Wise Counsel

I had the awesome opportunity to practice with Ricky Green this week.  He helped me immensely with my roping especially with my heeling.  As we were about to begin Ricky asked me about my heeling- how it was going what I needed help with etc.  I pridefully responded that I could rope feet pretty well, and what I really needed was help getting quickly into position.  Of course since God resists the proud I immediately whacked the next five in the ribs.  When this happens you want to hide, to make excuses, or to “safety up” even though having your weakness exposed is the best thing for you when there is someone like Ricky there to help you overcome that weakness.  So, I had to humble myself, and I prayed all of my weaknesses in the heeling would be revealed.  God obliged and I was able to learn, not just how to get early position, but how to finish my follow through and where to swing my rope before the turn. 

Proverbs 10: ¹⁷ He who keeps instruction is in the way of life, but he who refuses correction goes astray.

Improvement

·        Heeling early position really improved

·        Steer wrestling went well

Needs Improvement

• Not getting to work on my calf roping as much as I would like
• Work on my cardio

Check out the Elite Clinic coming up Dec 29-Jan 2

Drew Horner 11/23

This week, I have been taking it easy on my good horses and practicing hard on my practice horses.  I have been really trying to focus on catching every steer I throw at no matter what happens, no matter what my horse does, what the steer does, whether he ducks his head, runs, dodges left or right, my main focus has been to up my consistency.  For me, I’m not much of a perfectionist, I just want every loop to go on legal and get shut fast to keep the timing for my heeler.  I couldn’t care less how it goes on I just want it to go on tight and fast.

 Some ways I work on my consistency are rarely scoring on my practice horses forcing myself to throw at every steer, forcing myself to take shots that I’m not used to taking to stretch my boundaries.  I keep tabs on how many I catch and put it into a ratio.  For example, if I ran 10 on my paint horse, and caught 9, I put on my phone “9/10 Polo” (that’s my paint horse).  I do this for all of my horses so, when I get to the end of my practice session I may have 7 different ratios on my phone, then I put them all together to find my catch percentage.  Lately my catch percentage has been around 85%, which is ok. I also have been doing a couple different drills on the dummy.  I stand flat footed, or I walk at the dummy and don’t stop walking through my delivery I do these dummy drills in sets of 10.  This helps me keep my focus and concentration and then lets me relax and take a minute break.  For the most part, working on my consistency boils down to numbers. 

Other things:

Health/ Fitness

I have pushed up my workout routine here lately.  Since I am home and have the opportunity for a consistent ritualistic day, then I can push myself more physically. I do more reps and I have added some weight into my routines. I am trying to build some upper body strength in my core and my arms to help me with my riding and my swing power.

The coolest thing I have learned is the work I put into my roping is helping me in my everyday life.  Roping has been a huge part of my life and I am where I am for a reason.  I know God has given me a passion for team roping, not just to win, but to develop me into much more than just a professional team roper.  The more I rope, the more I realize what matters most in life is my relationship with Christ.  I know He is my creator and that He wants me to live my life for Him.  Team roping has opened so many doors for me to develop relationships and those relationships have transformed me into who I am today.  God is using team roping to teach me something new and I love to learn! Team roping is more than just a sport to me right now.  Going through the ups and downs of this crazy sport and being around the people I am around has impacted my life so much.  It has made me realize that there is more to life than being a winner in the arena, and I now strive to be a winner outside of the arena as well.

www.skyranch.org/rodeo

No Fear

When I am preparing for something like the Timed Event invariably there will come a time when I will begin to doubt whether I will be ready then fear will start to whisper “you’re going to fail.”  I am aware the Word says that we have not been given a spirit of fear but of power and love and a sound mind.  However, knowing this (even quoting this) doesn’t always help to cast out the fear. Most people just continue even though the doubt remains.  They simply put the fear down and pretend that it isn’t there.  While this is better than being paralyzed by the anxiety it is not the same as having the fear removed.  It says in 1 John 4: ¹⁸ Such love has no fear because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of judgment, and this shows that his love has not been perfected in us. So, I don’t just want to get over my fears I want them cast out.  For I know that if they remain even if the rest of the world doesn’t know I will know that I am being nagged by these fears.

