the home of their dreams and moved. They were hoping to sell their previous home soon, but it took a few months and came to fruition in time to celebrate Christmas and the new year. Roping talent is something both share, but they also understand the need for excellent horsepower. Boisjoli-Meged has that with No Wimpy Turns, an 8-year-old sorrel mare she calls Onna, the two-time (2021 and 2023) Nutrena Horse of the Year presented by the AQHA. “Since we got home, I’ve just been spoiling my mare and giving her a few days off,” she said. “I would not have been able to do any of it this year without her. I think I have to credit all of it to her, and I’m still waiting on the right words to come. It’s just so crazy.” Through each rodeo, through each run – even the runs where she had no success – there was constant support. Whether it came from her husband, her parents, her sisters or other friends and family members, Boisjoli-Meged knew where to turn when she needed it. “Haven is just one of those people where if he says he’s going to do something, he does it and makes it happen,” she said. “He’s really just a doer. When you have somebody like that in your corner and they tell you you’re going to do something, you have so much confidence. They make you believe that you’re going to do it when they tell you you’re going to do it. “My parents have been there with me while I was growing up and helping me, but he’s been there through all the recent struggles the last four years. He’s been there through every practice, every horse I rode, every horse I trained. He’s been there through all of it, and he’s just been able to see me grow as a competitor.” The break from competition will be short-lived. Whether it’s cleaning up mouse poop left while they were playing their games at the highest level or training horses or practicing for the next event, it’s time to go back to work. “We pulled in at 7:30 in the morning and both took a quick nap, then by 1 o’clock in the afternoon, we were back outside getting all of our futurity horses ready for the Gold Buckle Futurities event we’re hosting in Belton (Texas),” Boisjoli-Meged said of the late- December roping. “It’s been right back into our crazy, busy lives all over again. “It’s been nice to get out of Vegas and get away from all that and just get grounded again.” Shelby Boisjoli-Meged is grounded in gold.
In May, Haven Meged put a ring on Shelby Boisjoli’s finger at their wedding and in December he helped his bride put on her new gold buckle following a record-breaking year. Shelby plans to officially change her name to Shelby Meged in January but knew how much it would mean to her family to have her maiden name Boisjoli in the record books. WPRA photo by Rodeobum.com (James Phifer)
other things, so to have my whole family there and all the people that have really helped me get there meant a lot to me. “My parents did everything they could to help me growing up. My dad taught me how to rope. My grandpa taught me how to rope. My uncle who passed away taught me pretty much everything I know about horses. My grandparents on my mom’s side have helped me, and my sisters were there. It was so emotional, because I was just looking back to where I came from and seeing all those people sitting right there had helped me so much. “The Boisjoli last name … I know how much it meant for my family to have a world title for the Boisjolis.”
Shelby Boisjoli-Meged came into the 2023 Wrangler National Finals Breakaway Roping sporting the No. 1 back number and she left with the gold. From getting married to winning the world it will be one she will not forget. WPRA photo by Rodeobum.com (James Phifer)
In about a month, that Montana Silversmiths gold buckle will arrive at the Megeds’ home, and it will be engraved with her name. It’s hers to keep, and it’s the perfect symbol for a year that will go down in history. “Probably the one rodeo that stands out to me was Caldwell, Idaho,” Boisjoli-Meged said. “It was pretty cool, because Haven and I both won first at that rodeo. Previously, we haven’t had a good experience at Caldwell, and then for us to come back and be able to both win first gave us a chance to turn a bad memory into a good memory.” Finding success in rodeo isn’t easy for anybody. There were plenty of distractions along the way. They were married in May, then found
In 2019, Haven Meged won his first world title in the tie-down roping and nearly won another in 2023 to match is wife Shelby’s. Haven did make headlines setting a new arena record in a time of 6.4 seconds aboard Shelby’s horse Lil Punch inside the Thomas and Mack. Rodeo’s power couple will no doubt cherish their gold buckles for years to come. WPRA photo by Rodeobum.com (James Phifer)
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024 WPRA NEWS 17
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