"We’ve been using the laser a lot and we have particularly benefited from it at competitions. It is used here everyday at Chesterland for injuries as well as for wound therapy. The laser is an everyday tool in our production here. The Blanket is a great way to relax a horse’s back, I can feel a difference in the circulation and stimulation it creates. Before I began using the blanket I wouldn’t believe it but I am now at the point where I can tell if a horse has been blanketed or not before I go out and ride."

Bruce Davidson is a two time Three Day Event World Champion, and five time Olympic veteran. Davidson has been the U.S. Combined Training Association’s Rider of the Year a record fourteen times, he has won two Gold Medals, at the 1976 and 1984 Olympics. In 1995 Davidson was ranked number one in the world in the World Three Day Event Rider Rankings, a year in which he won an individual Gold Medal at the Pan Am Games and was the only American rider ever to win at the Badminton CCI.

Leslie Burr-Howard - Show Jumping

"I use the Respond Laser on injured horses and before workouts and rounds to relieve soreness, and to relax their muscles. They love it! They become more willing in their work, which in turn enhances their performance. It’s a great addition to our daily regimen"

* Photos by James Leslie Parker

Leslie Burr-Howard

Was a member of the United States Equestrian Team (USET) squads that won the team Gold Medal at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles and the team Silver Medal at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. In 1983, riding Albany, Burr -Howard was named the American Grandprix Association Rider of the Year. In 1986 she won the FI World Cup Final in Gothenburg, Sweden, and was voted the American Horse Shows Association’s Equestrian of the Year. In 1994 Howard rode for the United States at the World Equestrian Games in Holland and she rode to a first place tie in the USET Show Jumping Championship at the Festival of Champions in Gladstone, NJ. In 1997 Burr-Howard received the Whitney Stone Cup for her long and distinguished career. Also in 1997, Leslie captured the world’s richest grand prix event-the $500,000 Du Maurier Ltd. International Grand Prix.

Anne Kursinski-Show Jumping

"We use the Respond Laser 2400XL every day to keep our horses at their peak. We treat trigger points and acupuncture points before events. And the Bio-Pulse Magnetic Therapy blanket system is a wonderful tool for keeping muscles supple; it helps us warm up the horses before we show them. It's a great therapy after a long trailer ride."

Anne Kursinski has been a member or alternate of four consecutive United States Olympic teams, including the 1988 and 1996 squads that both won the Silver Medal. In 1991 Kursinski was honored as the Leading Lady Rider at the World Cup in Gothenburg, Sweden. In 1995 Anne won the American Gold Cup for a record fourth time and was named the AHSA/Hertz Equestrian of the Year and in 1997 she was the highest placed U.S. rider at the World Cup finals.

Carol Lavell – Dressage

"The Respond Laser and the Bio-Pulse Blanket are the most versatile and effective therapy systems you can buy. We couldn’t get the job done without them!"

From tendon lesions, to cuts and lacerations, to sore joints and muscles, Carol has seen them all, and treated them all with therapy equipment by Respond Systems. 

Carol Lavell is one of the World’s best known dressage riders, and one of the world’s most respected riders. She won a team Bronze Medal on her horse Gifted at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, Spain. Lavell was named 1990 and 1992 United States Olympic Committee Female Equestrian Athlete of the Year. Also in 1992, Lavell won the prestigious Whitney Stone Cup and was named The American Horse Shows Association/Hertz Equestrian of the Year.

Betsy Cowperwaithe-Driving

"The Bio-Pulse blanket by Respond Systems, Inc. has improved M.P.'s performance by at least 50%." 

Kay Blandford-Barrel Racing

Kay relies on the Respond 2400XL laser and the Bio-Pulse magnetic therapy blanket systems to keep her horses fit. She features Respond’s therapy systems in her new video, The Power of Dreams. She states: "I attribute much of The Key Grip’s success to the Respond Model 2400XL laser and the Bio-Pulse 3000 magnetic therapy blanket system. I’ve been able to keep him sound and keep the soreness out of his body with short treatments before each run. And when he was injured, his down-time was minimal. Thank you to The Key Grip and Respond Systems." Kay’s Video, the Power of Dreams, is available through her website, http://www.kayblandford.com.

Kay Blandford is an eight time National Finals Rodeo Qualifier, 96 Dodge Circuit Champion, 96 Record High Money winner at the NFR, 96 Reserve World Champion, three time Texas circuit Barrel Racing Champion, and the only triple winner of the Old Fort Days Barrel Futurity.

MARY W. BROMILEY - F.C.S.P., S.R.P., R.P.T. (U.S.A.)

