Halyn Lide and her beloved gelding Jettin Ta Heaven, “Keeper,” pulled an end-of-season victory out at Sioux Falls and utilized the Playoff System to qualify for National Finals Rodeo No. 2 in the barrel racing.
When Halyn Lide rode down the alleyway in Sioux Falls, she knew what was on the line. Sitting No. 17 in the world standings heading into the Governor’s Cup, she needed a major check to secure her second National Finals Rodeo qualification—and there was only one run left to do it.
“I knew $4,000 wasn’t going to be quite enough,” Lide said. “The week hadn’t gone the way I hoped. I didn’t get any checks in the rounds, so I wasn’t super confident about getting through the eight-man round. I just knew we had to give it everything we had.”
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After quietly advancing through the early rounds, Lide and her 2012 gelding Jettin Ta Heaven (“Keeper”) let it all hang out in the finals—clocking a clean, fast run that won the Governor’s Cup and $32,000 to lock up her NFR spot.
“I didn’t try to make it perfect,” she said. “I just let it go so we could keep the barrels up—and it worked.”
Keeper’s steady composure once again shined when it mattered most.
“He thrives in that,” Lide said. “The more nervous or more pressure I feel, the more he enjoys taking over. That’s how our team works.”
Afterward, Lide accepted the oversized silver trophy and took time to personally thank the event organizers and PRCA leadership.
“I’m genuinely thankful for that experience,” she said. “What a cool rodeo. I still can’t believe we won it. Every rodeo is a huge opportunity, and getting to go to that one was pretty special.”
Her family was there to celebrate every moment.
“My kids didn’t know there was a trophy involved,” she laughed. “They were pretty excited to find that out.”
Lide also credited the PRCA Playoff Series for changing the game.
“I think it’s exciting—it helps bring in fans and gives direction to where I enter,” she said. “Those are the rodeos that try hard to be great. Keeper thrives on the big crowds and high energy, so it fits us.”
Her September surge was undeniable. On August 26, she sat 23rd in the WPRA standings with just over $76,000 won. By the end of September, she’d added roughly $70,000 to her earnings.
The Governor’s Cup capped a remarkable late-season comeback and officially punched her ticket to Las Vegas.
“I’ve gotten so much support from fellow competitors the past few weeks,” she said. “It’s been a cool experience, getting to win at Puyallup and then make enough at the Governor’s Cup for it all to work out. I’m just really grateful.”