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Rodeo World Champion Barrel Racer- Sherry Cervi & Jr. Rodeo World Champion- Tru Most
192 Plays3 years ago
Join four-time Women's Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA) World Champion Sherry Cervi as she travels down the rodeo road and discovers the up-and-coming talent of Jr. Rodeo cowgirl, Tru Most, the 2022 YETI® Junior World Senior Girls Barrel Racing Champion. These two women discuss the importance of horsemanship, a good mindset, rodeo, and even better horses. Hear about legendary barrel horse Stingray’s daughter, Money May, who is blazing the way down the rodeo trail one barrel at a time. Sherry even shares about her Sherry Cervi Youth Championships, where she awards graduating high school seniors scholarships ranging from $500 to $5,000. For a full episode transcript, visit our website at www.justinboots.com/kick-your-boots-up.
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Transcript
Introduction and Guest Tease
00:00:03
Speaker
You're listening to the Kick Your Boots Up podcast, where we swap stories of the West. Whether you're just waking up or getting in for the day, come on in and kick your boots up.
00:00:14
Speaker
Hi guys. Thanks for listening to the kick your boots up podcast. I'm your host, Taylor McAdams. And joining me today are two incredible women in the industry. I can't wait till you get to meet them and take a little bit of a look inside their lives.
Introducing Sherry Servie and True Most
00:00:26
Speaker
First, I have to start with the four time world champion, Sherry Servie. Sherry bought her WPRA card when she was only 12 years old.
00:00:35
Speaker
won her first championship when she was 20 and was even inducted to the Cowgirl Hall of Fame in 2018. We're so excited that she's here. She continues on today with the legacy of her Sherry Servie Youth Championships, where she has competitions in California, Arizona, and Minnesota, and has even launched a scholarship program. That's incredible. Way to give back. Thanks for being on, Sherry.
00:00:59
Speaker
Thank you for having me. And next true most is a name that you're not going to want to forget. You want to know after rising to earn the title of the 2022 Yeti junior world senior barrel racing championship in just one year of preparation, she's becoming more of a household name by the day. At only 14 years old, this Longview Washington cowgirl has a story to tell true. It's so good to have you too. Thank you for being here. Thank you so much for having me.
00:01:28
Speaker
Ladies, I'm going to jump right into this because you both have very, very special and unique stories
Sherry's Rodeo Journey
00:01:33
Speaker
to tell. We have an underdog story with you, true. And then an overall world championship story with you with impactful horses. So Sherry, let's get started with you. Tell us about how you got started in rodeo. My mom and dad both competed. Uh, they both have been to the NFR. My dad competed at the very first NFR in Dallas, Texas. So I feel like, you know, I was destined to, to ride horses.
00:02:01
Speaker
and local events when I was by six, seven years old. And I just grew up on horses. I've done all the events, ropes and rope cutting horses. And, but Burryston was my passion and I wanted to be a Burryster from a very young age, but
00:02:21
Speaker
didn't ever really think that it would be my career. You know, when I first started out when 18 years old, you just, you know, my goal was to make the NFR. But it's been an incredible journey. And it's, you know, I love what I do and that the connection I get with my horses is what I love about, you know, being a borrower besides just the content.
00:02:48
Speaker
Okay. Very, that's an incredible story. Sherry, we have so much more to talk about, but let's get into true story. True. Introduce us to yourself and talk about your background and how you got started.
True's Unconventional Start in Rodeo
00:02:58
Speaker
My background is probably the exact opposite from Sherry's, um, my family.
00:03:05
Speaker
did not do any form of rodeo. They like nothing, they had nothing to do with horses. None of that. I loved it from a really young age because my favorite movie in the whole world growing up was Toy Story. And I wanted to be Jesse from Toy Story, the cowgirl so bad. It was my entire personality. I had a full outfit and I wouldn't like, I wouldn't go anywhere without my sparkly red Jesse boots. I like, all I wanted to be was a cowgirl and I had none of that in my family. So.
