PG . 36 AQHA FEATURE ~ RODEO
Courtney competing on ‘ Rudy ’
and won money at a majority of the futurities and barrel races throughout the year . He finished his futurity year back at the 2022 BFA World Finals , as a 4yo . With 400 entries , Steel placed in the first round , qualifying us back to the finals and placed 15th in the Open Futurity Average . The first horse in the USA that I won off , Steel will always hold a special place in my heart . The prize money is a lot bigger in the USA , the biggest futurity has 3.5 million dollars added prize money . After an offer on Steele , I sold him and purchased my 2024 futurity hopeful , Coats Goodbye Stoli .’
‘ Barrel Racing is my passion . The sacrifices I made to be USA-based opened up many opportunities for me to do it for a living . I ride daily , depending on what competitions I ’ m going to . I compete in weekly Jackpots , and Futurities during the year .’
USA Rodeo life is busy . After one Barrel Race , Courtney ’ s preparing for the next . Her competition strategy is total preparation and she puts 100 % into everything , prior to a Barrel Race so her competitive confidence grows . When futurity training , she may have a different strategy or goal for each run — so will focus on what she actually wants to achieve from that run . With her hopes and dreams coming to fruition , she has more goals set for the future .
‘ In December , 2022 , I moved from Lampasas , after purchasing a property in Stephenville , Texas , the cowboycapital of the world . My current goal is to build a barrel
Courtney - Junior Barrel Race Champions & All-Round Cowgirl Australian Champion
racing program of my own and train my next Futurity colt to be ready for 2024 .
I ’ m trusting God ’ s plan for my life . If I continue to work hard towards attaining my long and short term competition goals , I know God will lead me along the right path .’
WITH THANKS . . .
Each of them , good family friends , Australian Champion Barrel Racers , Tania and Vicki Shiller , Shona Tribe , Wendy Caban , Leanne Caban , Jo Fisher and Bridget Brandenburg have each inspired Courtney , who spent a lot of time going down to Tania Schiller ’ s place in the school holidays . She ’ s so thankful to Tania for all she taught her .
In the USA , Courtney ’ s grateful for the start and mentorship that Brittany and Garrett Tonozzi have given her . Kellee Crumpler , who now lives in the US , lived with Courtney ’ s family growing up and has been like a big sister to her and is an important part of her life . Jo and Eddie Fisher , daughter , Shea and her husband , Tyson Durfey , so supportive , she says , are definitely her second family . Her caring , supportive friend , Jordon Briggs , has been there for her with all her futurity horses over the years . Courtney can ’ t thank each of them enough .
‘ Mostly , I want to thank my parents , as I could never have done any of this without them . Although I ’ ve missed special family events and made sacrifices to live in the USA , my entire family ’ s continuing support is unwavering , and they mean everything to me .’
AUSTRALIAN QUARTER HORSE ASSOCIATION - WWW . AQHA . COM . AU