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| LeAnna Billie |
Archived Freelance from the June 2017 Issue of Florida Equine Athlete
No duplication without permission.
From Okeechobee, Florida, USA, welcome seven-time
EIRA Year-end Woman's All-round rodeo champion, and more, LeAnna Billie! As a
professional rodeo rider, LeAnna has competed against some of the best riders
in the USA. She began loving horses at young age, and tells young riders, “Never
limit yourself or your dreams based on what other people think you can or
cannot do.”
GM: You have an amazing history with
horses! You have roped against the PRCA and INFR Rodeo Pros. Your passion for
your sport shines through! Who do you
accredit your love for riding and your success as a horsewoman?
LB:
Well even though I come from a non-horse/rodeo family I grew up with a love
of horses. After watching my first rodeo at the age of 13, I was determined to learn
how to ride horses and compete in rodeo. I accredit my mom for supporting me every
step of the way, and for my love of riding. I accredit my husband, Ivan BruisedHead,
for my success as a horsewoman. He is the one who believed in me, helped me to accomplish
my goals, and pushed me to be the best I can be, and much more. I am still learning
everyday.
GM: Throughout your career you have
ridden several horses - Jet, your big black quarter horse - and others. What
does it take to be a rodeo horse and how do you pick the right one?
LB: Well what I look for in a rodeo horse
is a stout build, good conformation, a good mind, to be able to handle the pressure
of the rodeo scene, to have speed and athleticism.
GM: As a rodeo cowgirl, you frequent
and ride the best venues. Where is your favorite arena to compete?
LB: My favorite arena to compete in is in
Reno, Nevada, during the PRCA rodeo and BFI roping. The Reno Rodeo Committee is
very accommodating to its contestants and horses. It’s just an all-out fun rodeo
to go to.
GM: You have a lot of accolades to your
credit. What accomplishment/titles have you won?
LB:
Seven-times EIRA Year-end Woman's All-round champion. In 2011 I was the first
Seminole to win two Breakaway Roping Go-round buckles at the INFR. Six-times INFR
Qualifier in the Breakaway, also I was the only female to qualify and compete in
the team roping at the 2014 INFR, also the only Female hazer in the steer wrestling.
I hazed for the 2008 Indian World Champion steer wrestler Ivan BruisedHead at the
2014 INFR. I am the only Seminole to compete three-times at the WPRA roping finals
in the Tie-Down roping, Breakaway roping, and Team roping. I am the only Seminole
to make the WPRA roping world standing in both Tie-down roping and Breakaway roping
standings. In 2016, I made the top 15 in the WPRA world standings in Tie-down roping
and Breakaway roping. I am the only female Hazer in the steer wrestling in the PRCA
Southeastern circuit. I am the only female to win money and make the PRCA Southeastern
Circuit standings in Team roping.
GM: Rodeo requires a lot of stamina and
grace. How do you stay fit?
LB: One of the most important things I do
is try to eat healthy to keep up my energy for the day. Just everyday working, stacking
hay bales and loading feed, working horses and practicing team roping, calf roping,
is in my way a work out.
GM: What routine, if any, do you do
that helps you to focus on the patterns and rodeo routine?
LB: What helps me to stay sharp in my roping events
- I do a lot of slow work practicing my basics on the ground, roping the dummy.
I never practice on live cattle, so to keep my rope horses and my barrel horses
tuned up, I do a lot of slow work on my horse with my perfect calf and heel-Omatic
steer dummies that get pulled around with a four-wheeler. When I get ready for a
rodeo, since I compete in more than one event, I do a checklist to make sure I have
what I need for each horse. I will load saddles and saddle pads that I will need
to get to first at the top, then so on. I always make sure I check all my tack in
case something needs to be fixed or changed out.
GM: Do you have a mentor/trainer who
helps you to stay focused?
LB:
My Aunt Darlene Fletcher and my husband Ivan BruisedHead. They are the ones
who motivate me to improve myself in my rodeo. My horses help me to stay focused
when I am feeling overwhelmed, by being in a slump in my rodeo, or if I have issues
with a horse and need help, they are always there for me.
GM: You teach kids in your neighborhood
how to ride and care for horses. Finding time for other people is
inspirational; taking time out of your busy schedule to devote to others is
something we all should do. What advice do you have for novice riders and those
looking to become rodeo riders?
LB: Rodeo is an unforgiving sport. Things
are not always going to go your way, so don't get frustrated and don't start blaming
others, instead learn from it, fix it, get over it, and move on to the next one.
I see this a lot in both novice and Pro riders in rodeo. Also, try not to get caught
up in watching what others are doing because what may work for them and their horse,
may not work for you and your horse. And remember your top priority should be the
healthcare of your horse, your horse works hard for you in competition. You should
work hard to care for your horse. Be competitive, but also have fun. Never limit
yourself or your dreams based on what other people think you can or cannot do.
GM: When you're not practicing,
competing, or helping others learn to ride, what is your favorite thing to do?
LB: I like to go fishing and hunting.
GM: What would you like people to know
about horses, riding, and the rodeo, that they may not already know?
LB: What I think a lot of people don’t see
about rodeo is how unchanging it is in its traditional values compared to other
sports. Rodeo is the one sport that stands strong in their belief. When I hear people
talk about how bad they think some of the events are, it is because they don't really
ever take the time to fully understand why we have these events and see that we
take every step we can to insure the safety of all the rodeo livestock and the competitors.
But they do need to understand the fact that they are animals and accidents happen,
somethings we cannot control in rodeo. We know that and we do what we can to be
prepared for those things. What they also don't know is that the rodeo family has
the strongest bond. We are not blood related, but we stick together as if we are.
GM: What does horsemanship mean to you?
LB: To me horsemanship starts with good
healthcare of the horse. Then it is in building of trust and also to gain the respect
from the horse on the ground. When you start with getting a horse’s trust and having
them respect you on the ground, it makes them so much more responsive when you get
in the saddle and start working with them. Unfortunately, horses with no ground
manners or respect for their rider is something I see a lot of when I am at shows.
It’s also usually the main problem I deal with when someone sends me a horse that
they are having problems with. I strive to educate more people on the importance
of ground work, its where trust and bond between horse and rider will start to build.
It’s something that requires a lot of dedication and patience for because it is
not something that happens quickly, it takes time, a lot energy, and it can really
get frustrating at times. But I can tell you this, the work is all worth it. To
me it is the best feeling in the world and if I had to do it all over again, I would.
Connect with LeAnna…
https://www.facebook.com/bigtown.billie1
Gina McKnight is a freelance writer and
author from Ohio, USA. gmcknight.com
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