmup yet making sure that he is responsive to her. "He walks up into the arena and waits for me to smooth before he takes off. I don't second guess him, and I know that he knows his job and I know mine. Both him and I are pre y confident right now which is a great feeling!" During their first run in Washington, Flannery and "Levee" were spot on but he lacked 'pizazz' Flannery explained. "He felt red." In their second run, the duo came in swinging. "He tro ed up to the gate, had a cocky li le arch to his neck, was semi-obnoxious and I relaxed and knew that he would do his job." Flannery is thankful to her traveling partner for the weekend, Whitney Blackwell, for being such a great hauling buddy and pu ng up with whatever crisis came about. She also would like to thank Cassy Woodward for helping her keep horses in shape and Tenley Epperson and Deloris Adamson for picking her to ride their special horses. The sponsors that back Flannery are Renovo, Simply Equine, and Schoenberg Performance Bits, and Flannery is as always very thankful for their con nued support. Last but certainly not least, Flannery wants to extend a thank you to her husband Sco and the stallion owners for paying their stallions into the breeder's incen ves.