Published in the November 2018 issue of the Kerby News
A barrel of fun in retirement for Maureen Marston
Story by Tim Johnston
Photographs by Tim Johnston and Brenda Dahlseide
Toward the end of a 32-year teaching career with the Rocky View School Division, Maureen Marston visited a financial counselor for advice on proceeding into retirement. He asked her what kinds of things she would like to pursue and she replied, “I want to find a good barrel horse and go barrel racing”. Having grown up on a dairy and cattle farm, Maureen had owned and ridden horses all her life. In fact, she had competed in barrel racing events at the amateur level in her teens and before university. Her advisor had some interesting information for her; another of his clients wanted to sell a quarter horse named Lethal that had been trained to barrel race.
It’s believed that barrel racing began in Texas, around 1948. According to Wikipedia, a group of women formed the Girls’ Rodeo Association in an attempt to find a home for women in rodeo competitions. The organization encouraged entry in any rodeo event but barrel racing became the most popular. In this event, horse and rider complete a timed cloverleaf run around three barrels arranged in a triangular pattern. Best time wins, of course, but time penalties can be added for, among other things, knocking over a barrel.
If you have been to local professional rodeos, say in High River or Strathmore, or even our own hometown show, the Calgary Stampede, you will have seen some top-drawer professional rodeo competitors, including barrel racers. For many of these folk, rodeo is how they make their living. As soon as an event ends at one rodeo they are on the road to the next with hopes of good rides foremost in their minds.
Not quite the pace of competition Maureen was looking for. Fortunately for her and a good number of other senior competitors, there exists the Canadian Senior Pro Rodeo Association (CSPRA). With approximately 230 members in western Canada, the organization aims to “promote and organize senior rodeo; protect older cowboys and cowgirls who wish to rodeo as a sport or hobby; promote rodeo as an enjoyable sport in another segment of the lives of those who participate; and to promote and afford opportunity for friendly and social activities”. The minimum age for members is 40, except for bull riders who can join at 35, and members compete in ten-year age groups. In 2018 the organization operated 19 events in Canada and participated in a further seven rodeos in Montana.
Maureen has had a busy year. She competed in eight senior pro rodeos from Barrhead to Brooks to Cardston, usually finishing right around the median times in her age category. That’s pretty impressive for a latecomer to the barrels. As well, Maureen campaigned Lethal at Foothills Cowboy Association rodeos in Bassano, Millarville and Rockyford. In addition to sanctioned rodeo events, barrel racers take part in less formal meets known as jackpots. At these latter events the official dress code of the CSPRA is relaxed and, while riders can “let their hair down”, the competitive nature of these meets is as strong as anywhere. This year, Maureen competed in jackpot series in High River, Stavely, Indus, Claresholm and Coaldale. To help develop her riding skills, Maureen and Lethal work throughout the year with Raylee Edwards of Walter Quarter Horses in Lethbridge. Raylee is a past Canadian champion barrel racer and is well known throughout the sport for her training skills.
Travelling is a big part of barrel racing. To reach rodeos and competitions from her home west of Calgary, Maureen has a heavy duty Ford pickup truck. She tows a fifth wheel trailer that can transport up to three horses and also provides space for compact living quarters. Older country music accompanies her while on the road. For a typical event, Maureen will drive to the location on the day before and set up housekeeping in the competitors’ area. That means unloading the electrical generator for light and air conditioning, moving Lethal from the trailer to a stall or small corral, ensuring the horse has food and water, and organizing the saddle and tack that the event will require. Fortunately, CSPRA rodeos are usually two or three-day events and competitors tend to settle in for the duration, forming temporary villages of friends and acquaintances and, of course, horses. Lots of visiting, horse talk and some pretty fine potluck dinners help fill time after each day’s events.
In early September, I met up with Maureen at the Brooks Senior Rodeo where she had invited me to watch her first run of the event and to meet some of her friends and fellow riders. I found her truck and trailer amid a fleet of similar units and spotted Lethal, saddled and ready for some time in the exercise area. Afterward, I walked with Maureen and her steed to the back area of the riding pavilion and waited among riders and horses for the barrel racing to begin.
