“It is unbelievable. It’s truly a bucket list [accomplishment], and it’s neat that it came through,” Loper said. “There are so many people who helped me get here, so it’s not just about me.”
One of those people is Loper’s trainer Cira Baeck of Collinsville, Texas, an NRHA Million Dollar Rider.
“In January, I ended up riding with Cira, and I’m so grateful she was willing to take me on. She’s been instrumental the whole way. I could not have done it without her,” she said.
Loper worked hard with Baeck to prepare Temptedtoshine for the big stage at TRFAM. She felt a sense of accomplishment in her horse’s performance at the end of her run and never expected it would end up in a life-changing championship.
“My spins could have been better — my horse is a bit of a looky-loo — so that was a little lackluster, but I was really happy with how we overcame some other things in our circles, in the center and around the ends,” Loper explained. “He’s a big stopper anyway, I just have to set him up right, so we were able to do that. For me, at the end of my run, I knew we accomplished quite a few things.”
Mastering her confidence and perfecting her preparation before arriving in Vegas helped Loper ride into the arena feeling ready and excited to soak up the moment of the special opportunity.
“I thought it was going to be nerve-wracking, but we worked so hard. I had a plan and had to be confident in what I was going to accomplish. I didn’t think about all the other things. I heard a Level 42 song as I came to the center, and then a Don Henley song, and I thought, ‘I love this song!’ I didn’t blank everything out, and I had fun listening to music along the way,” Loper said with a laugh.
Loper thanked those who have helped get her and her gelding to the big stage at TRFAM.
“I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for the grace the Lord has shown me and has kept me safe through this whole journey and has enabled me to even do it,” she humbly said. “Finding the right people in my life that just help me be the best I can be and help my horse be the best he can be, from farriers to vets to assistants. My family and friends — they’ve got my back.”
