For the first time, Whitney Thurmond slid into the top 15 in the WPRA World Standings on June 13 after cashing a $4,465 check in Weatherford, Texas, with her 2.2-second run.
However, it wasn’t all smooth sailing to get to her $17,533.47 totaled earnings so far in 2022.
After an unsuccessful run in Woodward, Oklahoma, Thurmond’s 11-year-old mare Catsablanca had a mystery lameness. This caused Thurmond to detour eight hours out of the way to her home in Lola, Texas, before she could go to Weatherford. After recouping, “Nala,” came up sound just in the nick of time. Thurmond rushed to Weatherford in the middle of the night to make her early-morning slack run the next day. Before she backed in the box, some words of wisdom from a fellow competitor helped focus her tired mind.
“I looked at Laramie Johnson and asked her what she thought,” Thurmond said. “She told me ‘They’ve just got to move before you do, and then you had just better hope it’s a good one.’ I saw what I wanted to and saw that calf was in a great position, and I could almost hear her voice in my head. I knew he was a good one and took my shot. That’s all it boiled down to.”
From the outside, it could appear that 25-year-old Thurmond has a go-for-broke style to her roping. She hasn’t placed quietly, like Sammy Taylor, who drew second-place money in Weatherford behind Thurmond, second again in Eagle Mountain, Utah, and fifth-place in Cortez, Colorado, for a total of $5,383 for her weekend. Or even like Resistol Rookie contender Maddy Deerman, who cashed checks in Woodward, Oklahoma, and Cortez this weekend to quietly pocket $4,376.
Thurmond has only popped up in the results sheets twice in June 2022—once for her Weatherford win, and once for her 1.6-second winning run in Fort Smith, Arkansas, that paid an impressive $3,986. However, Thurmond made it clear that she has been working overtime to ensure that that her summer isn’t all feast or famine.
“At the end of the season last year, Lari Dee Guy said something that stuck with me. She told me that when you go out for the summer, you need to catch the cow. I know, that’s the goal–and it might sound silly–but out there, the setups and calves vary so much, if you catch the calf, complete the run and do your job it pays off so much. There aren’t these 1-second, or low 2-second setups everywhere like we have in Texas. So, I’ve been trying to work on that, and my mental game as far as reading the task at hand. If I need to be 1.6, I need to set myself up to be able to set myself up properly to execute that, and the same goes for a 5.0-second setup, or anything in between.”
Whitney Thurmond
As for horsepower on the summer run, Thurmond is riding on faith into the summer season. Thurmond has struggled in the horse department in years past, and wondered if she’d ever see her name in the top 15 in the world after losing her superstar horse, “Beasley,” in 2021. Then, Jade Conner helped Thurmond find the uniquely marked roan mare Nala last summer, and once the two figured eachother out, Thurmond has been hot on the ProRodeo trail in 2022.
She is headed out on Thursday, June 17 with NFBR qualifier Taylor Munsell, and Samantha Fulton, who just picked up the $3,920 win in Sisters, Oregon. All three ladies are currently seated inside of the top 15, and they have Makayla Mack going to help drive as they send two different rigs down the road. In one rig, Thurmond will send Nala, and the second rig is where the faith comes in.
Nala has been on point, but Thurmond needed to have a backup she could trust. Back home, she has only colts that aren’t ready to handle the stress of travel. As a solution, Thurmond decided to take a chance on a seasoned head horse that she found on Facebook. She noted that the horse has been hauled in the heading, is comfortable with a barrier and seems to be taking to breakaway in the short time that she has owned him. If her plan falls through, Thurmond is going to get by with a little help from her hauling partners. Munsell has already offered one of her own horses to Thurmond to use if needed. BRJ will be sure to keep you in the loop on horse changes and World Standings shuffles all season long thanks to our friends at Cactus Ropes.
