Drew Horner July Post

June and July have been rough for us, but we are finally getting back on track. We have a lot of chances left in July to make up for all the mistakes we have made.  I need to turn more steers to give my partner more chances and to let him see the feet more.  It has been frustrating at times to not win but it happens.  We are only half way through the season so there are a lot more rodeos left.  We have Cheyenne and Salinas this month, along with Nampa Idaho, Ogden Utah and some other big ones that we can make up a lot of ground with. 

            I changed my workout routines a little bit to help me regain focus.  I made it a little more athletically focused.   I do more cardio along with my weight training to keep my energy up and to develop more discipline and focus for my goals.  I am starting to feel stronger on horseback and it really helps me out with my rope speed and control.  I react faster now than I used to and I ride better throughout runs with my legs more now.  Staying in shape keeps you mentally and physically prepared.

            We’ve had a crazy past month or so.  It has been a long journey of ups and downs, but it has been an amazing journey.  Being able to see and meet people everywhere around the country, seeing all sorts of different parts of this land, and being able to compete nearly every day in rodeos has been such a learning experience.  God has definitely challenged me.  I didn’t realize how much I would actually learn out here on the road, not just for roping, but for life.  I mean stuff in life that actually matters.  It’s extremely easy to lose focus out here but God has put people around me to develop me and to help me grow.  The people in the rodeo world are a big help in my life.  I learn more about people every day on the road going to rodeos.  People have let us stay at their places and put up our horses, and even cook us some amazing home cooked meal.  You learn a lot about hospitality and service just based on the fact that these people truly want to help you.  They deliberately seek you out and ask you if you need a place to stay.  The “down home”, southern lifestyle that dwells within rodeo strengthens my morals and views.  I love to see all these different people out here in different parts of the country.

 Roping is fun and competing at rodeos is one of the best things to do.  You’re up against the best in the world nearly every time you make a run. It’s the best feeling ever, but what’s even better is getting to know those individuals for who they really are.  Not just as team ropers or competitors but as friends.  Going to lunch with some of these guys has been a huge opportunity for me because I just want to hang around these guys and learn how they act and win at all these rodeos.  Just doing that brings about so much change in my life.  You learn that these people and there families truly care about what really matters in life.  We are all competitive, but out here, it’s not necessarily an “every man for himself” type attitude.  There are genuine people on the rodeo road that really want to be apart of your life. There are people in this world that really do care about more than just themselves.  That’s something that God has harped on me throughout my entire life, to put others first no matter the circumstance.  It’s really easy to lose track of that mindset while rodeoing.  It can get lonely out here when you don’t really get to interact with a lot of people, and you can start to have a bad attitude about life if you lose focus on the important things.  I have had to refocus on having a servant’s heart, a genuine servant’s heart.  So, I started reading proverbs again.  Reading Proverbs all the way through can bring about so much change in your life. To truly glorify Christ is to live as Christ lived, to act like Christ in every way you can.  One major part of Christ’s life was serving others.  Staying disciplined in your quiet times, like reading Proverbs can get you back on track with your priorities.

 The people around me are the ones that I can have a direct influence on. The people I surround myself with can help dictate my priorities and goals.  Surrounding yourself with winners will help you win, in the same way surrounding yourself with solid Christians will help you become a better Christian.  Iron sharpens iron, so as one man sharpens another.  That’s HUGE!!! I like to evaluate where I stand in my relationship with Christ more than anything.  Keeping honest with God, even though He knows everything anyway, keeps me on a straight path of integrity.  Serving God and worshiping God is a lifestyle, and one way I am trying to keep that constant lifestyle of worship is by having a genuine servant’s heart.  The best way to lead is to serve.

I’m not saying at all that people will 100% dictate who you are.  When you read this, you must understand that you are God’s creation and no one can take that away from you.  You are more than just a team roper, cowboy, college student, business man, or barn manager, you are a person, a genuine 100%, flesh and bones person.  Everyone has a heart and everyone has a passion.  Finding that passion that is placed in your heart relies on a relationship with God.  Life is not what you do or who you hang out with, life is how you live it and how you treat those people you hang out with.  It all starts with belief.  You must first believe you can accomplish something, and then you can achieve that thing.  For me, a relationship with Christ helps my belief in what I can achieve here on earth.  I promise you, read Proverbs all the way through and you will see change in your life. Whether you’re a Christian or not, Proverbs is a book of wisdom, and you can’t help but learn from it.  Its only 31 chapters long, and each chapter is maybe a page and a half.  Its easy! I promise.

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Sarah Ingle July Post

The margin between success and failure is often determined by one's decision not to quit.

