BARRELS, BULLS & BRONCS

Is it something to do with the landscape, the light, or the drive across the plains of the Navajo Nation? Perhaps it’s the big sky, the road signs from times past, or simply the unshakable spirit of Barrels Bulls & Broncs that makes rodeo a way of life.

I arrive at Durango airport. A big white pick-up truck pulls up, and I climb into the cab. The mobile rings, and I hear Kandace Scribner Blanchard say,

“Do you think you can rope a few steer and take them to market?”

I had arrived

When Kandace invited me to come out to Pagosa Springs to her horse ranch and then drive shotgun to the PRCA (Pro Rodeo Cowboys Association) 2024 Turquoise Circuit Finals, where her son Pace Blanchard and cousin Leighann Scribner were competing, how could I resist?

Kandace ran the horses around the property, it was at that magic moment of sunset. I watched as she talked to them all the while, nudging them and moving them along.

The ranch was magical. Every detail – from wild-west studded leather couches to the biggest deer horn chandelier you can imagine.

That night, looking through the ranch’s huge picture windows down on the barn, the pond, the horses, fresh snow lay lightly on the ground, lit by the bright glowing stars, like a breath pulsing high up in the sky.

The Road to Rodeo

I wake up, and we’re off. A seven-hour drive to Camp Verde, where the PRCA Turquoise Circuit Finals are held.

It’s definitely the arrival and excitement as you drive up to the rodeo arena. Spectators dressed in their finest belts, buckles, and boots are getting ready to watch the top 100 rodeo athletes from Arizona and New Mexico compete for approximately $175,000 in prize money.

Let the show begin…

Rodeo Queens fly the Star-Spangled Banner, the state flag, and the Turquoise Circuit banners as their steeds charge full gallop around the arena.

Champion Trick-Rider Bella Da Costa on a blinged-out quarterback gets the crowd warmed up. While on her faithful galloping steed, she treats us to ‘Swing Under the Saddle‘, ‘Shoulder Stand‘, ‘Suicide Drag‘ and a look-no-hands ‘Standing Hippodrome‘ as she rides full speed, high up in her stirrups, flying the flag and a torch high above. It’s a Liberty stance shooting a sparkling fountain trail behind her…

Meanwhile, Announcer James Horcasitas and Clown Matt Tarr roast each other to the delight and laughter of the crowd.

It’s the bolting and bucking out of the gates, the cheer of the crowds, up and down, round and round, back and forth – man and beast all hell-bent for leather.

There is Team Roping, Steer Roping, Barrel Racing, Bareback Bucking Broncos & Bulls.

It’s the beauty and grace of their steeds, the steadfastness and trust between man and horse. It’s the teeth-baring grins, the lightning speed.

“Keep that arm up as you fly and feet forward!! Yihaa!!”

The Rodeo Dynasty

Rodeo is in their blood!
This is a family of rodeo royalty – three generations of champions, starting with Reuben (Butch) Scribner, the bull rider. Sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, cousins, and grandkids follow in his footsteps.

“That picture of my Dad on the bull was taken at the 1962 XIT Rodeo in Dalhart, Texas. He won that Bull Riding. That is where my mom and dad met at the dance after the rodeo.” — Kandace

Kandace’s daughter Sydni, son Pace, cousin Leighann, moms, dads, uncles & aunts they are all rodeo champions in their own right.

Kandace Scribner Blanchard

Kandace’s first professional Barrel Race was when she was nine years old. She held the fastest time for over 20 years at the National Little Britches Finals (NLBRA) in breakaway roping. Among her many accolades, she was All-Around Cowgirl in New Mexico and New Mexico Rodeo Association Champion Breakaway Roper. She broke an arena record in California. Kandace continues to barrel race to this day.

There is another side to Kandace, beyond the Rodeo she is a licensed professional, the founder and clinical director, and counselor of councilonproblemgambling.com and also Wild Horse Equine Assisted Therapy of Las Vegas ” for the children effected by problem gambling in the Las Vegas, Nevada region.”

“our mission is to empower children through the transformative and healing power of equine-assisted therapy.”

This family is unique in that they train their own horses.