So, how do I remove that fear?  First, I must realize that the root of the fear is a fear of judgement. Secondly, realize we have been accepted by the Father. Finally, since we are not being judged, realize our acceptance is not based on our accomplishments but solely based on His Love.  Therefore, since the results at the WTEC have no effect on what the Father thinks about me, there is no longer any need to fear. 

Improvement

·        Working on my horses

·        Heeling went well

Needs Improvement

• Not getting to work on my calf roping as much as I would like
• Still not staying diligent with the exercise

www.skyranch.org/rodeo

Drew Horner week 2



These next two months, November and December, are very slow.  It’s the perfect time for me to get everything ready for next year.  I am really trying to take advantage of the time home to spend tit with friends and family, while still working at my roping everyday.  Balancing things like family, relationships, school, and roping is pretty hectic.  Keeping my priorities straight is a huge struggle with me.  I do my best to keep them in this order: relationship with God, my family, roping, and school.  Yes, for me roping is in front of school because in order to compete at a professional level, you have to treat it like an occupation, but school is important for me as well.

November and December are a time of preparation for me.  There are not many jackpots or rodeos to go to, just a few local jackpots during the week and a few open rodeos on the weekends. This will let me have the time to get ready for next year.

ww.skyranch.org/rodeo

Corey Navarre week 4

A picture of Cody Custer

Goalsfor week 4:Work out 5X's

                Posting drills 4X's

                Get on practice bulls

Monday:

  Ab ripper X

  Drills

Tuesday

  Chest, shoulders, and triceps(P90X)

  Drills

Wednesday

  Yoga X

  Got on 2 practice bulls

Thursday

  Legs and Back

  Ab Ripper

Friday

  Kenpo X

  Drills

Sunday

  Drills

www.skyranch.org/rodeo

Corey Navarre Week 3

Goals for week 3:

 Work out 4X's

  Drills on stationary barrel  3x's

Monday

  Legs and back (P90X)

  Drills

Tuesday

  Kenpo X

Thursday

  Core synergistics (P90X)

  Drills

Friday

  Cardio X

Saturday

  Drills on stationary barrel

Sunday

  Rest day

Good week, I achieved my weekly goals.

My overall plan is to increase the workouts as the finals get closer.

Also getting on bulls more and more, getting on everyday for about 14 days leading up to when we leave for the finals. (these bulls mostly consist of jump kickers) To the younger guys just getting started I suggest getting on as many bulls as you can as often as you can. (they don't have to be buckers)

Phillipians 4:13 " I can do all things through Him who strengthens me."

www.skyranch.org/rodeo

Discipline and Leadership

I was speaking with Walt Garrison today about the Dallas Cowboys.  I asked him, “How the Cowboys could perform so poorly with so much talent?” He replied, “they are bound to fail they have no leadership and no discipline.”  I realized as we spoke that I am in dire need of discipline and leadership in my preparation for the WTEC.

Proverbs 5: ²³ He will die for lack of discipline and instruction, and in the greatness of his folly he will go astray and be lost. This is the truth- if I will not lead a life of discipline I will constantly yield myself to the desire, to take the easy road, the road of excuses and that road will surely never take me where I want to go.  For the last two weeks I have too readily taken the path of least resistance, I mean after all we have a new baby, our kids are really busy, I am tired… But this kind of excuse making does not belong in the mouth of someone that is attempting to reach a goal.  In fact, excuses never belong in the mouth of any son or daughter of the Most High God.  

Therefore, it is essential that I let Jesus lead me to the truth.  The truth may be hard to take because it means by accepting the truth (i.e. I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me, I am more than a conqueror in Him,  He will never leave or forsake me…) I have to give up my excuses.  A disciplined life is by definition not easy, but what of the alternative.  A disciplined life is certainly better than mediocrity, than living life short of God’s best. So, Father lead me on and I will learn to trust that the narrow difficult trail will lead to life and life more abundantly.

