RMPRA member Nicole Johnson – John Golom
story by Terry Rhodes
Terri Wood-Gates has been in the Rocky Mountain association since its beginning and likes their rodeos. “It’s just a good bunch of people that run it. We love the Mascaros’. We appreciate everything they do for us so that we have a good association to run in. The rodeos are usually close to home. The rodeos are well run and the grounds are in good shape. I’m also in the WPRA and a lot of local barrel racing events.”
Over the years of going to Rocky Mountain events, Terri’s regular traveling partner has been her mother, Norma Wood. “I always traveled with my mother. She has won the RMPRA year end titles two or three times and she won that the last year she competed. She’s had some back problems and doesn’t compete anymore. She still goes with me when she can.” Terri and her mother work together on training barrel horses and are collaborating on getting futurity colts ready. She likes the Dash Ta Fame line for barrel horses. “Most of our horses are either by Dash Ta Fame or have him in their breeding. They have worked for us and are easy to get along with.”
Terri says that her late father, Glen Wood gets the credit for her horsemanship skills. “Both my mom and dad taught me a lot, but my dad was quite a good horseman and he was my coach. He’d tell me to know where I was going and plan out my run. He went everywhere with us and he enjoyed watching us run.” That training has helped Terri as she mentally puts her run together and visualizes what she wants to do. “I try not to let the nerves get the best of me, but still have enough edge to get the thrill going. There is a lot of luck involved too. Your horse’s foot has to land in the right spot and everything has to go just right to win.”
She got her start with the help of her family. “I was in the WPRA before I was 18, and my sisters and mother were in the WPRA. I had two sisters that barrel raced a lot and I just followed along and went with them.”
Terri lives in West Jordan, Utah where she was born and raised. Terri and her husband, Stewart have five grandchildren between them. “Stewart doesn’t compete but he helps me with the horses; riding and getting them warmed up. It sure helps to have that support and someone constantly there helping and encouraging me to go and do things.” Her daily routine includes riding from four to six horses a day that are in various stages of training. That, plus regular chores, keeps Terri fit and ready to compete. “My parents own quite a bit of farm land here so there is always plenty of work to do. And we’re on 20 acres and that is a lot of ground to try to keep up with.”
She names her parents as being her biggest influences. “My mom has always inspired me. She was an amazing barrel racer and an amazing person. My dad helped me with the horses and he was the backbone of all that. They each had different roles in my life but they were both big influences.”
One of Terri’s pets is her micro miniature pig, “Gizmo”. The eight-pound-porker likes to be held and loves attention from Terri. “He gets cold pretty easy so he doesn’t stay out all day. He has his own coats to keep him warm when he does go out.”
Goals for the future are to continue to develop barrel horses and rodeo. The best leisure time for Terri is spending time with her family, kids, and grand kids.
