Lindsay & Freckles Run For Their Dreams

Lindsay and her horse, Nifty Walla Whiz (AKA Freckles) are heading to Las Vegas to compete on August 17th for a purse of $50k in the Non Pro Championship at an event called The Run For A Million! This will be the very first time the event is taking place and is the biggest event in the history of the sport – over $1 million dollars in prize money will be on the line! This small-town girl from Bakersfield and her sweet horse from Michigan will be up against some of the most elite riders in the world! She is one of only about 40 people across the entire nation who qualified to compete in her division, so this is a HUGE accomplishment! 

The competition coincides with a new reality TV series called The Last Cowboy (from the producers of Yellowstone on Paramount Network) that will introduce the world to the amazing sport of Reining. The season finale will take place during the event when 12 of the top professionals in the sport compete for $1 million dollars on national TV – so cameras will be rolling the whole time. This is truly a once in a lifetime opportunity!

As with most things – you have to pay to play! As incredible as this is, there are a lot of costs involved in her and Freckles’ achieving this dream. Since returning from MI to CA in early 2019 to complete her PhD and work as a professor, she has not been geographically close to Freckles. She’s had to make many trips across the country to qualify and train for this event. Additionally, Freckles will be traveling cross-country from MI to get to the event, which is not a quick (or cheap) trip. Prize money she’s won at her previous events this year have helped offset some costs, but entry fees, accommodations, travel expenses, horse maintenance (food, shoes, vet, etc.), and life as a graduate student in general add up quickly. With our support, we can help this team go all the way and reach their dreams!  

Some background on Lindsay and Freckles...

Lindsay grew up with an innate passion for horses. This is something that her mom, Sandra, and her shared. She began riding at 5 years old, with her mom teaching her the basics. When she was about 8 years old, she started training with Sami and George Hernandez of Diamond Crest Training Stables in Bakersfield, CA. Over the course of decades together, they set the foundation for the horsewoman she has become. Under their training and guidance, she gained a ton of experience, was introduced to the world of Reining, and won many championship titles here in CA!

Throughout her life, her mom was always her biggest cheerleader. From when she was just a horse-crazy kid competing in local 4H events, to when she was an adult competing in bigger reining events in Los Angeles and Las Vegas – her mom was always by her side. Whether she was that little kid always showing up, but never winning, or the adult winning state championships, her mom was always the loudest and proudest in the stands, cheering her on through it all.

Sandra passed away in 2015, which was the hardest time in Lindsay’s life. After a brief hiatus from competing, she moved to Michigan in 2017. This was the first time she’d truly been on her own with her horse. She met Tim and Cindy Katona of Katona Reining Horses, who welcomed her in like the daughter they never had. With her mom in her heart, she knew it was time to make a return to the show pen. She ended up having a very successful year and winning a state championship on her mom’s favorite horse, Roxys Custom Crome (AKA Goose), who came with her from CA.

When she met Freckles in the Katona’s barn, she wasn’t looking for a new horse. Tim and Cindy, who owned Freckles at the time, also weren’t planning on selling him. He was a special horse and they wanted just the right person for him. By chance, she rode him one day and immediately they all knew it was a match made in Heaven – they just connected as a team. It was fate, this special horse had found his special girl! The love and trust between these two is undeniable. As you can see from the pictures, they have a bond that goes beyond the arena – they love to cuddle together during naps on long days at horse shows and he loves to give her kisses, just like a big puppy dog!

Last year was their first year competing together and they worked so well as a team, that under the guidance of the Katonas, Lindsay won her very first world title – Reserve World Champion in their reining division. This means they ranked #2 in the entire world – not just the US! They have continued with their success this year, winning many local championships in Michigan this summer and qualifying for the huge Vegas event while competing in Lexington, KY – no small feat!

The event will be held at Southpoint Hotel in Las Vegas, where Lindsay used to compete in other reining events when her mom was still here. When Sandra passed away in 2015, it was just months before they were set to compete at this very place. It was her favorite place to go and watch Lindsay ride. She would always be star struck watching some of the top professionals compete and in awe seeing her very own daughter sharing an arena with them. 

As fate would have it, the Run For A Million competition takes place just a week after the 4-year anniversary of Sandra’s passing. Being able to honor her mom’s memory by returning to this venue after years away is truly a blessing. She will get to cheer for her daughter one more time as rides in this arena, but this time from her front row seat in Heaven! 

Lindsay is eternally grateful for this opportunity. Any support on getting this dynamic duo to Vegas to compete for her dreams is beyond appreciated! So many incredible memories were made here, and there are so many more to come. 

You can find details on the event and venue at the following link:
https://www.trfam.com/ 

If you'd like to follow Lindsay and Freckles as they prepare for the ride of their lifetime, visit herFacebook and/or Instagram  (@linnocent) where she will be posting updates! 

Thank you again for your consideration and support. It truly takes a village, and our village always shows up!