From Kill Pen To The Barrel Pen

GUTHRIE, Oklahoma. - An equation for meticulous planning to hopefully create the next champion equals a top barrel racing sire plus a perfectly matched mare.

The three-year-old juvenile slot races are the epitome of talent and pressure in the barrel futurity industry. Horses are ran for the first time ever in November in their third year of life.

That means there is a very limited amount of time to prepare these equine athletes for the high dollar super shows. Every second and ride must be used wisely during the third, and important year, of their lives.

These first-year futurity horses are started in January to early spring of their two-year-old year. This is after being handled, halter broke, saddled and desensitized as a yearling. Year two is focused on getting the horse broke, soft and started on the barrel pattern. At age three, the ultimate goal is to haul the horse to practice runs. These practice runs are known as exhibitions or audience.

Lauren Whitmire, of Whitmire Ranch, is no stranger to the barrel racing and horse industry. Whitmire grew up riding cutting horses. She had an early start in life training and running barrel horses with her mom, Lainie. They are the team behind Whitmire Ranch who have the phenomenal stallion line up of JL Dash Ta Heaven, Bullseye Bullion, Barue and Flying Cowboy 123.

Whitmire was scrolling through social media and came across a kill pen where she saw a little filly that had a bad infection.

"An un-started, un-handled, two-year-old in September made me skeptical," said Whitmire, "Was there something wrong with him? He was probably going to buck my butt off."

After attempting for days to forget about the gangly colt, Whitmire came back to the page and there he still was.

She bought him.

Although he was barely halter broke and scared of people, it didn't matter to Whitmire.

She was in love.

Putting in the hours and the work Whitmire grew the love and trust or the little red horse, who she affectionately named Sparky.

"He was so athletic, just took to everything. So, I piddled on the barrels and he loved it," said Whitmire.

He was cow horse bred. However, being behind compared to the other juvenile barrel horse didn't scare Whitmire off. In fact, the Whitmire team dove head first and signed up for the Barrel Futurities of America Superstakes race, where the winner wins $100,000.

60 of the top futurity riders and three-year-old barrel horses were ready to make their debut runs Wednesday, Nov. 15 at the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Ok.

In that 60th draw position, there they were, Lauren Whitmire and Dry Shine And Glo, the kill pen cow pony.

Run after run the three years olds turned in times and the audience soaked up every second.

Finally it was time for the final team to cross the timer and run.

"Here is the kill pen pony that has a second chance at life," said the announcer as Whitmire and Sparky came barreling down the alley.

The audience was electric.

Sparky was a fan favorite and the entire crowd was there with Whitmire, cheering on every stride.

Three snappy turns later they crossed the timer with a 16.194, less than a second off the $100,000 winner and 28th overall. Sparky proved he could hang with the best of them at his very first race.

"The crowd cheering, loud music, the overall energy. He thrives off of it. He loves it," said Whitmire.

Sparky is a fan favorite and we are just in the beginning of this team's story.

Watch out! It is going to be an interesting futurity year for Whitmire and Dry Shine and Glo, her kill pen pony.