"Around here we don't saddle-up to place 2nd place"
Written on a door in the stables is this saying: Lyndsie see's it daily. It gives her and her brother Zack determination even when things get dismal. Lyndsie Ekstrom has dreamed of taking first in state and be a qualifier for the NHSRA finals by her senior year in high school. Then the unexpected happened when in the second week of 4th District High School finals her horse slips and she is knocked unconscious with a ride to the hospital in that ambulance that waits at the gate of each event. Concussion, a thumb torn tendon and a cast on her roping hand would not stop her from her dream of the National Finals.
A Dream Come True, National Finals
Idaho State Finals
Lyndsie and Roger Hutcheon wins saddles in Twin Falls as a roping team. Monday she has surgery on her hand.
Senior Year awards
Lyndsie talking about her Senior year.
Throwing the loop for a breakaway catch.
Zack keeping an eye on Lyndsie at Nationals in Rock Springs
Zack and Lyndsie are really best of friends.
Regan Timothy as header, Lyndsie as heeler. A team working together
Running Barrels at Nationals
Represented by USA, Canada, and Australia
Running Barrel at Nationals
Represents hard long hours of practice and dedication
Accepting Reserve Champion in Barrel Racing
Running Barrels
Lyndsie ropes this way.
Lyndsie and Grandma in Arizona
Lyndsie and her breakaway horse Tonto
On Tuesday the weather was changing with thunder and rain. Paycos hesitated at the first barrel giving her a 18.103. Thursday she ran a 17.663. She was in the average with a 13th place. On Friday night she was bumped to 18th place. Still hope but, Saturday she was moved to 25th. Not good enough to be in the top 20 but 25th in the nation, not bad.
Lyndsie takes 25th place in Nationals
Lyndsie Ekstrom
National Finals High School Rodeo
July 16-21
Rock Springs, Wyoming
Mothers Love for her daughter,
Girls love for her horse
As an infant, Lyndsie made her first trips to the track to see "Rosie" run. In two seasons, Rosie raced 12 times and finished in the money seven times. Although she never broke her maiden, she did get to witness Lyndsie reaching some important infant milestones.
When Rosie left the track, Brenda began training her on barrels and poles. Lyndsie, now a toddler, enjoyed riding with her mom. "I would go out barrel racing, and Lyndsie would ride Rosie with me to warm up." "After I would get done barrel racing, Lyndsie would be right there waiting at the gate wanting to ride." Lyndsie became Rosie's official hot walker. "Rosie was just always so quiet," says Brenda. "I would lead her to the gate, she'd see the barrel or pole pattern and off she would run. She ran some really good times and was always in the money. At the gate, she'd drop her head as we'd go out." When Lyndsie's regular mount died, the racehorse she'd grown up with seemed like the perfect replacement. "Rosie has a kind heart and a good disposition," says Brenda. "We knew Rosie would step up for Lyndsie." Soon the new team started collection ribbons and points in walk-trot classes. Soon Lyndsie became interested in rodeoing. Rosie still had her quickness from the track, which had helped her be successful with Brenda in the rodeo arena, but she only went as fast as Lyndsie wanted. "This horse took care of this little girl and would only go the speed that Lyndsie felt comfortable going," Brenda says, "She has never betrayed Lyndsie's confidence level." When they first started running the pole pattern two and half years ago, their first run took more than a minute to complete. It must have seemed like an eternity to Rosie, who now carries Lyndsie around the poles in about 22 seconds....more to follow on the life of Rosie and Lyndsie
Article written by Jennifer K. Hancock in the
Next Career Racehorse, Sept. 2003
Lyndsie heeling, Regan Timothy as header
Heading for a barrel
Lyndsie and friend in rodeo arena. Lyndsie just had another surgery on her hand, next week she gets a cast.
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