Page 104 - Barrel Stallion Register 2024

LOOKING BACK
Shawne Promise, own daughter of Shawne Bug and dam of Shawnes Feature (Dutch) Grant Little and Rayel Robinson - Blue Neon Ranch
south and his rider, 12-year-old Reata Hoar, won the Cheyenne Frontier Days Junior Barrel Racing on him as a 5-year-old.
Rollin Vickie was another broodmare Grant was very proud of. With a speed index
of 101 on the racetrack, she had barrel racing earnings of more than $150,000. She was a multiple futurity, derby and pro rodeo winner and a proven barrel horse producer. Though Rollin Vickie is deceased, Grant has two young prospects out of Vickie that he is high on.
There was yet another ‘first’ though this one drew some astonished reactions from the Quarter Horse racing world. That was when Grant bred Shawne Promise to Feature Mr Jess,
resulting in the first of that stallion’s progeny to come to the north side of the 49th parallel.
The foal was a stud colt (Shawnes Feature) and this is where the wide eyed-stares kicked in as Grant elected to geld the colt and prepare him for the barrel racing world. “Even my vet tried to talk me out of it, but I told him this is what I got the horse for. Later I was at the Heritage Place sale and visiting with J.E. Jumonville (co-owner of Feature Mr. Jess). J.E. would introduce me to people and say ‘this is Grant Little from Canada. He’s got the first Feature Mr Jess up there, a stud colt, and he’s had him gelded and is going to make him a barrel horse.’
“People looked at me like I’d grown antlers, but J.E. and I would kind of laugh about it. I guess it turned out okay because Dutch (named after J.E.’s son, Dutch) won over $150,000 as a 5-year-old including winning eight of 11 futurities and placing at 17 of 19 rodeos he went to.”
At the Canadian Finals Rodeo, Dutch won a go, was second in another, was fourth twice, and never finished worse than fifth in any round. All of this was done with Rayel riding the amazing colt.
So what’s next for Grant Little?
The working relationship Grant had with Rayel has become a personal one now and that too is special. “I’m in a place I’ve never been before. I feel privileged to be a part of Rayel’s and (daughter) Reena’s lives. We have a great home we’re putting together in Canada and one in Arizona as well. And we have some pretty nice horses.
“I don’t have a lot of broodmares but I have some very special ones. I’ll keep raising colts. We’ll sell some and
we’ll ride some and keep the vision and the purpose front and center.”
And maybe the most surprising of all when you talk to Grant Little is how the one-time lawman who faced danger and potential death so many times and lived the life of the ultimate action-man has adapted to life after special ops.
“It’s funny, but I can sit and watch broodmares eat grass all day. It’s very different from who and what I was, but this is who and what I am and I’m enjoying every minute of it. I am truly blessed.”
Grant Little, in the scarlet tunic of the RCMP, holds an American flag at the funeral of the legendary equine artist Orren Mixer.
Rayel Robinson and Lady Perks winning a round - 2007 Calgary Stampede
102 SPEEDHORSE
Courtesy Grant Little
Mike Coperman Photography
Courtesy Grant Little
Courtesy Grant Little