I watched Maureen prepare for her race. Never far from Lethal, she spoke with friends and mentors who offered advice, sharing what they knew of the condition of the arena and how best to get Lethal off to a good start. Maureen told me that at the Wetaskiwin Rodeo, Lethal had absolutely refused to enter the arena and as a result, he and his rider had been “turned out” or stricken from the list of contestants for the day. That’s a lot of kilometers, diesel fuel and generator lifting just to have your horse suddenly start thinking independently.
But today would be different. I moved into the arena to watch the riders and to find a good location to photograph Maureen on her race. Rider number seven was announced and Lethal, with Maureen aboard, galloped smartly into the ring heading straight for the first barrel. Circling that one tightly, the pair raced to barrel number two and, amid clumps of flying dirt, made a beautiful circuit of it but bumped it just as they departed. Down went the barrel but Maureen pressed her horse on to barrel three for a clean pass and a fast run back out of the ring, stopping the clock at 15.4 seconds. Not a bad time but five seconds were added as a penalty for tipping over the barrel, effectively putting Maureen and Lethal out of the top ten placings for the day.
The Brooks Senior Rodeo was the last CSPRA rodeo of the year for Maureen but there will be indoor jackpot events to ride in over the winter. At home on her family farm, she spoke with me about the year’s racing events. About Brooks, she said that while she was a little disappointed with the results, nevertheless she and Lethal weren’t hurt, they enjoyed two days with friends, got home safely and the sun rose and shone the next day. Maureen felt she had a successful year campaigning Lethal against some very intense competition. Barrel racers at senior rodeos are incredibly talented and very fast in all of the age groups. “In my view, the only thing senior about the folk I race against is their experience,” she said.
It’s clear to me that Maureen loves her sport and loves her horses. She has two, the other being Gus, another quarter horse. She also has a donkey named Redhawk who absolutely adores her and won’t leave her side when she is in the paddock. Asked about her goals in the sport, Maureen said she hopes to qualify for the CSPRA finals one year. “I’m not giving up until I get there,” she said. Riding in senior rodeos in Montana next summer is also high on her list.
I wondered if all the travel and care required for her horses balanced with the time actually spent racing. Maureen summed it up this way, “Nothing is more thrilling than completing a good run with a decent time. With Lethal stretched out at full gallop, it’s a great feeling with the timing just right and everything clicking.”
For Maureen Marston, some unexpected retirement advice about a horse for sale helped reconnect her with a youthful interest. Now, each new rodeo season provides opportunities to be active and competitive in a sport dear to her heart. Ride well, Maureen, and circle close to the barrels. Just try not to tip any.
-30-
Cutlines for published story
4131: Maureen exercises Lethal in the warm-up area prior to her race event at the Brooks Senior Rodeo.
4166: Maureen and Susan Dubeau strategize getting Lethal to enter the arena at full gallop.
4173: Before her turn, Maureen quietly visualizes the race in her mind.
4187: Maureen and Lethal round the second barrel but tip it over on their way to barrel three.
4206: After her race, Maureen watches other competitors.
4216: Water for Lethal after his race.
4226: Fresh hay is a reward for a faithful steed.
4236: Gifts for Susan Dubeau for her help with calming Lethal before the race. Another racer, Connie Lemoine, looks on.
4242: Maureen with Frances Hargrave, long-time friend, mentor and fierce competitor. Frances was Canadian Champion barrel racer in 1972; competed 17 times at Canadian Finals Rodeos; and in 2017 held the world barrel racing championship for women 60 years of age and over.
4376/4379: In the paddock on her farm with Gus and Redhawk.
4382: Maureen and Lethal home from the races.