00:03:34
Speaker
My uncle married a horse girl and they had a barn, they had like a boarding barn and she did lessons and stuff and I was obsessed. I was so happy to finally have something like that in my family and I was at their house all the time. It was my favorite place to be and when they finally got me my first horse, it kind of just grew from there.
00:04:00
Speaker
they had me doing western pleasure because that's what she did and she did western pleasure but i was like this is not for me i remember when she would be teaching me in the round pin i'll just we would i would try and then be like okay like what's faster than this like what's the next what's the next step i just wanted to go fast fast fast and i didn't like the shellmanship and i didn't like the western pleasure
00:04:22
Speaker
So when I found out about barrel racing at one of our 4-H competitions, I was like, that is what I'm going to do. That is perfect for me. So I told my parents, and after begging them for a really long time, they got me my very first barrel horse. And it was tricky because, like I said, my parents didn't come from rodeo or anything, so they didn't know what a barrel horse was capable of. So he was a lot of horse for me going from lesson horses
00:04:52
Speaker
to a big scary barrel horse who just wanted to run. So honestly, I didn't like him at all. When I first got him, I really didn't like him. We weren't friends at all. But after the first couple months of having him, I learned to really
Starting Young in Rodeo
00:05:06
Speaker
love him. And I learned that his excitement was the same as my excitement. And we got to be really best friends. And it's grown from there.
00:05:16
Speaker
Well, how does story what, um, to be able to say that you just had an interest based off of Western pleasure going slow, the opposite of barrels. Um, let's kind of talk about the similarities here. Sherry, you made an iconic impact in your career when you were younger and then same with true just winning in December, the, um, the world championship there for the junior world finals. Sherry, what do you think is so important about being a youth and getting started young and just going from there?
00:05:41
Speaker
You know, I mean, I love True Story because I'm hearing more stories like that. The kids that don't come from a Western background, you know, that they find that passion, you know, the horse and her going fast, you know, I love that. And the awesome thing about the Western industry or Rodeo is we are just one big family.
00:06:03
Speaker
And the fact that she maybe doesn't have parents that know burr icing, but there are so many people out there willing to help and make her dreams come true. And I think that there are people that get started later in life, which is still, that's awesome. And that's the thing about burr icing is you can compete when you're a little bit older. But the fact that shoes get to learn at an early age
00:06:31
Speaker
and get to pursue our goals and I think it's awesome.
Challenges Without a Rodeo Background
00:06:39
Speaker
And True, what was the hardest part for you being younger and going to such a big stage after not much time to prepare for that?
00:06:46
Speaker
Um, I'd say the hardest part for me is really just having to work with what I got, you know, um, my family has been super supportive and they have definitely given me, given me all of the, the blocks to get here. But it was definitely a lot of figuring it out on my own and a lot of trying to get people to take me seriously, because when you have a family that doesn't really know how, you know, like rodeo works and all that kind of stuff.
00:07:13
Speaker
It, it's hard for them, for them sometimes to understand how serious it can get, but, but a lot, a lot of it for me was, um, was doing stuff on my own and building up on my own. Cause a lot of like junior and high school roadies, that kind of stuff, you'll see all those girls, you know, that come from the big rodeo families and they kind of got it all figure out, figured out, but, but sometimes it still feels like I'm just starting and there's still so much that I have to know and work definitely working up by myself to get here.
00:07:41
Speaker
I like your attitude. It's all about keeping going and staying hungry and always being coachable. And Sherry, I bet you say the same things when you put on these championships and you go talk to the youth. What do you think is the best piece of advice you have for someone that's wanting to get started in rodeo?
Setting Goals in Rodeo and Life
00:07:56
Speaker
Um, I think that you, you know, set out and that you have your goals that you want to accomplish. And, and even though it may not go how you think it should at the beginning, or you may get, you know, have some, uh, trials and maybe a struggle sometimes that you stay focused on the end goal and what you want to accomplish. I think it's really important matter and, you know, for racing and even in life that, you know, sometimes it looks easy from the outsider, but.
