By Tina Spangler on
6/26/2010 5:51 AM
 MEGAN WARREN SWINT and BAR BEE STEELING SUE aka "Sissy"
It is my pleasure to write this article as Megan has been a friend for a few years now. I have been a huge fan of her and Sissy for some time. Megan Warren-Swint and Bar Bee Steeling Sue aka "Sissy" have had 3 amazing years of barrel racing. Their novice year was 2008 while winning all over Florida they also won the novice horse reserve 1D champion title with Tour of Champions. In 2009, they decided to make a run for the Rookie title for WPRA SE Circuit, and qualified to go to WPRA World Finals. In three years, they have been turning heads at rodeos, super shows and jackpots. They have won many titles as a team and have had many wins. The most recent title has me and all of her other fans in Florida very excited as Megan and Sissy are the NBHA Florida State Champions for 2010. It also looks like they will make the WPRA SE Circuit Finals this year too!
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By Tina Spangler on
2/11/2010 6:44 PM
 Shelly Porter is highly involved in the youth in her area. She gives lessons as well as puts on youth rodeos and shows. She would like to get the word out how important the youth generation is for barrel racing industry.
She was born and raised in Fort Myers Fl and still lives there. She has been riding and showing basically since she was born. She won her first walk/trot class at 3 years old and hasn't looked back since. She grew up showing western pleasure, huntseat and halter horses in AQHA, PBHA and APHA local circuits and 4H. She trained and rode those type of event horses & ponies until she was 8 or 9 then moved on to a 2yr old palomino off the track her Dad brought home. That horse become one of the nicest huntseat horse in the state of Florida winning so much when they pulled up others wouldn’t even enter anymore against them. Then one day she decided she wanted to rodeo so all of her pleasure and huntseat horses where turned into barrel, poles, goat and rope horses. She did Jr and High School Rodeo making it to the Finals and her senior year she won the Jr World in breakaway roping. Then it was off to college where she spent 2 years at Mcneese and 2 years at the University of Tennessee. By then she was homesick and decided to come home. She began giving lessons and making youth horses that where safe and winners.
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By Tina Spangler on
2/11/2010 11:10 AM
Florida High School Rodeo 2 times National Qualifier and 2009-10 State Pole Bending CHAMPION!
I met Alexa many years ago at my group lessons in Umatilla at Fiddler's Ranch. She and Gaby came for barrel racing and pole bending lessons. What a great team they were then and look at them now!
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By Tina Spangler on
2/8/2010 6:55 PM
I switched this year to NBHA District 9 to hang with old friends, meet new friends and try new arenas. In doing so I noticed Lindsey Wilkes and Meghann Daniel and I requested an interview. They are great youth riders on some NICE horses!
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By Tina Spangler on
1/27/2010 6:34 AM
 Tomi runs mainly in NBHA FL06, but has been very successful at super shows in the South East and hopes to rodeo now that she is 18 years old.
Tomi was born in Zepherhills, Florida. She has been barrel racing since she was 2 years old and she will be starting school this coming year to become a doctor in plastic surgery.
She has two very nice horses; Junior aka Dixie n Fritz, he is a bay that stands 15.2 hands. Junior has been running for just over one year and a half now. Tomi trained junior with her step dad Joe Brown. Her other horse is June Bug. Tomi says she is little but has a huge heart. June Bug is only a red 14.2 hand mare. Her Mom trained her when she was 6 years old and she has been running barrels for 6 years now. Her horses have gotten her pretty far says Tomi. Junior won Tomi a title at the Florida NBHA State Show in the Youth. They also went to Youth World in 2009 and won a title on June Bug. Junior is her rodeo horse. She hopes to be running hard in the rodeo scene this year. Her long term goals are to make it to the NFR one day.
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By Tina Spangler on
1/26/2010 8:30 PM
 Mandy is absolutely hands down one of the happiest, most supportive barrel racers out there. Always quick to pay a compliment to anyone, even someone she doesn't know. I have enjoyed getting to know Mandy and watching her barrel race. If any of you Facebook then you know Mandy gives a lot of updates to what she is up too and is full throttle all of the time with the horses.
Mandy was born in MA, and then moved to VT, then NY. Mandy has been involved with horses for as long as she can remember. Her mom grew up with horses and that’s where she got her passion, it runs in her blood. Mandy has been competing in speed shows/gymkhanas since 1994 and barrel racing since 1999. She trained her 1st horse when she was 10 years old. Mandy was born in 1985 and she is 24 years old, currently. She graduated from high school in NY in the year 2003. Her hobbies: beach, clubs, taking pictures, making web sites, dancing, anything to do with HORSES! She works at Glen Hill Farm right now and she has since Oct 08. She breaks and trains the TB yearlings for the race track. Before that she worked for Rapid Run Farm owned by Jimmy Miranda, and she worked there for 3 years. Mandy has been in Florida since Sept of 05. She worked at a Thoroughbred farm in Saratoga NY before moving down here. Along with working at a tack store (starting at age 14) throughout high school and after she worked at another tack store before starting to work on Race horse Farms.
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By Tina Spangler on
1/26/2010 6:38 PM
 The first time I ever heard of Teal Hampton was at NBHA State Championships in 2006 after she won the Youth 1D title! Since that time she has been successful in College Rodeo. I have been lucky enough to get to know Teal and the ladies she runs with and they are a wonderful group! Sue Parker was running that year too, Teal's mentor and trainer and I took notice to her winning on "On the Money Red" horses. I meet them all in person a couple of years ago at my ranch and have since enjoyed our friendship. I hope you enjoy hearing about Teal's barrel racing career and her wonderful horses. She is one of the most loving and respectful young ladies I have enjoyed getting to know!
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By Tina Spangler on
12/31/2009 8:57 AM
 Jaime Wright
Jaime is probably best known most recently winning on her gorgeous palomino mare, Eloquent Brisco! They are one of my favorite teams to watch, as I have a Brisco County Jr mare as well! Jaime shares alittle bit about her life, family, business and horses with us. I hope you enjoy the great common sense advice and love she approaches her barrel horses and racing with!
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By Tina Spangler on
12/29/2009 3:45 PM
 I started competing at barrels and poles at 8 years old. I have trained professionally since 1992. I've been successful with many horses that I have owned, trained and competed on. The unique knowledge I have from starting colts to finishing basics to competing on the 1D barrel horse and 21 second pole horse has taught me more than the average competitor.
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