“The relationship goes a lot deeper that way. You are like one mind, one spirit.”

In the 4th grade she got a job riding horses for trainer Ben Lisby. “I traded for sessions in reining & Western pleasure. He would train one and have me mirror him on the other young horse so we got twice as much training done each day. Then in exchange I would ride his horses all week.

“That’s where I learned that if you do it, it’s best. It’s a communication that exists between horse and rider that you get if you trained them. When someone else trains the horse you can get that but it takes long time.”

Kandace talks to her horses a lot. “With voice training you don’t have to be pulling on them. A voice trained horse creates the least amount of effort and that’s what you want.”

Sydni Blanchard

A multiple record holder including NFR qualifier 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2014 Collegiate World Champion Barrel Racer and WPRA Pro Rodeo Rookie of the year at 19 – She became 2011 Calgary Stampede Champion and with a $122,000 win on her horse Shotgun!

Sydni can train you and your horse ready for competing in the best rodeos, from Cheyenne Cody Nite Rodeo, to Central Wyoming Fair and Rodeo & maybe Sheridan WYO Rodeo – find her at teamfearlessracing.com Barrel Racing Bootcamp. On Facebook, Sydni is host of #Ride Fearless Show: sydni.blanchard.3 and @sydniblanchard_probarrelracer

Professional rodeo athletes compete in 70 to over 100 rodeos a year. They will travel long distances with their horses on tow.

Pace Blanchard PRCA Rodeo Team Roping

Heeler (the heeler is the second roper). The heeler’s job is to rope both hind feet of the steer.) Pace, with his horses, Spider & Penny, on tow, will travel to join his Team Roping partners from Cheyenne Frontier Days to Texas’ Big Spring Cowboy Reunion and Rodeo, to as far away as Red Bluff California & even Arkansas.

He won 2 rounds at The 128^th Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo 2024. it’s the most prominent large outdoor pro rodeo in America. He was riding Penny that he got from his uncle Denny & aunt Connie.

Now, his uncle Denny Gentry, also a legend, established the United States Team Roping Championship in 1990 and is known as team roping’s Godfather.

LeighAnn Scribner

A champion Breakaway Roper and All Around Champion for the last 15 years. Here she became the 2024 Turquoise Circuit Breakaway Average Champion, she then went on to win Prescott Frontier Days Breakaway Champion 2024.

Leighann says that her biggest wins/accomplishments have been competing and winning on horses that she has trained herself locally and professionally.

“Both of my parents have rodeoed, and both my grandpas, too. My cousin is Syndni Blanchard, and a lot of my other cousins rodeo, too. I’ve ridden a horse my whole life. My mom was actually in a roping accident, and during the x-rays, she found out she was pregnant with me.“

Lisa Scribner (Leighann’s mom)

Voted Hazer Of The Year Year and year after year – a Hazer guides and positions steer ready for the bulldogger (steer wrestler.) Biggest Wins: 1994 New Mexico Rodeo Association Champion Breakaway Roper – 1989 New Mexico State Fair Rodeo Queen –

Bob Scribner (Leighann’s dad)

Steer Wrestler – Biggest Wins: 1982 & 1983 New Mexico High School Rodeo Champion Steer Wrestler – 7 time New Mexico Rodeo Association State Champion Steer Wrestler.

Reno Scribner (Leighann’s little brother)

Biggest Wins – 2022 National High School Finals Rodeo Champion Tie- Down Roper & All Around Cowboy – 2022 New Mexico High School Rodeo Champion All Around Cowboy – Tie-Down Roper, Ribbon Roper, & Chute Dogger. National Calf Roping Champion in 2022.

As a freshman boy, it was amazing that he won that, because he was wining against senior kids.

“See y’all on the Trail!”

The American Rodeo dream is to be a finalist in the “ Super Bowl of rodeo”. The 2025 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, crowning the world champions of rodeo, will take place 4th – 13th December at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. The prize money will be more than $17.5 million.

For more, visit Turquoise Circuit Finals Rodeo.

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[Image Credits: Lucky ‘G’ Lawler © 2025, * Scribner Blanchard family photos and videos with permission]