00:08:24
Speaker
You know how hard you have to work to get there and just don't give up.
00:08:32
Speaker
I love that you said that in barrel racing and in life, there are so many life lessons that we've all learned probably from the barrel pin or the practice pin, just going around the barrels, doing the, doing the things. So, um, thank you for that tidbit of advice. And, you know, we've got to move on to our next bit of questions. It's very important to talk about being a horsewoman and the horsemanship that goes along with it, but the incredible horses that you guys are just blessed to get to go along with along the way. So let's talk about some horses that built you true. Do you want to get started?
Building Connections with Horses
00:09:00
Speaker
Sure. My first, as I was saying, my first barrel horse, Cash, um, was, was tricky and took a lot of learning and, and he wasn't an easy, I wouldn't even say kid friendly at all horse, but I would definitely say I don't think that I would be here without him. Having a horse like that has made every other horse
00:09:21
Speaker
I feel like I'm driving a four wheeler. Like he really taught me a lot. And he also taught me about how important it is to have a relationship on the ground with your horse before in the arena. Something that I think is really important is definitely having a bond with your horse, because it like, in all honesty, this, this sport is a team sport. I can't do it without my horse and my horse can't do without me. So it's really important for me that my horse and I are a team and we have a connection on the ground before in the arena.
00:09:50
Speaker
So learning that from Cash and realizing that when I got a connection with him on the ground and he started to become my best friend, stuff started going a lot better for us in the arena. So he definitely taught me that and got me to where I am. And then moving on to Rocket, that's something too that you've got to talk about too, because she's the one that really helped you win the championship.
00:10:11
Speaker
Yeah, and I really didn't have much time to make too much of a connection with her. I got her in March and world finals was in April or not April, December.
00:10:21
Speaker
Um, so I didn't have much time, but, but I've picked up some techniques that I think really help with bonding. I spent a lot of time on the ground with her. She's not the kind of horse like cash. He he'll just lay his head in your hands and he just wants you to love on him, but she's kind of really serious and, and doesn't really want to be touched and loved on. So it's a little trickier to make a bond with those kinds of horses. She definitely takes her job super seriously, but.
00:10:47
Speaker
I found that with a lot of time, just being around her, I don't even have to be all touchy with her. Just being around her, we started to make a connection and I definitely saw an improvement in the arena. And I'm so glad you mentioned, um, a horse that really has a connection and loves their jobs. Speaking of that, Stingray Sherry is a legend. You know that it's no secret.
Sherry's Accomplished Horses
00:11:06
Speaker
Talk to us about all the other horses you've had before Stingray and leading up to Stingray and everything that she's been able to do and taking her out on, on, into the arena during the championships that you get to have.
00:11:18
Speaker
There are so many horses that helped me get to where I'm at today.
00:11:26
Speaker
basically my parents put me on rope horses that, you know, became barrel horses. And then I got my first real barrel horse and his name was Dudley. And he taught me, you know, that was the horse I had the first success on. And so I think he's what got me for sure hooked. And then I got troubles in Hawk. Those were the two horses that I made the finals on in one, first two world championships and then kind of went through and they had a tin man in De Niro. And De Niro is,
00:11:55
Speaker
a stud that my dad owned in his uh register name is PC Frenchman's Hay Day and he you know was kind of the background backbone of my dad's breeding program and I also competed on him um and that's what led to you know getting Stingray um because he's her dad and so the fact that I feel like it's come first full circle because uh
00:12:19
Speaker
When I competed on Troubles and Hawk, I was competing against Christy Peterson and Bozo, and my dad loves that horse. And so DeNaro is a full brother to Bozo. And so that's why my dad, you know, purchased him to get some of that breeding in our program and then getting to Ray Stingray and, you know,
00:12:39
Speaker
just everything that she's done and we're now she's retired and I'm getting colts out of her which is you know so cool that to be able to ride those colts and you know try to I'm riding one now earnings money may
00:12:52
Speaker
And she looks just like her mother. She's a little mini me and, you know, so I'm very grateful for my horses that I've had and getting to bring Stingray in the arena to, you know, get her picture taken with those kids. We just do it in Arizona because that's, you know, it's close to home and
00:13:12
Speaker
I truly feel like she loves that and she still loves the attention and she poses for her picture and that mare's very, very special to our family. To your family and the rest of the world too. She's an iPod. Yes. And one thing that I think is really cool is that the new one that you get to ride looks just like Mama. I'm sure there's a lot of fans out there that think it's Stingray. Has anyone ever mentioned that?