The latest news on the rodeo road I competed at the Texas High School State Finals two weeks ago. I competed in the events Team roping, breakaway roping and goat tying. In the breakaway roping I was 2.4 in the first round and placed 5^th and received a buckle. The second round was pretty disheartening I was 2.7 plus 10 I broke the barrier. I would have been 2^nd high call coming back to the short round. Breaking that barrier really messed with me; I got some pep talks and got pumped up for my goat run. The goat tying I was a little long in the first round. But second round I had to be fast to be able to make it back to the short round.  I ended up making a fast run of 7 seconds. I placed second in that round. This carried me to the short round 13^th call back. I wasn’t scared at all. I had no fear on my mind. The short round in goat tying was going to be tough. But I wasn’t worried I had ‘GOING FAST ON MY MIND” my goal was to win in the round and just do the best I could do on the draw of goat I had. I drew goat number lucky 21!!! Anyone could make to nationals in goat tying because from the 15^th person to number 1 coming back was only a second apart from each other. My horse was really pumped and I always know he’s going to do good if he warms up bad. He acted so silly warming up and I literally had to walk him the alley and get ready as fast and calm as I could to get ready for my name to be called. The short round run I tied another 7 second run and also won 2^nd in this round I got beat out of first by a tenth. But oh well I did what I had to do and I did it. I was pretty excited about my last two goat tying runs. It was so much fun. As I ran back up to the arena to hear how I was sitting in the average. People tallied me up as 5^th which is one out to making it to nationals… but as soon as they said that the announcer called out the national qualifiers for goat tying Top 4 in the state of Texas. My name was the first to be called! I was so overwhelmed and shocked because I didn’t think it would be possible because the top four goat tiers in the short round had good runs. But I had two really fast times and my points carried me into the finals helped me out a lot. I was so excited and I just prayed thanking my Lord for even giving me the opportunity to do what I love. Winning is fun but not near as fun as winning with the Lord because none of this would be happening if it wasn’t for him.  So next week I will be at Shawnee Oklahoma competing at the ifyr and headed from there to Gillette Wyoming for the national high school finals!

Give God the Glory!

Don’t give up and always keep your faith through good and bad.

Never quit on God, don’t quit on yourself, don’t give, and don’t ever give up. Jesus didn’t quit, he went all the way to the cross and now lives in us. So don’t ever quit on your LORD. Don't quit! Someone once said, "If Columbus had turned back no one would have blamed him; but no one would have remembered him either." The margin between success and failure is often determined by one's decision not to quit. Success and failure are relative terms. What might be termed a failure by the world's standards may be a glowing success in God's eyes. Don't quit praying, don't quit serving, and don't quit loving. He hasn't quit loving you…and He won't! Come to Him at anytime, he is always willing. 2^nd Peter 3:9 The Lord is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

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Sarah Ingle Update before State

An update on my results at Joe Beaver’s I won 4^th in the average in breakaway and also won the fastest time in the short round. My time was 2.13. I received money and a Carroll Leather jacket.  The 4state final was a very successful weekend. I won many averages, an all around trailer and the breakaway saddle. At region finals I won the breakaway saddle and 2^nd in the average. I also won the average in goat tying. My team roping partner and I failed to have a clean run. At the Barry Burk roping I caught my first two calves well but I missed my 3^rd round calf. This really hurt, all I had to was catch and I would be 3^rd high call in the roping. I missed a calf I shouldn’t have missed. He was really slow; there was no separation between my horse and the calf. So this past week I really have been working on what I need to work on so that will not happen again if I can handle it. That miss was trying to mess with my mind, trying to bring my confidence down. My mom told me I couldn’t let that one run bother me; you have state finals in two weeks. I will be competing at the Texas State finals in three events team roping, Goat tying, and breakaway roping. I called up the past Texas state champion breakaway roper from last year and asked her for some advice. These were her words don’t hold anything back, rope like you know how, try not to get nervous God already knows the outcome it’s just your job to do what you do to the best of your ability, stay focused and take one run at a time.

The Bible is Gods practice pen. The roper who doesn’t practice or study his sport will be ashamed. The same with a Christian. If you don’t read or practice what the word says, life will bring you shame and embarrassment. Why, because God’s word is the truth, it is his winner’s manual for life. The Holy Spirit loves to reveal Jesus. Championships may occur in the Thomas and Mack or other competition arenas but the practice pen is where it all takes place first. In life the word of God and faith in the word is where life’s victories are won in advance. Phil 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ which gives me strength.’’

Live by faith in God’s word. Read, study, and pray. Live with authority in the power he intended you to live in.  Be strong in the Lord.

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Drew Horner in Redding, CA

It has been a rough ride, but things are looking up.  We have not been very consistent but we have been putting together better runs and I have been able to practice more because I have been home.  We did alright in April, and now in May we have started to get to practice and compete more consistently. 

We are here in Redding California for the tour rodeo this weekend.  We really need to take advantage of this one.  The average is somewhat soft so far and we are in the last set to go so we need to stick to our game and make two runs that will hopefully place us deep in the average.  We go home and get to practice for a week before the Windy Ryon jackpot.  I am roping with Trey Johnson, Allen Bach, Kyle Crick, and Chase Tryan at that jackpot.

