For more than 20 years, Heidi Gunderson balanced life as a teacher, wife, and mom in small-town Minnesota with her passion for training horses.
This spring, she made the leap she’d been praying about for years—retiring from teaching to step into horse training full-time.
“I can be an old lady and teach, but I can’t be an old lady and run barrels,” Heidi said. “It was now or never. God made it clear—He placed the horses in my life and I felt Him say, ‘Have I shown you enough? Trust Me.’”
That decision has already reshaped her career. With Wonder If I’m Lucky—the gelding she calls Casey—Heidi captured the BFA Juvenile World Championship, a defining moment that launched her into a whirlwind futurity season. She admits it wasn’t always smooth sailing: Casey’s spooky, sensitive nature made exhibitions unpredictable at first. But when it mattered, he rose to the occasion.
“I knew he had the talent, but I didn’t think he was going to win the BFA Juvenile,” Heidi said. “When he inhaled that third barrel and stopped the clock, I thought, ‘Oh my goodness.’ It was one of the highlights of my life.”
From breaking arena records in the north to holding her own at majors like the Ruby Buckle, Heidi’s story is about more than wins—it’s about timing, faith, and leaning into a lifelong dream. In this episode, she talks with host Kayla Jones about:
- Growing up on her family’s ranch in northern Minnesota and learning horsemanship the old-fashioned way
- The decision to leave teaching after 23 years and pursue training full-time
- Raising a family in a state far from “horse country” while building a program that produces winners
- The journey with Casey, from spooky exhibitions to sweeping futurities
“God, family, barrel racing—that’s always been my lineup,” Heidi said. “But with my kids grown and in college, I finally had the chance to chase this dream. It’s been a wave of more than I ever could have imagined.”
Tune in to hear Heidi’s full story, including her mindset shift, the horses that marked turning points in her career, and what’s next on her futurity bucket list.
This episode is brought to you by NRS World, your one-stop shop for everything from hats to saddles. Visit NRSWorld.com to gear up today.