Improvement

·        Steer wrestling catch was a lot better

·        Calf roping went pretty well

Needs Improvement

• Still not down to fighting weight
• A little behind on my Bible reading
• Team roping had a bit of a setback this week

www.skyranch.org/rodeo

Sarah Ingle's 1st post

           Over the past couple weeks I have been rodeoing heavily. I just returned from the USTRC team roping championship finals in Oklahoma City. It was a fun week but my partners and I had no luck.

            I returned back to my home in Texas. The first day back I had a varsity basketball scrimmage in Bland. I got hurt in the first twenty minutes of playing. I thought I broke my right thumb which is my roping hand. I didn't get mad over it because I believe everything happens for a reason. I knew my thumb would be okay. My coach pulled me out of the game as he noticed my whole right hand locked up and I couldn't move it. I started to get nervous about what was wrong with my thumb. I kept playing the whole game, ignoring the pain. As the game ended I went to the locker room and prayed to GOD that everything would be okay. I knew he would heal me. GOD calls himself a healer and our provider. He has healed me over the years mentally and physically. As the night went on my thumb was severely swollen and the pain was awful. I went to the hospital and got it checked out. I received good news it wasn't broke it was just a torn collateral ligament and some bruised bones but I was very thankful it wasn't broken. What I realized over the past years life situations such as injuries, deaths, the storms have came along my path to knock me down, but if I stay anchored to my Lord and Savior I believe that he will always be there for me when the times are tough. He has proven his Word to me. I can't express to you how much he has healed me and my family. While competing in rodeo and sports we’re all going to get hurt sometime. I use to get mad at GOD when bad things would happen. I would ask questions like why me, or things like why it seems nothing ever goes right. Thankfully I don’t do this anymore.  GOD is here for me at all times. He would never let anything happen to me that we couldn't handle. No matter what happens all I have to do is not give up and just keep moving forward.

            I ask GOD to help you through tough times. He is there waiting for your call.

www.skyranch.org/rodeo

Drew Horner's first post

I just got home from the USTRC finals about a week ago.  It went well.  I didn’t win anything in the open preliminary.  My first partner Dustin Davis and I were long on our first one.  I missed the second steer in the second arena.  Allen Bach and I didn’t do so well either.  I didn’t really give him the best handle on our first one.  I roped next in the 15 preliminary with two young kids that rope really well for how old they are.  Kolby Miller and I ended up going out on our second steer.  Brady Norman and I came back High Call in the short round of the 15 prelim and I missed.  This was devastating to me.  At this point I reminded myself to maintain focus since I had more steers to run that day.  Next I roped in the 15 shootout with the same two kids.  Kolby and I ended up going out on our fourth steer, and Brady and I made the short round again.  This time we came back second call back.  We had to be 8.4.  I was definitely not going to let this one get away from me.  I stayed aggressive and kept my focus, knowing that I can do my job.  Brady heels him and we ended up being 7.09 on that steer to win the shootout.  So, that Saturday, was full of ups and downs, all the way from the open preliminary, to the 15 shootout short round, my emotions felt like they were on a rollercoaster. 

To this point my entire roping career has been about overcoming failures and looking towards the future.  I love competition, and I love to win.  There is no doubt in my mind that I am a winner.  I know that God created me to be a winner, and losing is just an opportunity for me to learn how to win the next time.  In Philipians 3: 13- 14, Paul writes, “Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it, but one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God had called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”  This verse has helped me to stay focused on the next rodeo, or next steer, no matter what happened at the previous one.  Keeping my view always in check helps me to focus on learning from the past, getting the job done that is in the present, and to work towards my goals in the future.

Check out the upcoming Elite Rodeo Clinic at www.sky ranch.org/rodeo

Corey"s training week 2

Goals:

  Work out 3x's, do drills 3x's, ride my bull at Kansas city.