Mary Bromiley is a licensed Physical Therapist and an expert in the equine therapeutic field with over 25 years of experience. She now treats horses and dogs as well as humans at Downs House, her rehabilitation center at Baydon, Berkshire in England. She states: "I can truly say that the results since laser came in to the House are spectacular. We use it primarily for wound healing and pressure on nerves, because if the nerve doesn’t conduct then the muscle doesn’t function. I’m very pleased with Respond because they have put a tremendous amount of their resources back in to research." She says of the Bio-Pulse magnetic blanket: "We’re very pleased with Respond because they offer a neck wrap, the neck is a huge balancing area for the horse. Dressage horses stress their hocks and now we can help them with the leg wrap. Overall, magnetic therapy enhances the behavior of tissue, and once that starts to happen, healing is improved."

Doug Hannum, the founder of Hannum stables in Nottingham, PA, was the United States Equestrian Team’s 3 Day Event Therapist at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta: "In Atlanta at the summer games we walked the course and the riders walked the course and we found it was very hilly with quick turns and stop fences that can produce injuries. The laser, Respond Model 2400 was and is a wonderful piece of equipment for taking the sting out of those injuries, such as sore joints in the stifle, injured shoulders and ankles as well. We also worry about the horse’s feet stinging, so we laser the feet which enhances circulation in the foot, making the horse quite comfy rather quickly.

We have use the Respond Systems, Inc. Bio-Pulse magnetic therapy systems, and the Respond lasers for over ten years at our facility. They make the best equipment, they stand behind it, and they are great people to work with. I can’t say enough about them."

Judith Shoemaker, D.V.M, I.V.A.S., A.V.C.A.:
"The Respond Laser model 2400 is useful in several veterinary applications and as an acupuncture tool, it is very useful in the healing of tendon and ligament injuries, and in sports medicine for muscle therapy. For the backyard horse the laser is useful for soreness, acupuncture, constitutional medical problems. The laser is very user friendly for the horse owner and therapist. The Respond Laser has been successful because the equipment is easy to use and the booklet is understandable." "Magnetic therapy has proven effective in non-union fractures and the healing of fractures in general. It is also effective in the management of chronic muscle disease and chronic joint disease while physiologically it has the effect of enhancing blood flow."

NFR Rookie Tammy Key came into the 2002 NFR with a bang. Key won the first three go-rounds, and took second in the fourth round - surprising everyone and looking like she could be the next World Champion. However in Round Five she hit her first barrel, re-opening the door again for Charmayne. In Round 6 however, Tammy Key made her biggest mark by breaking the NFR Arena Record held previously by Tona Wright with a 13.74, with an incredible 13.63. While Key also won the eighth round, knocked barrels in the other rounds ended Key's chance at a world championship. This said, I look forward to seeing Key next year as her horse and her have the ability to win a world championship. They are both very incredible.

Hometown: Ledbetter , TX
2002 Earnings: $78,279
WPRA Membership: 1988
Horse(s): Easy Dash Oak
NFR Qualifications: 1
Achievements: 99 BFA Top Futurity Horse
Best Payoff of 2002: Reno , NV- $10,290
Career Earnings: $150,598
2002 Number of Rodeo's Entered: 86
2002 Number of Checks Won: 35

Janae Ward
Hometown: Addington , OK
2002 Earnings: $59,983
Horse(s): Cole & Chaps
WPRA Membership: 1994
NFR Qualifications: 2
Achievements: NIRA Champ 01, NFR 01
Best Payoff of 2002: Dallas , TX - $25,190
Career Earnings: $156,590
2002 Number of Rodeo's Entered: 82
2002 Number of Checks Won: 28

Kay Blanford
Hometown: Sutherland Springs , TX
2002 Earnings: $59,003
WPRA Membership: 1981
Horse: Llave, The Key Grip, Royal Mile
NFR Qualifications: 11
Achievements: 1996 NFR Reserve Champion, Most Money and Fastest Time; 4 Decades - 4 Different Horses
Best Payoff of 2002: St. Paul , MN - $6,5355
Career Earnings: $734,548
2002 Number of Rodeo's Entered: 81
2002 Number of Checks Won: 43

Melanie Southard-White with Nutt It Bar (Snickers)
Hometown: Cushing , OK
2002 Earnings: $56,927
WPRA Membership: 1997
Horse(s): Nutt It Bar (Snickers)
NFR Qualifications: 1
Achievements: 2001 Texas Res circuit champ, '97 WNFR Res DT champ, MRCA World Champ
Best Payoff of 2002: Las Vegas , NV - $8,616
Career Earnings:: $56,927
2002 Number of Rodeo's Entered: 72
2001 Number of Checks Won: 26