Weatherford, Texas, June 8-11
1. Whitney Thurmond, 2.2-second run, worth $4,465
2. Sammy Taylor, 2.3-second run, worth $3,572
3. Sarah Morrissey, 2.6-second run, worth $2,902
4. (tie) Danielle Lowman, 2.7-second run, worth $2,009
5. (tie) Jordan Outlaw, 2.7-second run, worth $2,009
6. (tie) K.L. Collmorgen, 2.8-second run, worth $1,088
7. (tie) Amber Crawford, 2.8-second run, worth $1,088
8. (tie) Jackie Crawford, 2.8-second run, worth $1,088
9. (tie) Shawnee Sherwood, 2.8-second run, worth $1,088
10. Coralee Spratt, 2.9-second run, worth $781
11. (tie) Sarah Angelone, 3.0-second run, worth $558
12. (tie) Angie Green, 3.0-second run, worth $558
13. (tie) Bryana Lehrmann, 3.0-second run, worth $558
14. (tie) Brighton Bauman, 3.1-second run, worth $140
15. (tie) Montana Brown, 3.1-second run, worth $140
16. (tie) Hali Williams, 3.1-second run, worth $140
17. (tie) Paige Wiseman, 3.1-second run, worth $140
Sisters, Oregon June 10-12
1. Samantha Fulton, 2.7-second run, worth $3,920
2. (tie) Fallon Ruffoni, 2.8-second run, worth $2,842
3. (tie) Shelli Scrivner, 2.8-second run, worth $2,842
4. Samantha Kerns, 2.9-second run, worth $1,960
5. (tie) Traci Ashton, 3.0-second run, worth $1,241
6. (tie) Brittany White, 3.0-second run, worth $1,241
7. (tie) Joey Williams, 3.0-second run, worth $1,241
8. (tie) Martha Angelone, 3.1-second run, worth $784
9. (tie) Megan Burbidge, 3.1-second run, worth $784
10. (tie) Sawyer Gilbert, 3.1-second run, worth $784
11. Laina Sappington, 3.4-second run, worth $588
12. Sarah Verhelst, 3.5-second run, worth $490
13. (tie) Britni Carlson, 3.6-second run, worth $343
14. (tie) Suzanne Williams, 3.6-second run, worth $343
15. Gianna Cianfichi, 3.7-second run, worth $196
Union, Oregon, June 10-12
1. Sawyer Gilbert, 2.4-second run, worth $2,019
2. (tie) Martha Angelone, 2.6-second run, worth $1,624
3. (tie) Amber Crawford, 2.6-second run, worth $1,624
4. (tie) Makayla Mccabe, 2.8-second run, worth $966
5. (tie) Celie Salmond, 2.8-second run, worth $966
6. (tie) Sarah Verhelst, 2.8-second run, worth $966
7. Lauren Leyva, 3.1-second run, worth $439
8. (tie) Shelby Logan, 3.6-second run, worth $88
9. (tie) Shelli Scrivner, 3.6-second run, worth $88
Livermore, California, June 11-12
1. Suzanne Williams, 2.2-second run, worth $1,682
2. Taylor Munsell, 2.4-second run, worth $1,442
3. Rylee George, 2.5-second run, worth $1,201
4. Karri Jones, 2.6-second run, worth $1,041
5. (tie) Gianna Cianfichi, 2.8-second run, worth $641
6. (tie) Lacy Hook, 2.8-second run, worth $641
7. (tie) Hanna Hundsdorfer, 2.8-second run, worth $641
8. (tie) Cathy Cagliari, 2.9-second run, worth $240
9. (tie) Amber Crawford, 2.9-second run, worth $240
10. (tie) Madison Horton, 2.9-second run, worth $240
Glennville, California, June 12
1. Whitlee Burgess, 2.6-second run, worth $1,015
2. Noel Lambert, 3.1-second run, worth $761
3. Taylor Overson, 4.5-second run, worth $508
4. Hanna Hundsdorfer, 4.7-second run, worth $254
Goshen, Connecticut, June 12
1. Claire Felton, 2.9-second run, worth $699
2. Emily Fabian, 3.3-second run, worth $525
3. Tara Gale, 3.7-second run, worth $350
4. Caybrie Clatterbuck, 5.4-second run, worth $175
Kingman, Arizona, June 11-12
1. Kassidy Dennison, 2.5-second run, worth $1,322
2. Rylee George, 2.7-second run, worth $1,094
3. McKenzie Frizzell, 2.8-second run, worth $866
4. Jareth Curley, 2.9-second run, worth $638
5. Jolee Lautaret-Jordan, 3.1-second run, worth $410
6. Taylor Overson, 3.2-second run, worth $228
Woodward, Oklahoma, June 8-11
1. Kamie Landolfi, 2.3-second run, worth $4,531
2. (tie) Maddy Deerman, 2.4-second run, worth $3,285
3. (tie) Cadee Williams, 2.4-second run, worth $3,285
4. (tie) Amber Crawford, 2.5-second run, worth $2,039
5. (tie) Taylor Hanchey, 2.5-second run, worth $2,039
6. (tie) Shelby Boisjoli, 2.6-second run, worth $1,042
7. (tie) Cali Griffin, 2.6-second run, worth $1,042
8. (tie) Cheyanne Guillory, 2.6-second run, worth $1,042
9. (tie) Lynn Smith, 2.6-second run, worth $1,042
