Meet Jessi Ann Christian. Jessi shares her compelling story of courage, resilience, and a burning passion for horses. She overcame a severe brain injury, and six months later, she went back to running barrels. As she shares her journey, you'll gain insights into the physical and mental endurance required in the sport, the role of core strength and balance, and her pursuit for a rodeo permit and pro card. A conversation with Jesse isn't just about barrel racing; it's about passion, resilience, and the drive to achieve dreams. Prepare to be inspired.
Instagram:
@jessiannchristian
https://instagram.com/jessiannchristian?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==
Shoutout to :
Jessi Ann Christian
The Christian Family
Elaine Kimball
https://instagram.com/elainesimages_19?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==
Northwest Pro Rodeo Association
Meet Jessi Ann Christian. Jessi shares her compelling story of courage, resilience, and a burning passion for horses. She overcame a severe brain injury, and six months later, she went back to running barrels. As she shares her journey, you'll gain insights into the physical and mental endurance required in the sport, the role of core strength and balance, and her pursuit for a rodeo permit and pro card. A conversation with Jesse isn't just about barrel racing; it's about passion, resilience, and the drive to achieve dreams. Prepare to be inspired.
Instagram:
@jessiannchristian
https://instagram.com/jessiannchristian?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==
Shoutout to :
Jessi Ann Christian
The Christian Family
Elaine Kimball
https://instagram.com/elainesimages_19?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==
Northwest Pro Rodeo Association
Jesse, how are you?
Speaker 2:Good, how are you?
Speaker 1:I'm doing all right. I appreciate your time and you being here.
Speaker 2:Thank you.
Speaker 1:So I'm going to give a shout out to Elaine, because she's the one that made this happen. I mean, she's friends with you, she's friends with me, but I think we started following each other when I had her on. After I had her on, and she mentioned you. You had a story, right, we'll get there later. But she said that you got to get her on because she has a story and she's quite the person, the quite the gal, or something like that. I don't know the verbatim, but you know she always has positive words, she's just like so lively with her words and everything else.
Speaker 1:So shout out to Elaine Kimball from Elaine Images Not only do you have a story, but you're quite the social media influencer. Yes, whether you want to say it or not, I believe you are, and also you're a barrel racer.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:Okay, so barrel racing. Where did you start that?
Speaker 2:I've been barrel racing since I was 15.
Speaker 1:I'm 28 now.
Speaker 2:So yeah.
Speaker 1:And were you born in it?
Speaker 2:No, I wasn't. I grew up riding but my parents didn't rodeo or anything like that, so I'm kind of the first generation barrel racer of the family. Okay.
Speaker 1:What got you into barrel racing?
Speaker 2:I just saw it when I was a kid and I thought it was super cool and I was like I want to do that, I want to go fast, I want to ride horses, I want to be that cool girl, okay.
Speaker 1:So barrel racing, it's not just. You see it on the street, you know, like you do field hockey or soccer, but somebody had to introduce it to you.
Speaker 2:I think I just saw it on TV and then I started going to like the local jackpots and stuff and watching before I started entering and I was like I don't want to watch, I want to be in the arena.
Speaker 1:Okay. So, who took you to your first event.
Speaker 2:I think I was with my dad and one of his brothers. I think we were going to like the fair or something and I saw it and I was like dad, that is, that's it. That's what I want to do.
Speaker 1:Love it first sight. Yeah, Pretty much, Even with the cut, the turns. I mean drifting on dirt, but you're not in the car.
Speaker 2:Yeah, pretty much.
Speaker 1:I don't know how they do it. Sometimes I feel like they're so what a like leaning that man their legs. I don't know how they do what they do, but yeah, it takes a lot. And a lot of people think it's an easy sport. Is it an easy sport?
Speaker 2:I don't think so.
Speaker 1:It's quite the art, right? Yes, I mean, it's all core, I mean it's not just hey, let's, let's hop on a horse and let's go do this Correct.
Speaker 2:Right Core and balance and all that?
Speaker 1:What is one of the things that you learned? That is not that easy.
Speaker 2:With a little bit.
Speaker 1:Yeah, what took you a bit to like get down?
Speaker 2:I always I always struggled with, like my body position going around the barrel, because that's kind of hard when you're coming in really fast, you know. So you have to just sit and then, when you're coming out, like get back up. So that took me a little bit, but after I got that down it was good to go.
Speaker 1:So maneuvering on the saddle.
Speaker 2:Yeah, just like body position, or when you come into the barrel, when you're going around the barrel and then when you're coming out. It's a lot, there's a lot that goes into it.
Speaker 1:A lot of little things, yes, and you've been in the game for how long?
Speaker 2:Since I was 15.
Speaker 1:15?.
Speaker 2:Okay, yeah.
Speaker 1:All right, and you're affiliated in what?