Monday

   Out of town

Tuesday

  Chest, shoulders, & triceps (P90X)

Wednesday

  Yoga X(P90X)

  (Don't knock it till you try it.  Trust me it's not for the weak hearted, great for flexibility, balance, and perseverance).  Drills on stationary barrel

Thursday

  Drills on stationary barrel

Friday

  Rode in Kansas City (bucked off)

Saturday

Sunday

One thing I constantly struggle with is keeping my priorities straight. They should be:       1) God (my father's business)

                         2) Family

                         3) Riding bulls

                         4) Ranching

Having cattle to tend and all the things that go along with that, I find myself getting my priorities in reverse order. God seems to get pushed to the back burner and everything else just doesn’t work out like it does when I'm keeping my priorities straight and "seeking first the Kingdom of God". This very thing caused poor performance this week. But in the words of Paul; "Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead,  I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:13-14)

www.skyranch.org/rodeo

Corey's training week 1

Week 1

Goals for week: Work out 3 days. Do drills 2 days

Monday

   Rode bike for 30 minutes, did Ab Ripper X (From the P90X work out program)

Tuesday

  Posting drills on stationary barrel

Wednesday

  P90X Core Synergistics

Thursday

   Posting drills on stationary barrel

Friday

  Worked cows

Saturday

   Cardio X (P90X)

Sunday

   Rest Day

*posting drills consist of a stationary barrel with a weighted harness pulling you toward the rear of the animal in order to mimic the forward movement of a bull. Concentrated on breaking at the hips and getting out over the front-end of the animal.

*along with posting drills I also like to shuffle to the top of an inclined barrel with my feet

www.skyranch.org/rodeo

So much to improve so little time

When I begin to prepare for something like the WTEC it seems at times there is so much to do to be ready that it can feel overwhelming.  It can be hard to focus on one thing at a time when there are so many areas that need improvement.  I try to really concentrate on the event that is in front of me and I really try to focus on one area of that event to improve.  This allows my practice to be less sporadic and more productive which over time brings me closer to my goal.

In Luke 18 verses 18-25 Jesus interacts with the Rich Young Ruler and throughout the conversation he has with him it is obvious that the young man has some issues (i.e. he doesn’t recognize Jesus as being from the Father, he says that he has never sinned…) yet Jesus says in verse 22 that here is still “one” thing that he lacks. In other words, we may have a lot of problems but God has a way of dealing with us one issue at a time.  He even knows better than anyone else which issue is the most important to tackle.  Sometimes the problem that we may think is the most pressing will go away when something deeper is addressed.  For example, in steer wrestling many times guys will tell me they are having trouble getting the nose deep.  They think that the problem is how they are reaching for the nose when usually there are 3 or 4 more likely causes that begin earlier in the run.  In the same way, we all need that outside perspective to help us better evaluate where we need to put our energy.

 Improvement

·        Roping horns better

·        Heeling went pretty good

·        Calf roping dismount is improving

Needs Improvement

• Still not down to fighting weight
• A little behind on my Bible reading
• My steer wrestling catch is not good

www.skyranch.org/rodeo

Getting Started

It seems the first step is really the hardest. This is especially true when the last journey did not go as planned.  Last year I worked hard at getting ready for the WTEC and the training went well both physically and spiritually.  Consequently, when I arrived at Guthrie, I had high expectations.  However, things did not go so well (received a 60 in the steer wrestling, took a sixty for fixing my steers head in the tripping…). So, how do you get started on a journey when the last trip did not go great?

As I ponder this question I was reminded of Gideon.  Often Gideon is hammered on for taking so long to do what God asked. (Make the fleece wet and the floor dry…) Perhaps, he was just like me and when he had come to the point of harvest something had went wrong (i.e. no time in the SW, Philistines stealing your crops…).  Perhaps, Gideon just needed to be extra sure that God was in it before he stepped out and risked that much.  I suppose some might say that I should just be listening more carefully so when I hear from God I am more quick to act, however, I am comforted by the fact that God never really criticizes Gideon for his seeming lack of faith when he needs so much confirmation.  After all Gideon is attempting to do something that is pretty hard, He may just want to be extra sure that God is with him when he does it.

