Hallie Hanssen Is A Big Winner In Walla Walla
Hallie Hanssen Is A Big Winner In Walla Walla
Hallie Hanssen from Hermosa, South Dakota was crowned the 2017 VGBRA Barrel Daze Breeders Futurity Champion riding The Kandyman owned by Valerie Watson from Ohio.
By: Hope Sickler
The Valley Girl Barrel Racing Association has been running strong in Walla Walla, Washington for over 40 years! The first Barrel Daze weekend was held in 1979 with the first futurity added two years later in 1981. With the reputation of one of the best paying races and futurities, Barrel Daze has gained the attention from top futurity trainers and riders from across the country.
Hallie Hanssen from Hermosa, South Dakota was crowned the 2017 VGBRA Barrel Daze Breeders Futurity Champion riding The Kandyman owned by Valerie Watson from Ohio. In addition to winning the breeders futurity average aboard The Kandyman, Hanssen also had a successful weekend with her other three futurity horses.
FloRodeo: Tell us about yourself.
Hanssen: My husband Lee and I live in Hermosa, South Dakota where we raise and train barrel futurity horses. These horses are ages 4 and 5 and I compete on them for their first year of competition at the larger events.
How did you get started in the barrel racing futurity industry?
I trained my first futurity horse when I was in high school and have been hooked ever since. My parents, Monte and Teresa Melvin, ran racehorses and also were very successful in the rodeo arena. My dad Monte won the Badlands Circuit Championships in the bull riding and the all-around. My mom Teresa won barrel racing titles in both the Badlands and the Great Lakes Circuit. I guess you could say that I was born into it.
Tell us about your weekend at the Barrel Daze in Walla Walla.
I had four horses entered in the futurity at Barrel Daze. I won money all on all four horses and finished in the top ten on three of them. The Kandyman ended up winning the Breeders Futurity Championship. The Kandyman is a 4-year-old stallion sired by Tres Seis and out of the standout mare Famous Silk Panties. Valerie Watson from Ohio owns him. He is an exceptional horse and has constantly placed for me this year so I was very happy for him to get a win.
Tell us about what you do to keep your horses working and feeling their best and how important it is to you to do so.
A lot of hard work goes into keeping my horses feeling their best. My husband Lee plays the biggest part. He makes sure to pay close attention to each horse and how they are feeling. He keeps up with giving them their Polyglacan shots, making sure they get their Magnawave treatments and using the Flexineb on them before each run. He also makes sure that proper care of their legs after exercise and run is done whether it be wrapping or icing. I really concentrate on making sure my horses are conditioned right and have a proper feeding program that is why I choose to feed Woody's Performance Horse Feed and supplement with Omega Fields Horseshine and Suregut.
What do you like about the futurities held in Washington during the month of April?
I really enjoy the futurities in WA because they pay so well. I feel like they really put a lot of time into getting their awards and giving something unique each year. My hat goes off to them and all the hard work that is put in to make it such a successful event.
Was this the first time winning the Barrel Daze Breeders Futurity?
I won the breeders and open futurity in 2012 on French Gold Charger. I also won the reserve title there in 2015 on Overthemoonforaguy.
What are your long-term goals with the horses that you train and futurity?
When I train these horses I'm always thinking about their future. Yes I want them to win as futurity horses but some just aren't as mature as others and just aren't going to make it as a futurity horse. I feel like being a good horseman is knowing what your horses can handle and knowing what the best path for that horse is. I want horses to go on and have a future after the futurities and win years later.
It is also very important to thank my sponsors and the people who stand behind me and keep me going down the road. In addition to the sponsors I already named, I would also like to thank Tami Semas Barrel Saddles, Platinum Coach Trailers and ESMS.
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The Valley Girl Barrel Racing Association has been running strong in Walla Walla, Washington for over 40 years! The first Barrel Daze weekend was held in 1979 with the first futurity added two years later in 1981. With the reputation of one of the best paying races and futurities, Barrel Daze has gained the attention from top futurity trainers and riders from across the country.
Hallie Hanssen from Hermosa, South Dakota was crowned the 2017 VGBRA Barrel Daze Breeders Futurity Champion riding The Kandyman owned by Valerie Watson from Ohio. In addition to winning the breeders futurity average aboard The Kandyman, Hanssen also had a successful weekend with her other three futurity horses.
FloRodeo: Tell us about yourself.
Hanssen: My husband Lee and I live in Hermosa, South Dakota where we raise and train barrel futurity horses. These horses are ages 4 and 5 and I compete on them for their first year of competition at the larger events.
How did you get started in the barrel racing futurity industry?
I trained my first futurity horse when I was in high school and have been hooked ever since. My parents, Monte and Teresa Melvin, ran racehorses and also were very successful in the rodeo arena. My dad Monte won the Badlands Circuit Championships in the bull riding and the all-around. My mom Teresa won barrel racing titles in both the Badlands and the Great Lakes Circuit. I guess you could say that I was born into it.
Tell us about your weekend at the Barrel Daze in Walla Walla.
I had four horses entered in the futurity at Barrel Daze. I won money all on all four horses and finished in the top ten on three of them. The Kandyman ended up winning the Breeders Futurity Championship. The Kandyman is a 4-year-old stallion sired by Tres Seis and out of the standout mare Famous Silk Panties. Valerie Watson from Ohio owns him. He is an exceptional horse and has constantly placed for me this year so I was very happy for him to get a win.
Tell us about what you do to keep your horses working and feeling their best and how important it is to you to do so.
A lot of hard work goes into keeping my horses feeling their best. My husband Lee plays the biggest part. He makes sure to pay close attention to each horse and how they are feeling. He keeps up with giving them their Polyglacan shots, making sure they get their Magnawave treatments and using the Flexineb on them before each run. He also makes sure that proper care of their legs after exercise and run is done whether it be wrapping or icing. I really concentrate on making sure my horses are conditioned right and have a proper feeding program that is why I choose to feed Woody's Performance Horse Feed and supplement with Omega Fields Horseshine and Suregut.
What do you like about the futurities held in Washington during the month of April?
I really enjoy the futurities in WA because they pay so well. I feel like they really put a lot of time into getting their awards and giving something unique each year. My hat goes off to them and all the hard work that is put in to make it such a successful event.
Was this the first time winning the Barrel Daze Breeders Futurity?
I won the breeders and open futurity in 2012 on French Gold Charger. I also won the reserve title there in 2015 on Overthemoonforaguy.
What are your long-term goals with the horses that you train and futurity?
When I train these horses I'm always thinking about their future. Yes I want them to win as futurity horses but some just aren't as mature as others and just aren't going to make it as a futurity horse. I feel like being a good horseman is knowing what your horses can handle and knowing what the best path for that horse is. I want horses to go on and have a future after the futurities and win years later.
It is also very important to thank my sponsors and the people who stand behind me and keep me going down the road. In addition to the sponsors I already named, I would also like to thank Tami Semas Barrel Saddles, Platinum Coach Trailers and ESMS.