Speaker 2:Oh, I'm in NBHA, the National Barrel Horse Association, and then I'm going for my rodeo permit this year, yes. So hopefully I'll start entering rodeos on my permit and maybe fill my permit and get my pro card. That's the goal.
Speaker 1:Maybe. I'm pretty sure you'll get it yeah.
Speaker 2:That's right. I got to put that in the universe. I will get it.
Speaker 1:Right, If Elaine was on, she would say oh for sure, you know how she is, yeah, oh yes, yes. So, with the social media and with the barrel racing, there's that story. There's a story behind the lady that I'm talking to now and you know what I would say, hearing a little bit of it rodeo, resurgence, that's. I think that's what I'm going to stick with, yes, and then quite the resilience. You know story as well.
Speaker 2:So, if you don't mind, yeah, so I'll just tell you about the accident and we can just kind of go from there.
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:What was that? That was 21, barely 21. Yep, so okay. So when I was 21, I was at a barrel race with my horse. We were just walking through the parking lot going up to the arena and she spooked. And when she spooked she spun around. And when she did that she lost her back end and fell, and so I fell with her. I landed on my head and she kind of was flailing around and kind of on top of me, and then my friend saw it all happened and I was on the ground and I couldn't get up, and she ran over and I told her I don't remember this part, but I guess I told her that I couldn't breathe and then I started seizing and then, like everybody came out and all that, and the ambulance came and they told them that I had cracked my skull and so then I'm still having a seizure and out of it Don't remember all that they rushed me to the hospital and they said I had a brain bleed the size of an orange and it needed to be removed right away.
Speaker 2:So they cut me open. I have like a horseshoe shaped scar on my head and they removed that brain bleed and then they had to put my skull back so it could heal, and so I have six clips that held my skull together. So they're still in there, and so that was like the accident, like coming out of that and you know, like after having brain surgery and a seizure and all of that. That's kind of like the start of my story, I guess. So that's the big accident that happened, so almost died, all that.
Speaker 1:Okay, so you were on the horse when this happened. Okay, so with that did that I mean it obviously did a detachment, it did tear you to go on and continue on a horse. Did that scare you a bit, though? To go back from your accident to the next time, that one time you got back on the horse, how long did it take you to go back on the horse?
Speaker 2:So I got hurt in January and I got back on that horse that I got hurt on in June I believe I didn't run her yet because she was kind of a project rescue horse. She was a good horse, but I borrowed my friend's horse, who was very solid, for a while so I could get my feel again, because I had to relearn like I couldn't even walk like to the bathroom by myself, I couldn't do anything by myself, and then I had to go through the whole testing to make sure I wouldn't have any more seizures and stuff like that. I couldn't drive for like three months, yeah, and that was kind of a relief I think. Oh Well, what have we for a while?
Speaker 1:Okay, and it took January till June, I mean five months, six months.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and then I entered a barrel race on my friend's horse in July, I believe.
Speaker 1:You weren't psyched out, you were just in it to win it. I mean, it would take some time. How did you get back on the horse? How did you get back to on the saddle and say you know what I got this.
Speaker 2:I have a lot of faith and I believe, you know, god came to me when I had that whole experience and almost died, and so I had a lot of faith and I just knew in my heart that I had to keep going and just get back on and just, I don't know, I just trusted God in the universe and the horse I was on and I just sent it. It wasn't beautiful, you know, like it wasn't the best, but I just, I just did it. I don't know.
Speaker 1:I mean, you didn't grow up in the household. You know a Western household, you know you pretty much said, hey, I'm going to do this my own. I mean, did you have people helping you behind you, on the side of you? I mean just helping you in this journey back on the horse.
Speaker 2:Yes, I have a lot of good friends. I owe them a lot of credit. So my friend's horse that I ran she's the one that I have been taking lessons with since I was 15, she really got me to the level of barrel racing that I needed to be at. She helped me with the horse I got hurt on and I have a really good group of friends in the barrel racing community that I'm very grateful for, and they put me on my friend's horse and they're like okay, just practice this. You know like, practice your circles, just get your balance and your feel back and, yeah, very blessed.
Speaker 1:A lot of people would ask or think did you go to counseling? I know being on a horse is counseling itself, I mean it's, but with the horse being part of the traumatic experience and everything else, were you able to use the horse as, I guess, a way to cope with the experience, or did you have to go and seek help to get, like, maintain your bearing on just the trip of itself on the horse, to get back on the horse, you know, or what?
Speaker 2:I didn't really go talk to anyone else, you know like go to other people for it. I feel like the whole experience brought me and that horse I got hurt on closer, if that makes sense. Like I said, she was kind of a rescue and had some issues, so I spent a lot of time with her just on the ground and I don't know. I just feel like it brought our bond closer because she, like you could tell she cared and, like, after I got hurt, like you could tell she was concerned. She's like what the heck happened, you know, and then I didn't see her for I don't know two weeks or so. So and then I think, being on my friend's horse, I just retaught myself that this isn't going to hurt me and the whole process of I can do this and it's going to be okay.