00:13:37
Speaker
Uh, oh yeah. So, you know, when I, when I was like, is that Stingray, you know, um, seeing her as 21 this year. So she definitely is in full retirement, but yeah, money maze. It's funny how, you know, people think that she, and she does, she looks just like her. So that is so fun. I can't wait to see how you guys do this year. Um, right now we've got to mention you're headed, you're on the road headed to another rodeo and, um, your future's bright there.
Future Aspirations in Rodeo
00:14:03
Speaker
Let's talk about your, your goals for 2023 season and even in the future.
00:14:07
Speaker
Yeah, you know, I'm just money maze now eight years old and I had some, you know, had plans last summer to go a little bit more and they had a couple of my horses got hurt and
00:14:20
Speaker
You know, that's just part of it. You got to regroup and so didn't get to fulfill my plans or my goals, what I wanted to accomplish last year. And so we're starting out this year and I'm going to go and, you know, see how, how it goes. And I've, my horses are back. I feel like, you know, sound and ready to go. And, but.
00:14:40
Speaker
Corey and I get to go together, which is awesome just because neither one of us want to be going by ourselves. That's no fun. And we're at a point in our career where when you go, you want to enjoy it. It is our career, but we're at a different point in our life where we're like, okay, we're going to enjoy this.
00:15:05
Speaker
Good for you guys. That's the attitude that you should have. And I respect that so much for your quote unquote work life balance, per se, since your office is a little bit different than most and true. Let's talk about you a little bit. Your, your future is really bright. Obviously you're just getting started and breaking ground. Let's talk about your goals and the future for you in 2023.
00:15:25
Speaker
My dad and I were going to do WPRA over here in Washington just to kind of introduce me to that because I definitely see that in my future. I definitely would want to go to the NFR after high school, so I feel like that would be a really good way to kind of introduce me that I get my horse introduced to that. That way when the time comes, I feel like it's going to be a lot easier for us. We'll kind of already know the ropes. I definitely want to qualify for world finals again and.
00:15:50
Speaker
take a shot at winning that again. I definitely think we're capable and, and, and that would, that would be a cool thing to accomplish to win it twice in a row. So that's definitely something I want to try to do for 2023. Good for you setting some big goals. And it's kind of really surreal for me and everyone that's listening because Sherry just purchasing your card at
00:16:10
Speaker
12 years old, true. You're 14. I'm noticing so many similarities and this is going to be so fun to watch. But, um, I guess talking more about, um, the future of barrel racing in general, let's
Evolving Trends in Barrel Racing
00:16:21
Speaker
talk a little bit about that. Some trends that you guys are noticing, um, anything that you guys want to talk about with, in order to, to keep barrel racing alive, all of it. Looks like we, let's start with you.
00:16:37
Speaker
Um, I like Sherry was saying, you definitely see a lot more stories about girls who don't come from rodeo backgrounds. So that's exciting for me because
00:16:50
Speaker
There wasn't a lot of girls like that when I was younger doing barrel racing, but I see a lot of it now of girls just starting to get into it and succeeding and doing really well. So that's exciting to kind of expand this amazing sport because like Sherry said, we're all just a big family and it's super fun and exciting and it'd be cool for other people who don't come from rodeo backgrounds to experience a group like this also.
00:17:18
Speaker
Definitely. I couldn't agree more and Sherry for you. Let's talk about future trends in barrel racing. Maybe the way you see genetics going, maybe people to watch this year.