            I am still working out consistently and eating well.  It keeps my energy up and helps me to maintain focus.  Maintaining focus with everything and keeping priorities in line is a daily chore.  To keep focus for me, is all about my priorities.  Staying in communication with God, my relationships, and my lifestyle are three major aspects that keep me disciplined and focused, most important of these my communication with Christ.  There are times when you don’t have the motivation or energy to go on, especially when times are not good, not winning, but keeping your priorities straight and in line develops motivation and keeps you focused.  This is where discipline comes in.  Discipline, self- discipline, keeps you on track and forces you to keep your priorities straight.  These steps develop character and integrity, and it all works together like a big cycle of things.  The decisions you make affect your priorities, and the relationships around you.  Then those priorities can get messed up and the relationships destroyed, then you start losing motivation and focus.  Keep your discipline in your relationship with Christ and you will struggle less with lack of motivation and focus.

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Confidence

Why is it when you have confidence it seems like you will never not have it, but when you lose your confidence it seems like you will never get it back?

            Over the past few weeks I have watched my boys live on both sides of that conundrum.  They have both had days when they were sure they could do no wrong, and days when they couldn’t even remember how to do things right. Watching them is almost painful.  I see how when they win or play good pride starts to grasp at them, and I see how when it goes bad fear and discouragement try to grasp at them as well.  I have been there so many times riding the rollercoaster of success and failure until you just want to get off.  My boys and I talk about our value not being tied to our success in the arena or on the field and I know where my value is found chapter and verse.  However, knowing the truth and living in the truth are completely different things.  One can say their confidence is in the Lord but only the trials of life will let you know if the statement is true or not.   When I find my confidence on the wane the only thing I know is to do the little things.  Rope the dummy a few more times, hit a few off of the tee, work your horse… and in the midst of being faithful in the little things I usually find (what I guess I really always knew) the  Father is there with me and if he is with me then it’s going to be alright.  Likewise when my confidence is high I find if I will just remember to do the little things I am reminded the victory belongs to the Father.

            I hope it doesn’t take my boys as long as it has taken me to get off of the confidence roller coaster!

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Layton's Region Finals

Layton, my 14yr old son, competed at his region finals this week.  You know it is an interesting thing a dad has to do.  You work and work to work yourself out of a job.  Since Layton went to his first rodeo I have been there to help him saddle, check his calves, make sure his ropes are tied on… all while trying to help him learn to do those things for himself.  Then one day you look up and they don’t need your help anymore or at least not to the same degree.  Layton has learned how to get himself and his horse ready to compete.  He is starting to know how to focus on and prepare for each event without ol’ dad’s help.  So, I found myself during the finals one part proud and one part sad.  Proud not because he won a ton at the finals but proud because he was doing what men do.  Sad not because he was growing up but sad because he didn’t need me. 

            This got me to thinking about the Father.  God helps us to our feet, He lifts us out of the miry clay and sets us on level ground knowing we may need Him again but not for that.  Still the Father keeps picking us up and setting us free.  Trusting us to take the next step and trusting His love will keep us coming back to Him.  He never clutches, He is never clingy or smothering, He simply helps us up and releases us to be who He has called us to be. 

            Later that day, I had a moment when Layton came back by me, not because he needed anything, but because he wanted me to be a part of his victory and that was really cool.  I think the Father must like that pretty well too.

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God will not give up one you

Well hey there! I have so much to share with ya’ll. These next few months are my favorite months of the year. These months are also the busiest for someone who rodeo’s. I have region 4 finals on the weekend of April 5th, 6th, 7th also I have 4shsra finals the weekend of the 15^th, 16th. And I also have Joe Beaver’s goat tying and breakaway roping on Easter weekend.  Then the next week I have my exit level Taks test since I am a junior in high school. I have three tests left and I have to pass them to graduate high school and become a senior the next year. So fingers crossedJ . I have been roping so much this year trying to get better and go to that next level in my calf roping. It’s been a struggle at the rodeos. It’s like rodeo by rodeo something always goes wrong in the breakaway roping. I am only winning breakaway by one point in region 4.  At the last rodeo I drew a really fast calf and he ran through my loop which made me have to use my second loop. I ended up top ten in the round but this let other girls catch up to me, putting more pressure on me before the finals. I can’t let the pressure get to me. But I am confident in my lord and myself that I can get through this struggle in roping. I started roping my calf dummy a different way, I started roping a coastal hay bale instead and going back to the basics and catching every calf one by one. I also been going to professional calf ropers’ arenas and getting roping lessons and trying to learn new things and become a better roper. So far this past week has been one of my best weeks of roping calves. I feel a lot better about my roping.

 All I am trying to say is no matter how hard life gets and the obstacle you may face, don’t give in and don’t give up on yourself and especially don’t give up on your lord. God is there for you at all times. God loves you.

“And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he hears us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.” – 1 John 5:14-15

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