Speaker 1:Yeah, okay, yeah, it's amazing what the horse can bring to a person and what a person can bring to a horse. But you know, you know, there's a special sense that dogs have in a person, like they can know you're a sleaze bag, right? Not, you know, I'm just saying they know a sleaze bag from miles away, a horse is horses are.
Speaker 1:they can see four or five miles away and they want nothing to do with you. It's just amazing. So for you to say that you just you're on the ground and just working on the horse and the horse allowed you to do that and you guys, you know, had this unspoken bond and to get it stronger. It's just amazing what animals can do and bring in someone's life. So that's awesome. That's awesome, man, because if that was me, I would not want to be back on the horse.
Speaker 2:I get it, I get it.
Speaker 1:I think a lot of people that will be listening like, no, I'm good, I'm good, I'm good, so. So you got back on and you went straight on barrel racing and haven't looked back since.
Speaker 2:Right.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and from surgery, or you know, from from the injury, till now, you just been barrel racing, barrel racing, amateur right.
Speaker 2:Yeah, just trying to level up. So I ran her for another year and a half and then I ended up having to put her down. But I didn't have a horse for about six months and then I got the one I have now. So I've just been working with him on some things and trying to be able to go consistently. I didn't have the right vehicle to get me to all the things I wanted to do last year, but I do now, so yeah, that truck is mighty fine.
Speaker 1:I'm just going to say that truck is gnarly Thank you so much.
Speaker 2:I appreciate that.
Speaker 1:It was nice.
Speaker 2:Oh, thank you. It was a long time coming. I'm just so incredibly, incredibly grateful for it, so I'm looking forward to being able to actually go consistently this year. So yeah, ok.
Speaker 1:And in the midst of what you gone through, what's the influencer life like? And don't say you're not. You kind of are. If you go on your bio, you're, you're quite the influencer. So how did that come around?
Speaker 2:Well, thank you, I've just always loved like being on social media and I used to be on YouTube all the time and I'm going to start doing that again, but I don't know, I just I've always wanted to do it and I didn't have the confidence to do it until recently well, not recently, but I guess like this past year and yeah, I've just. I love connecting with people and brands and companies and just sharing my, my life. You know just me, my horse and my dog and yeah, I just I don't know, it's a lot of fun.
Speaker 1:Well, they seem to trust you and you trust them and it's working. It's working. I mean, not a lot of people have that influencer gig. You know, it seems like if you go on social media a lot, but it's, it's, it's not as real. So, yeah, all right. Last thing, and you know we can make it as long as you want. But last thing, let's talk about podcasts. You're in the influence thing, you're in the barrel racing. You have the story to back you up. You got the people to back you up. What's stopping you, or what's what is Not not so much stopping you, but why are you hesitant on starting your podcast?
Speaker 2:I sometimes I just feel like I need to practice more like speaking.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:I don't know. I get nervous and worried about what you're on YouTube too. I know, but I know it's silly, I just need to do it, just send it right so just send it yeah. I'm going to do it. I'm just going to start it.
Speaker 1:You started. You started, let me know and you know I'm all about knowing the person behind you know the sports, why they do what they do. I heard a little bit of what you're going to end up doing. That's awesome, fully. You know, support you and Elaine, of course, but mostly you. Elaine gets more credit than she deserved. No, get it. She's going to be like, oh my God, but Right, but I look forward to seeing and hearing the podcast.
Speaker 1:And and no, once you get past 10, just know, a lot, of, a lot of podcasts don't go past five and seven and you think you're not a good speaker. Turns out you're a great speaker and you know we criticize ourselves. We're worse enemy, right, right, and I am, and I thought I didn't have a lick of podcast in me, even you know episode one, episode 10. Now I'm like two, 12. Two, 12, two hundred twelve episodes and I still think some episodes aren't that great.
Speaker 1:But then there's some people come out of the woodwork seriously like, oh, my God, I loved it. Thank you so much. I love when you did this, I love when you did that, you know, and it starts gaining momentum. You know the confidence and then you're like, yeah, I got this, I got that, but you're still going to question yourself, you know, like, was it? Was it worthy enough, was it good enough? So just know, that's an instinct. I've fair enough, you know, but I feel you and Elaine, you guys, you guys have the personality. It's a put it, pull it off to pull it off. So quit hesitating and just do it.
Speaker 2:Well, thank you so much, I really appreciate it.