Danyelle Campbell
Hometown: Washington , UT
2002 Earnings: $55,739
WPRA Membership: 1989
Horse: Howlinatthemoon, Up the Middle
NFR Qualifications: 2
Achievements: 2x Calgary Qualifier, 2x Canadian Finals Qualifier, Wilderness Circuit champ '98
Best Payoff of 2002: Calgary , CN - $8,923
Career Earnings: $259,219
2002 Number of Rodeo's Entered: 74
2002 Number of Checks Won: 34

Teresa Bilyeu
Residence: Sparta , MO
Joined PWRA: 1998
WNFR Appearances: 3
WNFR Earnings: $895.89
All Around champion, Calf Roping Champion

Teresa and her father began using the Respond laser on her horses in 1992. She has been a winner ever since!

Rodeo cowgirl living a dream – Tami Fontenot
By Gavin Ehringer

Even as she was making a name and a career for herself on the short tracks, Fontenot never lost her dream of one day competing in the biggest rodeo of 'em all, the National Finals.

Most little girls dreams of horses give way to boyfriends, cheerleading, careers and marriage. Not so with Tami Fontenot, a first-time National Finals Rodeo barrel racing contestant from Louisiana . As a young woman, Fontenot embarked on a career as a jockey. Eventually, the diminutive Louisiana native became a legend in the sport of Quarter horse racing, winning more money than any other woman in history. Upon retirement just three years ago, Fontenot was ranked among the top-20 all-time money earners in Quarter horse racing and had won its three most prestigious races, which is roughly equivalent to winning the Triple Crown in Thoroughbred racing.

But even as she was making a name and a career for herself on the short tracks, Fontenot never lost her dream of one day competing in the biggest rodeo of 'em all, the National Finals. Now, at the age of 42, Fontenot is here, competing among the 15 best women barrel racers in professional rodeo.

Tami Fontenot
Hometown: Ethel , LA
2002 Earnings: $57,431
WPRA Membership: 1999
Horse(s): Elliott, Money
NFR Qualifications: 2

Achievements:
Winningest Female Jockey

Best Payoff of 2002:
Cheyenne , WY- $10,200

Career Earnings: $191,829

2002 Number of Rodeo's Entered: 90
2002 Number of Checks Won: 35

"I've wanted to do this since I was a little girl," said Fontenot, comfortably sitting on her horse as she waited for the rodeo to begin. "Even when I was racing Quarter horses, it was in the back of my mind."

One would think that a woman who raced against the likes of Jerry Nicodemus, the all-time great of Quarter horse racing, would be stone cold as the rodeo's post-time drew near. But, like most first-time NFR contestants, Fontenot was anything but calm and collected.

"I'm so nervous I could pee my pants," she said, laughing. "But it's not bad nervous. It's good nervous. The nervous that comes from adrenalin."

Just then, a young woman distributing small American flags among the contestants wandered by, and Fontenot said, "Hey I want mine!" Each contestant was supposed to carry a flag into the arena during each grand entry, and Fontenot did not want to miss out.

"We have to give them back at the end of each night, but on the last night, I'm gonna ask if I can keep mine," she said.

It's hard to imagine a woman who has won millions at the tracks wanting to hold onto a $1.50 flag, but every memento of this trip is precious to her, she says. "I want to cherish every minute," she said. "All my family, all my in-laws are out here cheering me on. It's pretty special just to be here."

Unlike most of the women here for the 10-day, $4.6 million rodeo, Tami says her goals are not to bank a huge amount of money or win the bejeweled gold-and silver buckle given to the world champion. Not that she would mind either outcome. It's simply reward enough to compete at "the Superbowl of Rodeo."

"I just want to represent Louisiana well, and to give hope to women who have big dreams. If I can do this, I hope other women will be emboldened to try, too," she says.

But of course, not just any woman can. Fontenot, certainly, has a lifetime of horse experience and a sharply honed competitive edge. She competed at close to 100 rodeos, traveling thousands of miles, to earn enough prize money to qualify for this event. Her rise to the top of the barrel racing scene in only her third year of serious competition was a combination of great skill and even greater determination, along with the help and encouragement from the very skillful people in the Quarter racing industry and the rodeo world who she has befriended over the years.

Fontenot knows she's blessed, but she also knows that all her past accomplishments mean little when she dashes into the rodeo arena on her Quarter horse Elected Official (who she has nicknamed "Elliot"). Here, she is just another cowgirl among cowgirls.

It's hard for me to look at my achievements the way that other people might," she said. "I'm just so happy to be here, competing with a group of very tough ladies who I've looked up to all my life. And they are ladies. They accept me for who I am."