We here at Potter Ranch are truly excited to congratulate another rising star son of Dinero. Specta Hay Day, a 2007 Palomino Gelding and his jockey, Jennifer Lee-Sims have been turning some fast barrels and some heads while doing it. The pair ended up 2nd for the year end overall in the 1D for Florida District NBHA09, and that was as a 4 year old. This talented gelding also has broken 2 arena records, and most recently at the New Years Stopanio Memorial Benefit barrel race the pair won the 2nd Go-Round out of 400 entries, running the fastest time of the weekend to do it! The also claimed 2nd for the Average, and for this got buckles and $1700. The duo was featured in floridabarrelracers.com, and the article follows:
Every year there is always a rider or a horse that seems to come out of no where, but makes you take notice. This year for me it’s Jennifer and LiL Man! I was at Bunnell for a jackpot competing a couple months ago and witnessed them fly to 1st and through the pattern beating all by 3/10ths. Most recently, they won the Stopanio Memorial Sunday competition with almost 400 entries and took 2nd in the average as well!
LiL Man, registered name Spect a Hayday, is just turning 5 years old in 2012. His Dam is a Wonder mare named, Specs Nugget Rebel, that they own and his Sire is PC Frenchmans Hayday. They have owned and raised him since he was born at her parents, so this is very special to them!
Jennifer says, “He was a nice colt to train, he picked up everything very good. I honestly didn’t think he was going to be able to run! HAHA. Matt Condo broke him for us as a 2 year old and did a great job. Then I took him and started to pattern him on the barrels. I wanted to futurity him but at the 1st of the year in 2011 he would still booger at things, so we decided not to. Boy did we make a horrible mistake, LOL…In the end he will be a better horse because of it. I took my time with him and let him mature at his own pace.” Lil Man has been competing since December 1st, 2010.
Jennifer says, “What is so cool about him is that I only exhibitioned him before December 1st two times. He really came a long way relatively quick considering that Matt put 60 days on him and then I rode him from there. I would put 30 days on him and kick him out for 30 days, than put 60 days on him again and then kick him out for 30 days again. I find that when I start my babies that way they always end up nice in the end.”
I asked Jennifer to share her training, tuning and conditioning program for Lil Man and her other horses and this is what she shared, “I try to stay on a program with my horses so they stay on a routine. I think routine is good for them and for me. Since he is finally growing up a little bit I don’t have to ride him as much. I ride Lil Man about 2 or 3 days during the week, just keeping him supple and responding. I work one barrel to keep him snapping in the round pen and I do light barrel work on him to make sure his feet are moving in his turns and he is standing up. I also long trot him to keep up his wind for competition.”
Jennifer shared how she warms up and what her competition strategy is at jackpots, super shows and rodeos, “I try to read him, if he is fresh we warm up a little big longer, usually when he is a butt to warm up that is when he makes his impressive runs! In competition, I just try to relax and sit in the middle of him and ride him with my legs. I know if I do that he will do the rest.”
I asked Jennifer to tell us how many races he has had in the past year, some special memories she would like to share, “I have made 35 runs on him, placed 18 times, and hit 5 barrels. I wish I had entered Tour of Champions in Ocala Novice Horse and Futurity I would of won both, but I only entered the Open. To date Lil Man has won $4145.”
Jennifer shared how she feeds and cares for her horses, “Lil Man gets 12% ADM Patriot pellet, MorindaCare perform, Electrolytes, and Hyluan 90. Ryan Carter does my shoeing. The professionals that care for him are; Dr. Pam Trednick, Dr. Peggy FLeming, Dr. Richard Grist-Dental, Sheree Still-SS Horsepower.”
Jennifer shared some more about LiL Man, “He is a very unique little horse. I love my lil man. It is really awesome that he is a home bred/raised baby off my parents ranch and he is really doing great! He is a one in a million horse. He has a great disposition, he is very laid back and very honest. The only thing you have to watch about him, is he will kick if someone comes up behind him sometimes. He does whatever I ask him to do and seems to trust me too. I love when he gets to the arena he is all business, when it is his turn and we are waiting he will take his front feet and paw the ground! He is ready!! I love the way he hunts a barrel but waits for my cue to turn…he pins his ears and waits for my feet to cue him… He is awesome! I love him! He is by far my most favorite horse I have ever rode. And I have rode a lot of nice horses and have some other nice horses. He and I just seem to have this bond. I cant wait to see how far we can go. ”
Jennifer started riding horses in 1990, and got her first barrel horse around 1992. She lives in Elkton. She works in her family business. She handles the sales for her parents packing company Jen-Sar Produce. They bring in, repack and distribute potatoes and onions to grocery stores.
