Ryann Pedone’s path to becoming one of barrel racing’s most respected horse trainers didn’t start in an arena—it began on a Florida dairy farm, bottle-feeding calves and trading Holstein heifers.
Now, she has a professional facility behind her, a slew of horses in her barn, exotic pets and repeated wins including her third WCRA $25,000 VRQ Bonus. And the craziest part? She didn’t even envision herself as a full-time horse trainer.
Get to know Ryann Pedone below.
You grew up in Florida—how did that shape your work ethic and connection with animals?
“I was raised in Brooksville, Florida. It’s a small town—or it was. It’s growing now, but it’s north of Tampa and south of Ocala. I was raised on a dairy farm there.”
“My childhood was probably my favorite years. I loved being on the dairy. I had all kinds of different critters. I loved getting up in the mornings and going to get fresh cows—that’s what they call the ones that just calved—and I would bottle-feed babies and trade Holstein heifers.”
“I have zero sense of time—if it tooks 26 hours to finish your 24-hour day—OK. That’s what the dairy taught me.”
Did you always know you’d work with horses professionally?
“No. I had to get a degree, so I finished college pretty fast. I graduated high school in ’02 and college in ’05. I didn’t really see myself as a horse trainer. I thought I’d go into human acupuncture or some kind of alternative therapy for people and horses.”
“Some stuff happened in my personal life that kind of pushed me into horses full-time. A lot of horse trainers have some emotional weird twist that drives them to be obsessive-compulsive with horses—and I ended up being one of them.”
What were the horses that helped launch your career?
“The first horse that really lit the board for me was Kiss This Guy. He was home-raised and by BHR Frenchies Socks, who was out of Florida, so I was one of the first people to breed to him.”
“Another horse that changed my life was Dash Ta Jones. He had a lot of quirks, but he was wicked talented. People called him a cheater, but I remember telling Charlie Cole, ‘I’d almost give my left kidney to run that horse.’”
“Then there was Stinger (Feel The Sting). In 2020, I ended up winning the Tour Finale on him and making the NFR. He fractured a hock after the Pink Buckle, so I rode eight different horses at the Finals. It was a test of fortitude.”
How has your career changed in recent years?
“These days, I’m partnered with Chad and Tiffany Beus at Red River Equine in Thackerville, Oklahoma. The ranch is huge. We breed, stand studs, sell prospects—it’s a machine. I’m in charge of the barrel horse side. I’ve got five employees under me, and it’s its own little entity within the ranch. It’s really good to work with business-minded people who let me do my thing.”
You’ve become known for your unusual pets. Can you tell us about your collection?
“I have a badger named Connor, and he is hands-down my favorite. He loves me. But he’s not friendly to other people—he’s intense. I also have a Kinkajou. She looks like a lemur and can be really sweet, but if she gets loose, she can be aggressive.”
“Then I have a ball python—not because I love snakes, but because someone asked me to take it in. People know I’ll take care of things.”
“And now I have an otter—his name is Jerry Lee. He’ll live with me for a while and eventually move into an enclosure we’ve built at the ranch. They’re very social, so I’ll get him a friend next year.”
What’s next for you?
“I’ve got One Slick Czar and Thirty Six Roses, and we’re seasoning them. Rose has been solid—she won at Huntsville, placed at Waxahachie and Mount Pleasant. She likes the rodeo atmosphere.”
“I’m still doing the WCRA. It’s worked really well for me. The payouts are great, the ground is safe, and you get a lot of exposure. I’ve won the VRQ bonus three years in a row.”
“Honestly, I just love what I do. I’m trying to slow down, but when you enjoy the process, it’s hard not to keep going.”