00:17:31
Speaker
We, um, we have some lights behind. I was telling true before you got on, we have some lights and they just fell. Anyways, we're going to, I'm going to re-ask you that question. Um, okay. So the future is bright for barrel racing in general.
Future of Barrel Racing
00:17:44
Speaker
Sherry, I'm interested to hear your thoughts. Let's talk about the future of barrel racing genetics that you might be noticing a new trend for, um, maybe the future of the sport as a whole.
00:17:54
Speaker
I think the future of the sport is headed in a really exciting direction. The breeding program just for barrel horses is, you know, I mean, since probably 15 years, the depth of great horses is really deep. What I see is
00:18:14
Speaker
kids and people are getting into it you know that the knowledge that is so accessible to our fingertips you know getting on the phone and watching the videos and and the people that we can learn from is you know really easy for people to to access now and which i love because i i still i think that you know you never want to stop learning
00:18:37
Speaker
And I think that our horsemanship is getting better. People want to work more on their horsemanship and be better riders. And with the breeding programs that are out there and the money that's out there just at the big jackpots that you can win is making it to where they're always you can win a lot of money. So I think that we're headed in a really good direction.
00:19:05
Speaker
I agree. And you have seen the days where barrel racers and rodeo in general didn't get paid as much. And now we're in the millions just in one weekend sometimes. So that's very, very encouraging. And you know, there's not many times true that you get to sit down with a world champion and find out what's going on in their head. So before we go, I'm genuinely curious. True. Do you have any questions for Sherry that you want to ask her about?
Traveling for Rodeo: Challenges and Advice
00:19:26
Speaker
I do have a question. Um,
00:19:30
Speaker
I feel like this would apply to a lot of other people as well. Like a lot of other people have this question. What do you think is the hardest part about being on the road and your, your best advice for traveling so often? Because this really is a lifetime commitment sport. It definitely is. And that was a great question. And the funny that you asked me that today while we're driving, we, um,
00:19:52
Speaker
Being on the road is not as glamorous as it looks. We two days ago ran a wheel off our living quarters trailer in Dallas, Texas. So we left our trailer in Texas. We borrowed a trailer from Corey's partner. We went to Arizona, dropped some horses off, got up this morning at two o'clock and were driving and blew a front tire on the truck and so had to get that changed.
00:20:18
Speaker
We are behind schedule. We should have already been to our destination but you know it's just part of it and you know you've got to adapt and be ready for anything thrown at you. If you are a person that thinks that you need to follow a certain schedule and have things mapped out
00:20:37
Speaker
Let me just tell you, that doesn't happen in the rodeo life. You've got to be able to, to go with whatever's thrown at you. So I think that just being able to, you know, not let the things outside of the arena get you down and just be able to, you know, fix what you can and, and, um, you know, stay, have a positive attitude. I would say the, the most important thing that you can do for yourself.
Podcast Wrap-up
00:21:04
Speaker
That was really great advice and great question too. True. Um, it sounds like our time is up for today, even though I personally would love to talk for hours and hours and hours picking both of your brains. Uh, it's been so good to kind of step back in time. I've it's been a while since I've gotten to even ride. So, um, I've loved this little cow girl, cowgirl connection we've had here. And I wish you both the best on the different roads that you're taking, um, whatever milestone it is and whatever goal you have. I wish you both the best. Sherry, thank you for being such an, a great and Dorsey for Justin. True.
00:21:32
Speaker
Thank you for being on the podcast. We look forward to seeing your bright future ahead and I wish you both the best. Thank you. Thank you.
00:21:41
Speaker
Thank you. Good luck, Troop. Thank you. You too. Thanks for joining us on Kick Your Boots Up. I'm your host, Taylor McAdams, and we can't wait to share the next story of the West. Until then, feel free to like, subscribe, and leave us a review. Follow us on social media at JustinBoots to keep up with our next episode, and we'll see you the next time you kick your boots up.