Nanton Image: Maureen Marston makes a clean turn of a barrel at Nanton, her first Canadian Senior Professional Rodeo competition. (Photo by Brenda Dahlseide, TRENDFOTOS)
A barrel of fun in retirement for Maureen Marston
Story by Tim Johnston
Photographs by Tim Johnston and Brenda Dahlseide
Toward the end of a 32-year teaching career with the Rocky View School Division, Maureen Marston visited a financial counselor for advice on proceeding into retirement. He asked her what kinds of things she would like to pursue and she replied, “I want to find a good barrel horse and go barrel racing”. Having grown up on a dairy and cattle farm, Maureen had owned and ridden horses all her life. In fact, she had competed in barrel racing events at the amateur level in her teens and before university. Her advisor had some interesting information for her; another of his clients wanted to sell a quarter horse named Lethal that had been trained to barrel race.
It’s believed that barrel racing began in Texas, around 1948. According to Wikipedia, a group of women formed the Girls’ Rodeo Association in an attempt to find a home for women in rodeo competitions. The organization encouraged entry in any rodeo event but barrel racing became the most popular. In this event, horse and rider complete a timed cloverleaf run around three barrels arranged in a triangular pattern. Best time wins, of course, but time penalties can be added for, among other things, knocking over a barrel.
If you have been to local professional rodeos, say in High River or Strathmore, or even our own hometown show, the Calgary Stampede, you will have seen some top-drawer professional rodeo competitors, including barrel racers. For many of these folk, rodeo is how they make their living. As soon as an event ends at one rodeo they are on the road to the next with hopes of good rides foremost in their minds.
Not quite the pace of competition Maureen was looking for. Fortunately for her and a good number of other senior competitors, there exists the Canadian Senior Pro Rodeo Association (CSPRA). With approximately 230 members in western Canada, the organization aims to “promote and organize senior rodeo; protect older cowboys and cowgirls who wish to rodeo as a sport or hobby; promote rodeo as an enjoyable sport in another segment of the lives of those who participate; and to promote and afford opportunity for friendly and social activities”. The minimum age for members is 40, except for bull riders who can join at 35, and members compete in ten-year age groups. In 2018 the organization operated 19 events in Canada and participated in a further seven rodeos in Montana.
Maureen has had a busy year. She competed in eight senior pro rodeos from Barrhead to Brooks to Cardston, usually finishing right around the median times in her age category. That’s pretty impressive for a latecomer to the barrels. As well, Maureen campaigned Lethal at Foothills Cowboy Association rodeos in Bassano, Millarville and Rockyford. In addition to sanctioned rodeo events, barrel racers take part in less formal meets known as jackpots. At these latter events the official dress code of the CSPRA is relaxed and, while riders can “let their hair down”, the competitive nature of these meets is as strong as anywhere. This year, Maureen competed in jackpot series in High River, Stavely, Indus, Claresholm and Coaldale. To help develop her riding skills, Maureen and Lethal work throughout the year with Raylee Edwards of Walter Quarter Horses in Lethbridge. Raylee is a past Canadian champion barrel racer and is well known throughout the sport for her training skills.
Travelling is a big part of barrel racing. To reach rodeos and competitions from her home west of Calgary, Maureen has a heavy duty Ford pickup truck. She tows a fifth wheel trailer that can transport up to three horses and also provides space for compact living quarters. Older country music accompanies her while on the road. For a typical event, Maureen will drive to the location on the day before and set up housekeeping in the competitors’ area. That means unloading the electrical generator for light and air conditioning, moving Lethal from the trailer to a stall or small corral, ensuring the horse has food and water, and organizing the saddle and tack that the event will require. Fortunately, CSPRA rodeos are usually two or three-day events and competitors tend to settle in for the duration, forming temporary villages of friends and acquaintances and, of course, horses. Lots of visiting, horse talk and some pretty fine potluck dinners help fill time after each day’s events.
In early September, I met up with Maureen at the Brooks Senior Rodeo where she had invited me to watch her first run of the event and to meet some of her friends and fellow riders. I found her truck and trailer amid a fleet of similar units and spotted Lethal, saddled and ready for some time in the exercise area. Afterward, I walked with Maureen and her steed to the back area of the riding pavilion and waited among riders and horses for the barrel racing to begin.