Speaker 1:Yes, yes, and hopefully I'm not talking too much, but it's just like you know, when it comes to podcasting, I was telling Elaine she, because she's like I'm thinking about podcasting, but she didn't know, I didn't know anything that was going to be with you, right, I was like I'll give you the equipment, I'll give you the equipment for free. She's like, oh my God, for real. So I'm always, you know, trying to pay it forward to other people, other other podcasts who I know, and all for it. So it's fun, it's fun.
Speaker 2:Yes, yes, I'm really excited for it. I think it's going to take off. Honestly.
Speaker 1:Yeah, Now my last question with that will it be on YouTube? Would it be a visual or just audio?
Speaker 2:I kind of want to do both.
Speaker 1:OK, it's a lot of work. Ok, good to know.
Speaker 2:Good to know.
Speaker 1:And you know, another thing is with that a lot, with that work. It also I mean, you got to know who your listeners are. At first people are like, hey, you're going to do visual. I'm like I don't know. Just I don't want to be that average podcast. And then started realizing, oh, people who listen are either running and working, working out at the gym, and I'm like you know, audio is good enough. I'm good with audio. So every now and then I think about you know, when I have like a big, big, big, big guest on, whenever that is don't know when I might do visual, but I mean, who comes out in southeastern Washington? Not too many people you know. So you never know. Yeah, just just know your crowd and they will love you no matter what. And just remember, you're your own worst enemy and you're fine. You're fine.
Speaker 2:Thank you, Jesse.
Speaker 1:Jesse, I know, I know it's like 27,. 30 minutes in, did we do or get to everything we wanted to get at?
Speaker 2:I think so, just the barrel rings thing you think so, all that I think so.
Speaker 1:Okay, what, what? I just have to ask you You're in your truck. Not a lot of people are in their cars. It's always the cowgirls. They're always in their car. They're vehicle. It's just, it's so funny, it's so funny. So the truck, it's gnarly. What year, what color go and what make.
Speaker 2:It's a 2018 Dodge diesel. It's like a gray black, sparkly color. It's beautiful, she's great. I love her. I had a F-150.
Speaker 1:It's a nice truck.
Speaker 2:Thank you. I had a F-150 before this, so, as you know, that can't pull what I need it to, so very grateful for this. This is where I get all my good ideas. I had to come out to the truck.
Speaker 1:I appreciate it and a 150 can, but that's too much for a trailer. I think a 250 would have done it. I have a 150 Lariat. I'll never go back. I'll stick with the Lariat until the day I die. Those are nice. I might have to go up to a 250 soon, but other than that, I mean Fords aren't bad Fords aren't bad.
Speaker 2:No, they're not. I love that thing, but I just. This was my dream truck, so I finally got it.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I got you, I got you, I got you. So what's next? What's next for you? And are you on the off season? Are you going to hit some jackpots down south? What?
Speaker 2:So I I'm looking into some jackpots. I need to get my horse a different saddle, because the one I have doesn't really fit him right now. So working on that, and then I'm going to hit some jackpots and then come spring I want to start entering all my permit, my rodeo permit. So doing that. And then I'm also in the process of getting my LLC. I'm going to buy like a mobile coffee trailer Me and my mom are Nice Because I'm also a barista and so we're going to start doing that for ourselves. I'm trying to deal with that's where the coffee comes from.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:That's where the coffee comes from. Okay, Are you? What are you going to do special with the coffee? Are you going to get it from someone? You're going to roast it yourself? What?
Speaker 2:I think I want to get it from someone, um, but I want to try and find. I'm a little hippie, so I want to try and find like a good organic coffee. I don't know, we're still in the process of all that, but that's coming up, a lot of things are coming up and I'm really excited.
Speaker 1:Right, sounds exciting. Anything else, up your sleeve. What the heck I mean? You're a jack of all trades.
Speaker 2:Oh, with the, With the brain surgery thing, my friend started a hashtag Jesse strong. I'm a big fan of the Thing that helped to like, share my story and all that, so I'm going to bring that back and start making merch. And then, um, nice, I want to just make, like, some cool design things and start making my own stuff. So I don't know, I've got a lot of things planned and coming up.
Speaker 1:So I'm just going for it. A lot of time for that. Yeah, just go for it.
Speaker 2:But, with that said, do that podcast. Yes, the podcast is on my list.
Speaker 1:It's like number one on my list. Yeah, right, but but whatever, and if you're interested in it. I'm not sure you're interested in it, but you know.
Speaker 1:I'll probably know anyways because Elaine will tell me, but you got to tell me first Don't, all right, okay. Okay, I'll tell you yes, all right. Well, I appreciate your time. I appreciate you. You spend the afternoon with me, especially at Thanksgiving Weekends. I, I, I hope and pray that you have a lovely holiday as well. Merry Christmas and happy new year and I'm pretty sure, with all what you have in mind and store, you're gonna be a busy body. Just know, people look up to you, people see you, people love you. So, jesse, until next time.
Speaker 2:Yes, quiet, I'm hot.