Catching up with Clint Laye and JR Vezain

By now, if you follow the Canadian Pro Rodeo Association, or Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, you have probably heard of the Flow Riders. Known for their flowing mane, RC Landingham, Clint Laye and JR Vezain are some of the best Bareback riders of the sport. Though they have recently cut their locks off, they will still be known for their wild rides and rank spurring.

Currently it’s been just JR and Clint hitting the trail, RC will be back after Easter as he has taken some time off due to a rib injury. While RC has been away, Clint has been kicking ass and taking names. I really feel like its his year to shine which is really exciting for our Canadian from Cadogan, Alberta! Clint most recently won Rodeo Austin with a 88 and a check worth $9,803. And just before that he was second at Rodeo Houston taking home a whopping $24, 250. Sadly in the PRCA that (Rodeo Houston) doesn’t count towards world standings like it does in the WPRA, shooting barrel racer Nancy Hunter to first place with her rodeo count being just 1! Regardless, Clint is on a hot streak and is currently sitting inside the Top 15! #Canadasgotgame

JR is no stranger to being at the top. He has qualified for the Canadian Finals Rodeo twice and the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo three times! This winter he’s cashed in roughly $10,000, but I have no doubt his season will pick up and we will see him in Vegas yet again!

Clint Laye winning his Super Series at Rodeo Houston

How long have each of you been riding for, and how did you get into rodeo and riding bareback?

Clint – I started riding the spur board and working at it when is was 14 got on my first horse when I was 15, my whole family is a rodeo based family. Billy Laye was a bareback rider, he taught me how to ride and still helps guide me.

JR – I rode sheep and steers since I was 4, and when I was too old to ride steers and didn’t have a helmet for bulls, I decided to be bareback rider. All I have ever wanted to be was a cowboy never wanted to be a football player or any other kind of athlete. I have always lived & breathed Cowboy.

How did you all start travelling together?

“We first met each other at the National High School Finals in 2010, JR was a Senior I (Clint) was a sophomore. A couple of years later when we were going pro we had the same travel plans with Canada and the US so it worked out and we’ve been best pards ever since.”

List of Accomplishments

Clint – 2x CFR qualifier, 2x Calgary Stampede Qualifier, Jackson Mississippi Champ.

JR – 2009 High School National Champ, 2010 Montana Circuit All Around Champ, 2011 Resistol Rookie of the Year & College National Champ, 2012 Canadian Champ, 2x CFR qualifier, 3x NFR qualifier.

JR Vezain at the 2014 WNFR

2015 Accomplishments thus far:

Clint – 2nd place 25g winner at Rodeo Houston, Colorado vs World 10g winner, Rodeo Austin Champion, Casper Wyoming champ.

JR – 10g so far, making it a decent winter.

Do you miss home ever?

“Being in Texas for two months made us miss home this winter. We love being entered up and keeping busy so we don’t usually miss it too much. When we go home after three days we end up missing the road.”

What has been your favourite town you’ve been through?

Clint – I really like traveling through or in California in the spring, get a taste of the sunshine.

JR – Lamar Colorado because that means I’m headed north and the years about to start.

Favourite Rodeo to ride at?

Clint – I like riding at Calgary Stampede because it’s right after the 4th and I get a break to relax and ride at home. Wainwright is hometown rodeo.

Clint at the 2014 Calgary Stampede. Photo by Mike Copeman

JR – San Juan California, San Antonio, Pendleton, Calgary Stampede, besides the NFR and Canadian Finals. Cody Wyoming is really good to because it’s hometown rodeo.

JR at Cheyenne in 2013

Most memorable ride thus far in your careers?

Clint – When I rode Power Play of Andrews the other night at Austin, because it’s a big strong bucker and I felt like I earned it.

JR – First and Tenth round that I won of my first NFR, and when I spurred Dirty Jacket and won San Antonio.

Whats it like living in a van most of the year with 2-3 dudes?

“Living out of our van is pretty awesome.  We have a tv and Xbox in there.  We love it! It means we’re rodeoing and doing what we love.”

How do you keep in shape and eat healthy while on the road?

“We pay for drop-ins or day passes at gyms in town we pass through. We are currently getting hooked on a new meal plan from Gavin Glye to help out, and we take a lot of vitamins. We’ve both completely quit drinking and seen that makes a huge difference with making us feel better.”

What sort of tips do you guys have for keeping a sharp mental game that you could pass on to barrel racers?

“We read some mental books including Mind Gym and stay positive towards everything. We help each other to keep up. The harder that you work the better results you will see is what it boils down to. Stay on top of everything.”

What are your goals for the 2015 season?

“Our goals are set very high for this year. Three of us chasing #goldbuckledreams in Vegas. Don’t ever set your goal to make the NFR or CFR, you have to shoot higher. Make it the Canadian Title, or World Title.”

