Ep 24 Judy Myllymaki: NFR Journey Stories, Gardeners & Roses, and Life Lessons

Today’s guest is a very special one as she is the single most influential person in my barrel racing career. She has made such a positive impact on my life and I am truly blessed to call her a mentor. Judy Myllymaki is a National Finals Rodeo (NFR) qualifier, Montana Circuit champion, futurity champion, lifelong horsewoman, and one of the most respected clinicians in the barrel racing world. With a career spanning over many decades, Judy has competed—and won—at the highest levels of the sport- and all on self-made horses. She made countless trips to the Montana circuit finals and her “tack room” is filled with trophy saddles from winning all over the country. Earning a spot at the NFR at 54 years old stands as a testament to her grit, precision, and unwavering dedication to horsemanship. Not only did she punch a ticket to compete at the NFR herself, she coached and trained other women to multiple NFR appearances including Raina Rice and Rachael Myllymaki. She’s personally trained many horses that have been at the NFR as well. Known for her ability to develop both horses and riders into confident, consistent performers, Judy brings a unique blend of competitive insight and quiet, powerful teaching. Judy’s clinics are renowned for being grounded in solid fundamentals, clear communication, and giving each horse/rider combination a chance to shine at the highest level they are capable at. I attended my first Judy clinic back in 2014 and have been learning from her ever since. I rode with her while attending Physical Therapy school at the University of Montana and those 3 years were a pivotal shift in my life as a horsewoman. I learned so many things about riding, horse care, barrel racing, hauling, training, and the physiological requirements of getting a horse in shape to run barrels, which is one of the reasons her “stations” will always be a staple of my program. Judy is truly the matriarch of barrel racing in the NorthWest. She is the definition of resilience and of healthy aging- she’s 80 years old and still getting out there and riding, training, coaching, and taking care of business. I hope you all enjoy this podcast episode as much as I loved recording it with her! This episode is brought to you by Ride Strong 101: Unstable to Unshakeable in 8 Weeks. Learn more at www.solidinthesaddle.com/rideconfident101 Sign up for our free Reach your Riding Goals Masterclass at www.solidinthesaddle.com/goalsreplay