GAMBLE PAYS OFF Reinhardt Wins Grand Island, Moves to No. 1 in Prairie Circuit By Ted Harbin W ith the rodeo world on tilt due to the COVID-19 pandemic through early March, there were some who took advantage of events that went on as schedule. “I just want to say how grateful I am that the Grand
Island committee – with all the postponements and cancelations – followed through with their performance commitment and gave contestants an opportunity to compete,” said Tamara Reinhardt, who won the barrel racing title in the south-central Nebraska rodeo on March 14. “If we don’t compete, we don’t get paid. That’s what makes this time we’re in pretty challenging for people who are depending on events to make a living. I’m fortunate; this is what I do, but it doesn’t put food on our table.” Even if it did, her payday of $2,927 would go a long way toward covering the meals. She earned that disbursement by riding her top mount, Yessir Imareddie, around the cloverleaf pattern in 13.56 seconds, beating the field by seven-tenths of a seconds. “I was reluctant to enter because of the time of year,” said Reinhardt, the reigning Prairie Circuit Finals Rodeo average champion from Canadian, Texas. “Because it was one run for that much money, my husband pushed me to do it because it was also a circuit rodeo. I’m going to have to credit him for being positive and optimistic.” Donnie Reinhardt is not only her husband, he is a very big part of their barrel racing business. His call paid off, and Tamara Reinhardt moved into the circuit lead. It’s also thanks to Remilee, an 8-year-old sorrel mare out of Ravishing Red Ruby by Eddie Stinson. “From last summer to now, this mare has shown me that no matter the pattern, she can perform,” she said. “As old as I am, I’m learning that you have to trust your training at some point and believe that your horse is fast enough and that I don’t have to do extra things to get something out of her. I think mares can be easier to train, and the training sticks better. Once they understand what you want, they are much more confident in giving the effort. That’s been my experience with this mare.
“Watching these women on tough, confident mares is inspiring. I only hope I have one that’s able to be competitive with those other horses.” Remilee looks to be quite competitive, and she’s the next in a long line of great horses Reinhardt has had over the years. She qualified for the National Finals Rodeo in 1986 and ’87 and has competed in barrel racing since she was 5 years old. There have been thousands of runs and many more miles driven over that time, but she’s proven to be a steady influence on the game. It was just shy of 450 miles from her home in the Texas Panhandle to Rodeo Grand Island, and she and her husband made it over two days. It was a bit of an adjustment weather-wise as they all made their way north. “We left home Friday afternoon, and 50 miles south of Hastings (Nebraska), there was snow on the ground,” Reinhardt said. “By the time we got to Blue Hill, Nebraska, it looked like a Christmas card. When we got to Hastings for the night, there was three inches of snow on the ground. “It’s not for the faint of heart. I admire these people who rodeo from Wyoming or Montana or the Badlands Circuit, because the weather is still cold. It was 30 degrees and windy, and it’s a hockey rink events center. There’s no staging area for the contestants. You’re out in it until you go inside to make your competition run, then you’re back out in it.” Still, she made it work, and the money was a driving force. “You have to credit that rodeo committee for putting up so much added money,” she said. “It was co-approved with the Great Lakes and Badlands circuits, and those three circuits benefited from having contestants there.” So did Rodeo Grand Island, which added $4,500 per event to attract contestants. By being one of eight ProRodeo events that took place the Tamara Reinhardt credits her husband with her win in Grand Island as he encouraged her to make the 450-mile trip for the one run circuit rodeo. With the win she pocketed $2,927 and move to the top of the Prairie Circuit standings. Photo by Clay Guardipee
Tamara Reinhardt and Yessir Imareddie captured the barrel racing title at Rodeo Grand Island in Nebraska stopping the clock in 13.56 seconds, beating the field by seven-tenths of a second. Photo by Clay Guardipee
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24 WPRA NEWS APRIL 2020
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