Megan was born in Brandon Florida, and raised in Plant City most of her life and she currently lives in Lithia, Florida. Megan has owned horses her whole life. She use to show halter and western pleasure, and reining. She got into barrel racing about 15 years ago. She would ride anything that some one asked her to get on.
Megan's main goal for this year is to make WPRA/PRCA SE Circuit Finals, and to concentrate on their futurity colts for next year. Megan has won a lot this year, any where from rodeos to super shows and now won the NBHA FL State Show. She has won and placed at several rodeos all over. Megan says, "All of her accomplishments are special to her because she has done it all on a horse that she has trained herself. I get glory for both ends!"
Bar Bee Steeling Sue...aka Sissy, is the Swint's GREAT gray mare she stands 14.3 hands and they have been a team for 3 years. Megan loves her spunk and attitude, saying she gives it her all every time, she would run three legged if she had to, she really loves her job!! That she has a lot of heart and try!
As far as back up horse right now the only one Megan has is a 4 year old black gelding by the name of Ty's Game. They are still working out some quirks with him, but she says, "He is going to be nice!"
Megan's favorite super show to date on Sissy was Perry because that is where they won their first big go round with 700 plus riders. Of course the state show this year is pretty special too she says! Her favorite rodeo was Fort Worth, even though she pulled the third barrel over to make the short go, it was still a great experience for them!
Megan's rodeo hauling partner is Wendy Temple. Megan says, "They have had a blast this year!! With out Wendy, I don't think I would of went to as many rodeos as I have this season. It's been a lot of fun as Wendy always has a positive attitude. She is a great friend and awesome person!"
I asked Megan who has helped her get where she is today and she had many people to thank. "Hands down it goes to my husband for helping me with everything I do, from the horses to the kids! Without him none of this would of been possible. My dad for supporting in everything I do, my Mom for always being there and her support, my In-Laws for helping us with the kids while we are on the road! To all my friends; April and Ty Nixs, Bobby and Joy Pirkle, Kaylon and Seth Rodriguez with
www.futurekashfarm.com home of "Guys Real Deal". Also a special thanks to Renee Bearss and her wonderful tack and encouraging words. To Pennwoods for the great products, Frontier Saddles, Lakeland Cash Feed, and all of my friends/supporters! To all of the kids that I help that keep me going! Tammie and Dennis Rogers, and a VERY special thanks to all my Florida fans that were rooting me on at State."
I asked Megan how she handled the pressure going into the Finals at State with the World NFR Champion Brittany Pozzi and Megan as the LAST TWO to run for the STATE TITLE? Megan said, "After winning the second go round, I knew we had it in us and with a lot of support from "Florida" my friends and family, all the encouraging words I just knew we could do it. I did get really nervous in the holding pen but one specail person asked me, "What do you get when you cross a billy goat and a camal, you get a lama.....lol" and it took my mind off of everything!
Megan has had Sissy for 4 years, but has only been running barrels for 3 years, from the first show she took her to she placed in the 1d and its been history from there. Megan feels this year has really been their seasoning year. I asked Megan about her goals in the future and she feels Sissy is her main horse for rodeo and big shows as she is only 6 and they should have a lot of years to come! Other than that her goals will be to futurity in 2011 their colts. She really enjoys starting colts, and training her own! She is hopeful the next big up and coming for them is their 2011 futurity colts.
I asked Megan how much she has been hauling and entering and she answered, "Well we put 200 thousand miles on my 08 Dodge if that gives you any idea!" Megan says, Sissy is pretty easy these days to keep conditioned and winning, there is no tuning during the week just long trotting. For a warm up before a run she lopes a few circles. Sometimes she breezes her, overall Megan says she is pretty easy going!
The Swints normally buy all their colts unbroke or track broke. Megan says, "They start them from the ground up. I will ride them for a while and make sure they are not going to do anything crazy. Then my husband will get on them for hours at a time and work on getting them soft in the face and broke in the ribs. The handle he likes to get on them consists of; a good stop, side pass, back up, pick their shoulders up and so on. Then I move them on to the barrels, with lots of slow work , then slow and steady wins at the barrel races I feel they will add speed when they are confident."
I asked Megan to share their feed and care program and this is what she does; "We feed peanut hay, and perfom max feed by Lakeland Cash Feed. They have seen a big difference in all their horses since they are on this feed. Her vets are Clint Barthel and Dr. Britt. Her Farrier is Seth Rodriquez(a special thanks to Seth and Kaylon, Seth fixed some feet problems with Sissy and that has made a huge difference), and Cody Lamberton, Cody just got out of school not to long go and is shoeing all our colts and is doing great! Her horses get Pennwoods bio generation, and the pennwoods joint supplement."
Lastly, Megan wanted to say a special thanks to SShorsepower (Sheree and Amie Still) and Animal Krackers (Kit and Kelly) for keeping her horses feeling good and performing at there best! A special thanks to Bobbie Haberlandt for helping Megan with her mental game before her finals run, LOL!
I can't tell you what a joy this article is for me to write. Megan is genuinely a great person . I have watched her and Sissy, and have always felt that the mare was NFR caliber. With a young family she has done amazingly well in 3 short years on Sissy and to go up against the NFR World Champion, who is use to "PRESSURE" and pull off what they did was proof in the pudding of their talent! I would love to see them meet all their goals of WPRA SE Circuit and futurity. A horse like Sissy is a blessing, a gift and with a jockey/trainer like Megan, the sky is the limit. All things are possible, they are a Cinderella story, she trained her from the ground up and went up against the best and they are NUMBER 1! This should serve as an inspiration to all of you out there that make your own horses, that anything is possible with hard work and determination, and maybe just a little TALENT!
By your fan - Tina Spangler