What are your future plans for when you hang up your rigging?

Clint – My future plans are always changing, but I like to work with wood and build. Maybe I would build houses one day.

JR – I want to own a winter place in Arizona where I can raise train and sell performance horses, and a place back at home with cattle. Have both of my places making me money, and to raise a family starting my own generation of red-headed cowboys.

Who is the better singer?

“JR sings the most.. like every song that comes on, but sounds like a pack of dogs barking.”

“Clint on the other hand sounds like mixture of Fergie and Jesus, but doesn’t sing as much.”

Clint and JR on their hunting trip last fall

Who snores the loudest?

“We are both very peaceful sleepers and don’t snore. It’s beautiful.”

What is your favourite brand of Cowboy Boots?

Clint – I wear almost all girl boots to ride in because they are lighter, Toni Lamas at the time but pretty much whatever looks sharp.

JR – I wear Barstows because they fit my foot really well, are single stitched, and have a good strong riding heel because I spur hard!

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Clint is sponsored by Wrangler and Bozco, while JR is sponsored by Barstow, Wapiti Ridge Outfitters, and Pan Good Trucking.

Be sure to follow their Facebook Page The Flow Riders to see how they’re doing, and where they will be next!

 

☮Cassie

Pursue Victory – Paige Callaway

This spring I will be purchasing just one new shirt for rodeo season. It’s long enough it won’t come un-tucked from your jeans. It’s sleeves reach your wrists and stay that way when you’re stretched out hustling home. It’s sides are fitted showing off your curves, rather than making you feel like a box. This shirt looks good with jeans and is rodeo ready, but you can wear it to the office, or a day in town if you want to. I NEED this shirt in my closet, so its now at the top of my must have list. The Pursue Victory Power Collar Shirt runs from an XS to an XL, is handmade in Calgary Alberta CANADA, and comes in uh-mazing colours. Urban Cowboy Denim, get-in-mah-closet!!!

Paige in her Sunset Coral Power Collar Pursue Victory Shirt

Who is the designer behind this fabulous new line that launched this past October? Non other than Miss Paige Callaway. If you’re not familiar with Paige, click her name right there, and check out the About Me section of her Pursue Victory website.

Paige at Fort Worth Stock Show

While on Instagram one day, I scrolled to a picture that had a bunch of cowgirl fashionistas. Tagged in the picture was Paige, and I had thought her name was familiar, so I decided to “Follow” her. Once checking out nearly all of her pictures I decided she was pretty much the coolest girl in the world. Her style is one of a kind, she trick rides and barrel races, she travels and loves fashion.  While scrolling her photos I thought to myself I hope I get to meet this cool cat one day, Paige seems to be someone I would get along with pretty well.. Though I have not formally met Paige yet, I was able to track her down on Facebook and do a little interview with her about her PV line.

This dress was Paige’s first full couturier piece of clothing she made! I love both the dress and the fur coat!

What inspires you?

For me, I have learned there are two types of inspiration.  The inspiration the flutters my heart and it comes at any time and place to take my creativity in new directions.  I find driving I get my best ideas.  Other places I draw inspiration from are riding horses, flea markets, music, the old west, kids, graffiti, nature and laughing.  That’s why I like to laugh . . . I mean who doesn’t but for me its a double win!

The second kind of inspiration, and perhaps the most valuable as an entrepreneur, is the kind that nicely takes your hand and dusts you off after a “rough” day and gives you the strength and sanity to push on.  The deep, to the soul, inspiration that the beauty in a cactus just doesn’t cut it for.  I find that in music, quotes and other people who have done triumphant things.  For those days, I have one no fail source.  One of my best friends was paralyzed a few years back at Cheyenne and I call him.  He never rarely gives me a “you can do it speech”, and he usually doesn’t need to because knowing what he has been through and accomplished paired with his witty comments and jokes always change my attitude.  I am not sure if he knows thats why I call him sometimes, however it is probably best he doesnt cause it would go right to his head! Haha jk!

This may not be “inspiration” as much as “motivation”, however the drive behind what I do could be summed up in one word empowerment.  When I started Wild Rose Clothing a few years back, I used to say that wearing one of the graphic T’s with a cool graphic or uplifting quote could be the difference between a good day and a bad day.  Pursue Victory takes that to the next level.  When I went to couturier school and I made myself clothing specific for my measurements it gave me a whole knew level of confidence.  I thought that sort of confident energy is priceless for me going into a meeting (when I worked downtown) or at a rodeo running barrels.  You naturally have that energy transfer into what you do that day.  I thought there is so much value in this sort of thing for society.  On a big scale, regardless of which direction the fashion industry takes me, that will always be my MO, so to speak.

