Dona Kay Rule – Minco, Okla.
Everyone who has success in the arena started somewhere, they were also inspired to compete by something or a someone. For Dona Kay Rule that inspiration came from her father who was involved in rodeo through team roping, broncs and bulls. Her riding career began with western pleasure and gymkhanas, but soon Dona jumped into the rodeo scene herself. “When I found out they gave money away at rodeos instead of ribbons, I was hooked!”, said Rule. The Rule family has always trained their own horses and Dona has continued to do that. Dona has already started this year off strong placing at several rodeos and now preparing for the American Semi Finals. She will be competing on a horse she trained named High Valor who was raised by Lana Merrick of Canadian River Quarter Horses.
Dona’s advice for finding and getting with a new horse is to find a reputable horseman to locate the level of horse you are ready for and be sure to get a thorough vet check, “Expect to take at least 6 months to a year to learn each other.” When asked what is one thing she has done that has helped her compete at such a high level Rule stated, “There is not one thing I have done to help me advance, there are so many things, but I would say the very most efficient way is to never stop learning.”
Career Highlights
Highlights
• Entered first Wrangler NFR ranked 9th in the world with $192,392 after winning $95,885 at the NFR. Placed in five out of 10 rounds winning two rounds.
• Won the Caldwell (Idaho) Night Rodeo
• Won Corpus Christi (Texas) Rodeo
• Won the Tops In Texas Rodeo (Jacksonville, Texas)
• Won Crockett (Texas) Lions Club PRCA Rodeo
• Won the Last Chance Stampede (Helena, Montana)
• Won That Famous Preston (Idaho) Night Rodeo
• Won the Springhill (Louisiana) PRCA Rodeo
• Finished second at Roping Dreams (Jourdanton, Texas)
• Finished second at Horse Heaven (Kennewick, Washington)
• Finished second at the Gooding (Idaho) Pro Rodeo
• Finished second at the Santa Rosa Roundup (Vernon, Texas)
• Finished second at the Flint Hills Rodeo (Strong City, Kansas)
• Finished second at the Northeast Montana Fair & Rodeo (Glasgow, Montana)
• Finished second at Bozeman (Montana) Stampede
• 2-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo Qualifier
• 2018 – Won the average title at the Prairie Circuit Finals Rodeo
• Fallon County Fair PRCA Rodeo (Baker, Montana), $5,063
• Pro Rodeo Tour Finale (Rapid City, S.D. – 2nd), $11,061
• Super Series Finish (Fort Worth), $5,000
• San Antonio Stock Show Rodeo, $5,250
Awards
High Valor honored with the 2019 Purina Horse of the Year honor in the WPRA, 2019. Finished in a three-way tie for WPRA Horse of the Year with High Valor (other included DM Sissy Hayday “Sister”- Hailey Kinsel and Freckles Ta Fame “Can Man” – Shali Lord). WPRA Pioneer Award winner, 2007
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