10. (tie) Addie Weil, 2.6-second run, worth $1,042
11. Hannah Zimmers, 2.7-second run, worth $680
12. (tie) Martha Angelone, 2.8-second run, worth $396
13. (tie) Josey Murphy, 2.8-second run, worth $396
14. (tie) Madalyn Richards, 2.8-second run, worth $396
15. (tie) Tiffany Schieck, 2.8-second run, worth $396
Cleburne, Texas, June 8-11
1. Lari Dee Guy, 2.2-second run, worth $2,632
2. (tie) Madison Outhier, 2.3-second run, worth $2,040
3. (tie) Addie Weil, 2.3-second run, worth $2,040
4. (tie) Samantha Fulton, 2.4-second run, worth $1,000
5. (tie) Sawyer Gilbert, 2.4-second run, worth $1,000
6. (tie) Bradi Good, 2.4-second run, worth $1,000
7. (tie) Paige Stout, 2.4-second run, worth $1,000
8. (tie) Hali Williams, 2.4-second run, worth $1,000
9. (tie) Hadley Clearman, 2.5-second run, worth $428
10. (tie) Jackie Crawford, 2.5-second run, worth $428
11. (tie) Makayla Boisjoli, 2.6-second run, worth $118
12. (tie) McKenna Hickson, 2.6-second run, worth $118
13. (tie) Alex Loiselle, 2.6-second run, worth $118
14. (tie) Aspen Miller, 2.6-second run, worth $118
15. (tie) Kaity Ray, 2.6-second run, worth $118
Gladewater, Texas, June 9-11
1. (tie) Shelby Boisjoli, 1.9-second run, worth $2,142
2. (tie) J J Hampton, 1.9-second run, worth $2,142
3. (tie) Makayla Boisjoli, 2.1-second run, worth $1,246
4. (tie) Kendyl Hutton, 2.1-second run, worth $1,246
5. (tie) Hannah Lee, 2.1-second run, worth $1,246
6. (tie) Hope Thompson, 2.1-second run, worth $1,246
7. (tie) Cheyanne Guillory, 2.2-second run, worth $349
8. (tie) Laramie Johnson, 2.2-second run, worth $349
Eagle Mountain, Utah, June 9-11
1. Shelby Logan, 3.0-second run, worth $1,636
2. Sammy Taylor, 3.1-second run, worth $1,354
3. Tina Hunter, 3.2-second run, worth $1,072
4. (tie) Kaylee Cornia, 3.4-second run, worth $649
5. (tie) Oaklie Sanders, 3.4-second run, worth $649
6. Megan Burbidge, 3.5-second run, worth $282
Mesquite, Texas, June 11, 2022
1. Maci Ray, 2.2-second run, worth $1,499
2. Sarah Morrissey, 2.6-second run, worth $1,241
3. (tie) Brighton Bauman, 2.7-second run, worth $724
4. (tie) Taylor Hanchey, 2.7-second run, worth $724
5. (tie) Alex Loiselle, 2.7-second run, worth $724
6. (tie) Rylea Fabrizio, 2.8-second run, worth $129
7. (tie) Jordan Outlaw, 2.8-second run, worth $129
Cortez, Colorado, June 9-11
1. Justine Doka, 2.1-second run, worth $1,472
2. (tie) Amber Crawford, 2.5-second run, worth $1,091
3. (tie) Maddy Deerman, 2.5-second run, worth $1,091
4. Tucker Schaefer, 3.2-second run, worth $711
5. Sammy Taylor, 3.5-second run, worth $457
6. Bethanie Shofner, 3.7-second run, worth $254
Ponca City, Oklahoma, June 9-11
1. KeAnn Hayes, 3.0-second run, worth $900
2. Lindsey Hughes, 3.1-second run, worth $744
3. (tie) Alyssa Bigon, 3.2-second run, worth $512
4. (tie) Ari-Anna Flynn, 3.2-second run, worth $512
5. Kendyl Hutton, 3.3-second run, worth $279
6. Mataya Eklund, 3.4-second run, worth $155
Goshen, Connecticut, June 12
1. Claire Felton, 2.9-second run, worth $699
2. Emily Fabian, 3.3-second run, worth $525
3. Tara Gale, 3.7-second run, worth $350
4. Caybrie Clatterbuck, 5.4-second run, worth $175
Goshen, Connecticut, June 11
1. Claire Felton, 2.8-second run, worth $1,015
2. Cheyenne Chamberlain, 3.4-second run, worth $761
3. Taylor Feldeisen, 4.4-second run, worth $508
4. Caybrie Clatterbuck, 4.6-second run, worth $254
Devils Lake, North Dakota, June 10-11
1. Shalee King, 3.1 seconds-second run, worth $1,000
2. (tie) Syerra Christensen, 3.5-second run, worth $625
3. (tie) Codi Sebastian, 3.5-second run, worth $625
4. Brandi White, 3.6-second run, worth $250
Merrill, Wisconsin, June 10-12
- Lauren Conkwright, 3.9-second run, worth $98
- Danni Clover, 4.6-second run, worth $846
- Brittany Carlson, 4.6-second run, worth $705
- Katie Bell, 4.8-second run, worth $611
- Halle Tatham, 6.2-second run, worth $470
- Shalee King, 6.4-second run, worth $376
- Ashley Freese, 8.3-second run, worth $282
- Kiley Dalchow, 13.6-second run, worth $188
Woodstown Pilesgrove, New Jersey, June 11
No qualified runs.