Improvement

·        Roping horns better

·        Handling steers better

Needs Improvement

• Still not down to fighting weight
• A little behind on my Bible reading
• More dummy roping

To learn more about Champions Rodeo Camps and Clinics visit
http://www.skyranch.org/Rodeo

Rope Myers' Goals

Preparation for WTEC

Goal 1: Prepare mentally, physically, and spiritually at a level that I never have before

Goal 2: Compete at the 2011 WTEC at that level

Goal 3: Win the 2011 WTEC with all of the glory going to God

Strategies:

Ø      Prepare for each event

o       Rope dummies at least once each week

o       Tie calves and steers- 15 sessions each

o       Practice with Al and Joel at least 3 times

o       Practice with Tim and Drew 3 times

o       Practice cr, sw, hd, hl, and sr 20 sessions each

Ø      Prepare myself physically

o       500 pushups and 1000 sit-ups each week

o       Play bb 1 time each week

o       Maintain healthy weight (210-220lbs)

o       Eat healthy

Ø      Prepare for competition

o       Enter 5sw, 3cr, 3tr, and 2 sr

o       Watch the 2010 WTEC on video

o       Interview 2 WTEC champions

Ø      Prepare spiritually

o       Stay in the Word( finish reading the Bible through this year)

o       Read 1-3 books

o       Stay in prayer

o       Prayerfully enter into a fast that the Father initiates

To learn more about Champions Rodeo Camps and Clinics visit
http://www.skyranch.org/Rodeo

Corey Navarre's Goals

TRAINING JOURNAL

Scriptures:

Matt. 6:33 “But seek first the kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”  Proverbs 21:31 “The horse is prepared for the day of battle; But victory belongs to the Lord.”     Psalm 37:4 “Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.”

Goals: 2010 National Finals Rodeo Bull Riding Average Champ

            2010 PRCA World Champion Bull Rider

Jack Nicklaus said of Tiger Woods that he plays golf on a level the world has never seen before.  A good friend of mine, Chico Hines, shared with me something he heard from a pastor (Chip Brim).  He said that if God has anointed us for something, we should be doing it on a level the world is unfamiliar with, ALL TO THE GLORY OF GOD.  He went on to tell me that I have been anointed to ride bulls on a level the world is unfamiliar with, all to the glory of God”. 

As a child of the Most High God, how much more does this apply to us if the Father has anointed us for something, and we are doing it for His glory.   To make it short, God has created you and I to be GREAT in whatever he has anointed us to do, All TO HIS  GLORY.

The first thing I have to remember is, IT’S NOT ABOUT ME, I must “seek first the kingdom”.  It’s all for His glory.  I know that in order to fulfill the anointing that God has placed on my life, I have to be prepared.  I can’t set goals and expect them to fall in my lap, I have to “prepare the horse for the day of battle”.  I have to be prepared spiritually, physically, and mentally.  My prayer is that this journal will be a blessing to you and help you in attaining the “desires of your heart”. 

I’m thankful that Rope has asked me to start this journal as it will get me focused on “the prize” and hold me accountable for the gift God has given me.

Be Blessed,

            Corey Navarre

To learn more about Champions Rodeo Camps and Clinics visit
http://www.skyranch.org/Rodeo

Sarah Ingle's Goals

Sarah Ingle

Past Accomplishments

1. 2008 wrangler Texas State Champion Breakaway Roping
2. 2008 national qualifier goat tying and breakaway
3. 3 time All Around Champion Cowgirl region 4.
4. 2008 REGION 4 champion header, champion breakaway, champion all around cowgirl
5. TJRA  champion breakaway, champion goat tyer, champion all around cowgirl
6. 2009 All Around Rookie of the Year in region 4 and in the state of Texas.
7. 5 time Texas  state qualifier
8. USTRC  finals 2009 # 12 preliminary champion header $17,00

Goals for this year

1. Stay healthy in my mind and body and stay strong in my convictions to my Lord and Savior.
2. Rodeo to the best of my ability, stay ahead in my school work
3. Win breakaway in region 4  2010- 2011 season
4. Become a 2 time State Champion Breakaway Roper.
5. Add a few more saddles and a trailer to my collection.
6. Return to USTRC finals this year and hope it all works out.

Continue to set good examples for my peers.

To learn more about Champions Rodeo Camps and Clinics visit

http://www.skyranch.org/Rodeo