May 9, 2007

Rodeo ready

His name is Pistol. He’s 12 and in horse years this means he’s just coming into his prime—he’s “rodeo-ready”. Under the reins of 22-year old Casey Crandall, the pair are the 2008 Canadian National College Finals Rodeo champions in women’s barrel racing and pole bending.

The feat, a show of equal strength and talent from both the rider and horse, is the result of a fine balance between academics and rodeo. The third-year kinesiology student wants to pursue athletic therapy in hopes of one day maybe working with rodeo athletes. Her involvement as past president and current member of the Canadian Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (CIRA) helps to keep her focused on this goal.

For the last 20 years, college students from across western Canada have competed in rodeo events under the CIRA. Student athletes compete at rodeos throughout the school year and must maintain a passing grade at their institution.

“We promote academics before rodeo,” says Crandall. “Rodeo definitely comes second until I get a good education and then, if I choose to, I can make it my full-time focus. For now, and as past-president of the CIRA, I’m learning leadership and organizational skills—it’s a huge benefit for me.”

Rodeo season for student athletes goes from September to March and the time commitment can be huge. Unlike many other students’ horses who are kept at the family farm, Crandall has her horse with her. She gets to ride whenever she wants, their bond grows and she can monitor Pistol’s progress and health. And, while this adds to the time commitment, she wouldn’t have it any other way.

“My chores and practice time are no different than a student basketball player,” says Crandall. “They’re going to practice after school, early morning—it’s all relative. I’ve had this lifestyle my whole life—it’s part of my daily routine. It’s what I’ve chosen to do.”

Her hometown, Ponoka, Alberta, is small but big in rodeo and deeply rooted in western heritage. Her father was a professional cowboy and her brother rides cutting horses. It was at the age of three, when she wasn’t even old enough to sit in the saddle by herself, that Crandall was put on a horse for the first time. By the time she was five, she was riding on her own. At eight years old, she started competing in horse events and then, just like Pistol, she was “rodeo-ready” at 14.

“Rodeo is a family deal for me, in every sense of the meaning,” says Crandall. “When I was younger, we always went to my competitions as a family. And then I have the “rodeo family”—all those who rodeo. The rodeo is known for its camaraderie and this is what I love about being part of this heritage—the people.”

There’s an old saying in the rodeo world, “My heroes have always been cowboys,” and Crandall says this reflects that most rodeo athletes don’t  necessarily idolize just one competitor, it’s the way of life that’s really idolized.

“I’m inspired by all rodeo athletes, male and female. One of the greatest perks of this sport is that you often get to meet your idols—it’s the people who promote rodeo and who are ambassadors to the sport that I look up to and hope to be like one day.”

Becoming one of them will need the commitment, drive and balance Crandall already devotes to the sport and her life outside the rodeo. She currently has her permit for the professional rodeo association, but isn’t considered professional yet. She’ll compete and earn so much money on that permit and then become a full-carded member allowing her to continue in the ladies barrel racing at the professional level. Way down the road, huge milestones include the National Finals Rodeo in Vegas, the Canadian Finals Rodeo and naturally, the Calgary Stampede.

“It’s all about balance. And it will always be that way for me—rodeo and whatever is on the other side. They may shuffle a bit and one may take precedence over the other, but for sure, rodeo is a big part of my life and always will be.”