Paige in her Black As Night Power Collar Pursue Victory Shirt

Will you be bringing more items to the Pursue Victory line?

YES!!! I am so excited for all the ideas I have for this line.  The first stop on the road map of Pursue Victory is to make sure that the pattern of the shirts (meaning pattern they are sewn off of) and the size grading is best for the clients.  Something very unique about Pursue Victory is that the shirt pattern and size grading was done by hand, not computer.  With the help of client feedback and tweaking the pattern and sizing, Pursue Victory will be releasing more colors and styles of the PV Power Collar Shirt along with maybe a casual line, a mens line and a higher end line.  I love blazers and vests so I am sure they will come along as well!

Paige in her Canadian Tuxedo

Will you be making your line available to wholesalers ever or strictly off the site?

I am working right now to move the line into wholesale.  My target with the first run of shirts was to really nail down the fit and I felt the best way to get client feedback was to sell it on a first hand bases and talk to the clients.  Now that I have a good idea of the feedback and where things can be shifted and adjusted I am looking forward to expanding into larger orders and venues while maintaining the quality!

If you could have lunch with anyone dead or alive, who would it be and why?

Lunch with anyone, tough choice, either my Grandpa or Coco Chanel.  Growing up I spent endless hours with Grandpa on his ranch.  He was a very kind person to all walks of life.  He loved and cared so diligently for his cows and horses and I grew up in this idea that was how the world operated.  Turns out it doesn’t and the older I get, the more I appreciate the man he was.  Grandpas actions spoke louder then his words, and through those characterisitics that he so naturally had he was respected and appreciated by many, myself included.  That, and Grandpa taught me how to play cribbage, which though I havent played in a while I am still confident in my skills!

Coco Chanel; she revolutionized fashion to create functional clothing for woman and this is something I strive for.  She had an idea for functional clothing so ladies could move around easier, like getting in and out of cabs and she stuck with it.  It was actually a very liberating time for ladies in terms of fashion and the more I learn about it, it was the fine boned, quick witted Coco who led the charge.  She had low regard for peoples judgement when it came in terms of what she designed because she trusted her gut and followed her heart.  Plus, Coco rode horses, was slightly rough around the edges and left a mysterious trail of stories about her life . . . which I appreciate!

Paige and her Grandpa

Since this blog is titled ‘Lipstick & Cowboy Boots’, what is your favourite of each?

I LOVE lipstick and I have become a lipstick snob!!!! There are a few things in life (Pursue Victory shirts being one!!! *wink) that quality counts! Lipstick is another where quality and brand counts . . . and so is mustard and paint brushes.  I love MAC and I have a few colors, my go to right now is called “Snob”, and I have also been wearing my “Candy YumYum”, which is neon pink! One of my friends and I have a long running joke when we see photos of each other we can name the MAC lipstick that the other person is wearing. Yes they are more expensive, they last longer and are soooo worth the money!

When it comes to boots . . . for work, Justins, hands down! For play, nothing beats the comfort and cuteness of my Old Gringos.  When I went to London I wore them around cause they are as good as a good running shoe for me!

After chatting with Paige back and forth I see how driven she is and she is now someone who inspires the heck out of me! She is passionate about her work and it gets me fired up to write more and do more with my own project this year aka this blog. 🙂

Want more about Paige and Pursue Victory, or would like to purchase a shirt? Head on over to her website! www.pursuevictory.com

*All photos submitted by Paige

Interview – Rylee Mckenzie And Simply Famous Quarter Horses

At just 25 years old, Rylee Mckenzie has quite the resume. The 2003 Canadian Permit Winner qualified for her first CFR in 2011 and also qualified for the Wilderness Circuit Finals. She made the Reno Rodeo Short Round in 2011, ending up fifth. In 2012 she went back to the CFR. In 2013 she was the Cloverdale Invitational Rodeo Champion winning the big $20,000 check, as well as being the 2013 Hell or High Water Champion. The list of rodeos she has won or placed at over the years is just too long to post.  Its been about a year since Rylee has had an interview, and since she is a friend of mine, and my blog is fresh, I decided to interview her.

Which has been your favorite horse over the years and why?

“My favorite horse was “Badger” (Seekers War Machine) Because, he took me from being a no body all the way to a professional level. He was the game changer. And by doing so, he taught me about everything that comes with winning, the good, the media, and the bad, the politics, the backstabbing, and the rumors.”

Rylee & Badger LRA Finals 2001

What has been your biggest accomplishment thus far in your career?

“My biggest accomplishment, was moving into the top 20 of the World standings on Dollar (“DR Nick Assured, Sire DR Nick Bar Dam Miss Profit Acct) Even though it was for a short time in the middle of rodeo season, It was the greatest feeling ever to be in there with the big dogs.”

I asked Rylee to tell me more about Dollar. From what I had heard, he was a pretty wicked horse.