I watched Maureen prepare for her race. Never far from Lethal, she spoke with friends and mentors who offered advice, sharing what they knew of the condition of the arena and how best to get Lethal off to a good start. Maureen told me that at the Wetaskiwin Rodeo, Lethal had absolutely refused to enter the arena and as a result, he and his rider had been “turned out” or stricken from the list of contestants for the day. That’s a lot of kilometers, diesel fuel and generator lifting just to have your horse suddenly start thinking independently.
But today would be different. I moved into the arena to watch the riders and to find a good location to photograph Maureen on her race. Rider number seven was announced and Lethal, with Maureen aboard, galloped smartly into the ring heading straight for the first barrel. Circling that one tightly, the pair raced to barrel number two and, amid clumps of flying dirt, made a beautiful circuit of it but bumped it just as they departed. Down went the barrel but Maureen pressed her horse on to barrel three for a clean pass and a fast run back out of the ring, stopping the clock at 15.4 seconds. Not a bad time but five seconds were added as a penalty for tipping over the barrel, effectively putting Maureen and Lethal out of the top ten placings for the day.
The Brooks Senior Rodeo was the last CSPRA rodeo of the year for Maureen but there will be indoor jackpot events to ride in over the winter. At home on her family farm, she spoke with me about the year’s racing events. About Brooks, she said that while she was a little disappointed with the results, nevertheless she and Lethal weren’t hurt, they enjoyed two days with friends, got home safely and the sun rose and shone the next day. Maureen felt she had a successful year campaigning Lethal against some very intense competition. Barrel racers at senior rodeos are incredibly talented and very fast in all of the age groups. “In my view, the only thing senior about the folk I race against is their experience,” she said.
It’s clear to me that Maureen loves her sport and loves her horses. She has two, the other being Gus, another quarter horse. She also has a donkey named Redhawk who absolutely adores her and won’t leave her side when she is in the paddock. Asked about her goals in the sport, Maureen said she hopes to qualify for the CSPRA finals one year. “I’m not giving up until I get there,” she said. Riding in senior rodeos in Montana next summer is also high on her list.
I wondered if all the travel and care required for her horses balanced with the time actually spent racing. Maureen summed it up this way, “Nothing is more thrilling than completing a good run with a decent time. With Lethal stretched out at full gallop, it’s a great feeling with the timing just right and everything clicking.”
For Maureen Marston, some unexpected retirement advice about a horse for sale helped reconnect her with a youthful interest. Now, each new rodeo season provides opportunities to be active and competitive in a sport dear to her heart. Ride well, Maureen, and circle close to the barrels. Just try not to tip any.
-30-
Cutlines for published story
4131: Maureen exercises Lethal in the warm-up area prior to her race event at the Brooks Senior Rodeo.
4166: Maureen and Susan Dubeau strategize getting Lethal to enter the arena at full gallop.
4173: Before her turn, Maureen quietly visualizes the race in her mind.
4187: Maureen and Lethal round the second barrel but tip it over on their way to barrel three.
4206: After her race, Maureen watches other competitors.
4216: Water for Lethal after his race.
4226: Fresh hay is a reward for a faithful steed.
4236: Gifts for Susan Dubeau for her help with calming Lethal before the race. Another racer, Connie Lemoine, looks on.
4242: Maureen with Frances Hargrave, long-time friend, mentor and fierce competitor. Frances was Canadian Champion barrel racer in 1972; competed 17 times at Canadian Finals Rodeos; and in 2017 held the world barrel racing championship for women 60 years of age and over.
4376/4379: In the paddock on her farm with Gus and Redhawk.
4382: Maureen and Lethal home from the races.
Nanton Image: Maureen Marston makes a clean turn of a barrel at Nanton, her first Canadian Senior Professional Rodeo competition. (Photo by Brenda Dahlseide, TRENDFOTOS)