Jennifer tries to ride every night of the week and tries to compete every weekend. She says, “I have a few to compete on whether I take babies or go to a rodeo, I am riding 5 now, so I need to go every weekend.” I asked Jennifer to share how she keeps her competitive edge competing on so many and this is what she shared, “I think about making the best run that I can make on that day at that time on that horse!” When pressure of winning a go or average comes into play this is what she does, “I try to block it all out and just ride my horse like I am suppose to. I concentrate on what that horse needs me to do or how can I help that horse or not help that horse. I feel like if you prepare at home and you have your horse where they are suppose to be, and they are feeling good and you are feeling good it is easier for you and your horse to focus on your job.”
I asked Jennifer if she had any special moments this year or this winning streak you would like to share with us, a story about a special win or competition this year? Or what is your most memorable win at jackpot, super show or rodeo, she said, “Last year i was in a rut and I was really trying to get out of it. So 2011, I really focused on my babies that year! It really paid off, at his 4th show out he won the 2D, and a couple of months later he won a $1000 added by 3 tenths! He placed here and there and gave me a great birthday weekend. I went to NBHA Friday night won the 1D by .3 on Stella my mare, won 2d on LM, placed in 3D, and 4D it was a great night. I am really excited that I qualified on 2 horses for NBHA world this year. Over the year the most memorable win for me was this past weekend at the memorial barrel race in Ocala. Lil Man ran a 14.454 the fastest time of the weekend and won the second go, and won 2nd in the average. I won 2 nice bob berg buckles and $1700 for the weekend. Great start for the new year!”
Jennifer loves the adrenaline of barrel racing and feels the more you put into it the more you get out of it.
I asked Jennifer to offer a barrel racer that is wanting to set up their speed a notch some advice, what is that next step for shaving a few tenths? She says, “If you feel like you have the proper equipment and it is not hindering you or your horse and your just not getting there, you have had there teeth done by someone really good, you have had them adjusted by someone really good regularly and you have a good shoer…I would would suggest go to someone who is winning on more than one horse. If they are winning on more than one horse what they are doing works. and take a lesson from them. It could be something as simple as your saddle hindering your ride.”
Jennifer shared advice on caring for your barrel horse, becoming a better team with your horse, “I do something to my horse everyday! Even if it is just pick his feet. I think if you take good care of them, they will take good care of you. Again, I get my horses worked on a lot but I want them to feel like I don’t ride them a lot. Horsepower is at my barn at least every other month. Dr Richard Grist does teeth every 6 months. I would do what you can afford, but what you will notice is that your horses will start working so much easier for you if they feel better. Make sure you have a good farrier, a good farrier can make you and break you with just one shoeing, it’s very important!”
Jennifer says when she was in her rut she made a lot of changes! “I put lots of slow work on my horses and changed my positioning, changed some bits and started really riding my horses hip and driving them thru the bit. And I did a lot of praying that I was doing it right and it just really paid off. I have a routine and I follow it on all of my horses! BUT mainly…I changed MY attitude! I stopped dwelling on the negative and try to only think positive thoughts, and if someone wants to dwell on negative things I just leave. I’M ON THE POSITIVE TRAIN….PERIOD! I don’t have time for drama. And I think that it is all how you look at things. God does things for a reason- You have to do your best with what is dealt your way.”
Jennifer, What advice would you offer barrel racers on being their personal best inside the arena, and outside? “Keep a positive attitude because what you put into it is what you get out of it. Win or Lose you have to shake it off and go to the next race with a clean slate and a fresh start.” Jennifer also shared, “I really enjoy training probably more than competing. I love to see the progress of a young horse develop and know that I got them there. It is very rewarding to me.”
Jennifer has many people she would like to acknowledge and thank for supporting her and helping her along the way, “I have been so blessed to have the parents that I have had that have provided me with the training and professional schooling that I have had the honor to ride with some amazing people. And I have learned so much from all of them. I am so blessed to have a wonderful support system and rock in my family, husband and daughter for without them I could not do what I do. I would like to thank Horsepower/Sheree Still for keeping my horses feeling good and on there game. Without her they would be sore and out of line.”
Jennifer, Anything special you would like to talk about in your journey and how special this is for you?,
“I would just like to tell people never give up on your goals no matter how much of a bad rut you are in. I was in such a bad rut that one day I just decided to change EVERYTHING! I changed saddles, saddle pads, and just went back to the basics and the old saying, keep it simple stupid…that is exactly what I did! I quit listening to everyone and did what I had learned to do in the past when I was winning.”
Jennifer, What are your future goals? “I would like to try to qualify for NHBA world again. I bought my WPRA permit so I would like to fill my permit and season a colt quickly. I need to sell some horses I have too many again and I have 2 more babies that need to be started and I just take it one day at a time and pray for the best!
Thank you so much for your interview Jennifer and I am with you “RIDE THAT POSITIVE TRAIN” and walk away from the rest! Life is too short for the negatives and looks like it’s working out pretty nice for you! Congratulations on your wins and may all of your dreams come true.
— with Jennifer Lee-sims.
