Page 67 - 2021 Barrel Stallion Register

“Her work ethic will work anybody else into the ground,” adds Farley. “And she is such a horsewoman. She is so handy and works so hard on horsemanship. She is also the kindest, most giving spirit.
“Because we work so hard on the horsemanship and what we do, to see her accomplish her ultimate goal was just incredible.” Farley says. “Getting that firsthand experience, getting to the big show, really put that into perspective for me.
“I was able to go on the road with Dona
Kay for a month last July,” Farley says. “It
was a tough month on the road; it was not a glamorous rodeo trail, and to be able to witness her mental toughness and fortitude was eye- opening. She said to me one time, ‘You’ve got all the good stuff in there; you’ve got to trust your training and trust your horse.’”
Dona Kay has not only reached great heights in barrel racing, training and rodeo — including nine Women’s National Finals Rodeos for
team roping, breakaway roping and tie-down calf roping — and worked with John to run National Saddlery; she has also partnered with Lona in Tri-K Barrels since 2002.
After organizing events for various organizations, the women decided to strike out
on their own to produce events. They initially established a weekly competition that has drawn competitors from Oklahoma and beyond and continued growing each year. They’ve expanded their events to include weekly jackpot series
in addition to single-day and large weekend competitions, co-sanctioning with various organizations including the BBR, WPRA, AQHA, APHA, Future Fortunes and Resolution Barrel Racing. They’ve also branched out to market and produce events for other organizations.
How does Dona Kay stay motivated? “That’s just a gift,” Dona Kay says. “God said, ‘Here: This is what you’re going to do,’ and I said, ‘Yes, Sir.’ I never wake up in the morning and think Gosh, I don’t want to ride. When I wake up in the morning, riding is the first thing I want to do: hurry up and feed and then I have to wait an hour before I can ride. I just want to ride. It’s something you’re born to do, I guess.”
“She’s just an all-around hand,” Lona says. “She can put a rope horse together just as well as a barrel horse. She’s done everything from steer undecorating to team roping, barrel racing, tie- down and breakaway roping. She’s great with
a horse, from colts all the way up to finishing one. She takes her time and doesn’t rush a horse to meet a deadline if it’s not ready to go up to the next level. She always puts the horse first.”
FAMILY PRECEDENCE
Despite her accomplishments in the many facets of her
career, Dona Kay counts
I GUESS that's the ANNIE OAKLEY in me.
I wanted to, and so idid.
her family as her greatest success. “The NFR, of course, is the epitome of what you count on,” she says. “It’s who you want to be and who you’ve admired your whole life. But being a mother and a grandmother and a wife for 40 years is my biggest accomplishment.”
The grandkids include Marshall and his wife Nicky’s 9-year-old son, Hunter; and Kayla’s 6-year-old daughter, Henslee Rose, who loves to ride Dona Kay’s rehabbed competition horse, Juice, around the barrels.
After long hours on the road, Dona Kay always looks forward to getting back home to
them all. “I love my family,” she says. “I
love my grandson’s ball games and I’m a
heck of a hand at playing Barbies with my granddaughter.”
She’s a heck of a hand at anything she tries and is an admirable example to many. ”She’s such an inspiration,” Lona concludes. “She’s just an amazing all-around person.”
Perhaps the reason she’s such an inspiration
is her gratitude for all that she has been blessed with. “I’m so grateful to have this opportunity at this stage of my life,” she says. “I know this is not about me; it’s an inspiration for many, many others and hopefully I can spend my life being somewhat successful and helping others.”
Dona Kay Rule qualified third and is headed back to the NFR this year with High Valor, who was again named the 2020 WPRA/AQHA Barrel Horse of the Year.
Congratulations to Dona Kay!
Dona Kay aboard “Louie” in 1978 in Parker, Arizona.
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