“I bought dollar as a 6 year old who had been only exhibitioned a few times. He had several issues when we bought him, but within the 3 years, we had our little diamond all polished up. He had placed at the derbys and won rounds at them, along with a few pro rodeos. But in 2011, he came out swinging, placing at Los fresnos, Texas, and missing the short go by .02 at Fort Worth, Texas (it was 1 round with a short go at this time) Also placing 2nd in the round and 6-7 in the average at the tour rodeo in Red Bluff, CA. Then we came home to Canada, and placed 5th at Grande Prairie, AB, followed by a win at Rocky Mountain House, AB (17.28). We headed back south after that for “the wildest rodeo in the west” Reno, Nevada, where we left leading the first round and placing 4th in the second round and LEADING the average. When all was said and done, we ended up second in the round behind Robyn Herring and FIrewaterontherocks, 7th in the average and 5th in the short round. (17.28, 17.40, 17.21 were our times respectfully). We drove back to canada, but first we stopped at Belt, Montana which we won, and then placed at High River, AB & 5th at Sundre, AB. Which was then followed by an intense Fourth of July run, we headed to Ponoka (no luck), St. Paul, Oregon where we won 2nd (17.38), Mollalla, Oregon ( 17.33) where we were 4th and Williams lake, BC where we won 5th. With all these big cheques we had launched ourselves into the world standings, Canadian standings, Wrangler Pro Tour standings and high money earning over the Fourth of July standings.

Shortly after our great success, tragedy had struck, just two days before “The Daddy of ‘Em All” Cheyenne Frontier Days, Dollar tragically had to be laid to rest.

Thankfully in this stretch I had my #1 rock of a horse “JL” whom then went on to keep us in the top 30 WPRA standings, placing 4th at Great Falls, Montana, 2nd in the first round at Hermiston Oregon (17.38), and 7th in the average, Ogden, Utah (17.51), Kallispell, Montana, Strathmore, Alberta, Medicine Hat, Alberta, la Crete, Alberta, Cranbrook, Alberta, Hanna,Alberta, grimshaw, Alberta, Abbottsford, British Columbia and MCCord, Alberta. Which also took us to the Wildnerness Circuit finals, qualified us for Puyallup, Washington tour finals, Rodeo Houston, San Antonio, Texas and our first CFR!”

Rylee & Dollar

Check out Rylee & Dollar at the Reno Short Go in 2011 – *Skip to 1:12min in the video*

 

As a professional barrel racer you face a lot of pressure, and expectations. How do you handle this? 

I try to stay focused on my own path, I have a goal, I have tunnel vision to that goal, and I try to ignore my surroundings. I am constantly questioned as to why I am doing this, or that, and the answer is very simple, on my path, that is what needs to happen to get to the end goal.

Motivation Motivation Motivation! What keeps you motivated?

First of all, I have a great support system. But mostly, my motivation comes from my horses, they LOVE to go, so its hard not to be motivated, when your horses run to the trailer towing you along.

Rylee & JL *Bill Lawless Photography*

What is your must have horse product in your trailer?

Vetrolin Detangler & Shine.

What you do in the off season?

I try to work with my colts as much as the weather permits, but I also like to do “non- horse” things. Fishing, hiking, snowboarding, biking, etc. Im an extreme active person, so anything I can find, I will go do.

The 2014 season is over. What are your plans for the 2015 season?

 I have several plans for the 2015 season. First is to take my colts “Missability” & “RP Dr Frost” to the futurities. Second is to take them to some amateur rodeos (LRA), and qualify for those finals. Third is to attend some pro rodeos that I enjoy going to. And lastly, is to qualify for The American for 2016.

What about other future goals?

Qualify for the NFR, and Qualify for the CFR in contention for a championship.

I’ve talked earlier on the blog about new girls coming to the sport of barrel racing. Any piece of advice to new girls coming to the sport ?

Keep an open mind, learn lots, pick “One” persons training method, consistency pays off. Take clinics from other disciplines, better your horsemanship, stay positive & don’t be intimidated, your only as good as you can be that day.

There was a lot of talk about you hitting up the amateur rodeos late in the season this year. Can you let us know why you made this decision?

JL had sustained a minute suspensory strain, and I was advised to give her 6-8 weeks, which happened to fall in our prime time rodeo stretch. So I chose to drop to a semi-pro level, and take a younger horse that needed the experience to some rodeos, which were close by.

Alright, enough serious talk, tell me what your perfect day entails!

 35 degree weather or hotter; Ride horses in the morning while its cooler, and head to the lake for the afternoon, followed by more relaxing in the evening! Those are few and far between where we live though!

Im really looking forward to watching Rylee down the road to the CFR, The American and the NFR. I know this hard working girl has it in her to get there! All the best Ry!