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Jillian Connolly
Jillian "Jill" Connolly is a resident of Odessa, WA, where she lives on the family farm. An Alum of Washington State University, she earned her bachelor's degree in 2008. Go Cougs! Jillian grew up raising, training and competing with American Quarter Horses, and she earned her Women's Professional Rodeo Association card in 2012 with her great horse, Sugar. An animal lover, Jillian is usually accompanied by her cat, Rascal and border collie, Stoli on her travels. She also really enjoys driving wheat truck during harvest and taking pictures of everything pretty!
It will just take a few minutes he thought. At that Mike Connolly slipped his 7 month old daughter, Jill, into his Cardhartt coveralls under his Wrangler flannel snap up coat and mounted his trusty chestnut stallion, Musical Tom Cat to go get a cow in. That first ride would be the spark that ignited a passion that would drive Jill to pursue her dreams and create a small business, Ride MC Horses.
Not a “Trainer,” Jill considers herself more of a “Success Coach.” A Success Coach for horses and people, Jill works with her own horses, clients with both 4 and 2 legs, and gives Horsemanship Clinics with an emphasis on Barrel Racing. Jill believes that there is a horse for every person and a person for every horse and began breeding/raising/training horses to fit that mold with her dad, Mike, when she was just 7 years old. At nine, Jill’s first foal project of her own, would be the mare that began her entire breeding program of today, Peppie MC Derby.
Jill started her riding before she could walk and was helping follow cows at 3 years old. She grew up with extensive training in Showmanship, Horsemanship, Hunt Seat Equitation, Reining, Trail and did gaming and gymkhana's for fun at local shows. During her "horse show" years, Jill found great success, earning the Washington State 4-H Championship in Showmanship twice and placing in many other events throughout her 5 years competing on the State Team for Lincoln County. Jill also earned AQHA and ABRA ROM's along with many Youth All Around titles and year end championships at the breed level.
In college, Jill worked at the WSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital and ended up working with Dr. Chad Marsh who's barrel racing wife, Lori Marsh consequently was the driving force behind getting Jill into the Barrel Racing world. Lori, who grew up training under the infamous Martha Josey, was the one who taught Jill how to first pattern a barrel horse, with the one and only "Sugar." Since 2008, Sugar has helped Jill to establish herself in the barrel racing arena, along with several other really nice horses including Stormy, Rocket, and numerous client horses. Jill believes that you are only as good as your last run and those who quit learning will quit winning, so she attends 1-2 clinics a year, and is coached whenever possible by NFR Qualifier, Kathy Grimes and studies the methods of Ryan Lovendahl & KC Groves, trainer's of NFR Qualifier & #1 Futurity in the Nation- Blazin Jetolena "Jet", WPRA World Champion- MP Meter My Hay "Stingray", NFR Qualifier- Shes A Blazin Move "Movin", and many many more including Jill's very own KG N MC JUST ON FIRE "Memphis!"
Some of the barrel racing accomplishments she has been blessed with are:
Jill has coached others who have gone on to achieve many accomplishments including:
Not a “Trainer,” Jill considers herself more of a “Success Coach.” A Success Coach for horses and people, Jill works with her own horses, clients with both 4 and 2 legs, and gives Horsemanship Clinics with an emphasis on Barrel Racing. Jill believes that there is a horse for every person and a person for every horse and began breeding/raising/training horses to fit that mold with her dad, Mike, when she was just 7 years old. At nine, Jill’s first foal project of her own, would be the mare that began her entire breeding program of today, Peppie MC Derby.
Jill started her riding before she could walk and was helping follow cows at 3 years old. She grew up with extensive training in Showmanship, Horsemanship, Hunt Seat Equitation, Reining, Trail and did gaming and gymkhana's for fun at local shows. During her "horse show" years, Jill found great success, earning the Washington State 4-H Championship in Showmanship twice and placing in many other events throughout her 5 years competing on the State Team for Lincoln County. Jill also earned AQHA and ABRA ROM's along with many Youth All Around titles and year end championships at the breed level.
In college, Jill worked at the WSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital and ended up working with Dr. Chad Marsh who's barrel racing wife, Lori Marsh consequently was the driving force behind getting Jill into the Barrel Racing world. Lori, who grew up training under the infamous Martha Josey, was the one who taught Jill how to first pattern a barrel horse, with the one and only "Sugar." Since 2008, Sugar has helped Jill to establish herself in the barrel racing arena, along with several other really nice horses including Stormy, Rocket, and numerous client horses. Jill believes that you are only as good as your last run and those who quit learning will quit winning, so she attends 1-2 clinics a year, and is coached whenever possible by NFR Qualifier, Kathy Grimes and studies the methods of Ryan Lovendahl & KC Groves, trainer's of NFR Qualifier & #1 Futurity in the Nation- Blazin Jetolena "Jet", WPRA World Champion- MP Meter My Hay "Stingray", NFR Qualifier- Shes A Blazin Move "Movin", and many many more including Jill's very own KG N MC JUST ON FIRE "Memphis!"
Some of the barrel racing accomplishments she has been blessed with are:
- Women's Professional Rodeo Association Card Holder since 2012
- Women's Professional Rodeo Association Divisional Circuit Finals Qualifier (Columbia River Circuit)
- Washington Barrel Racing Association Rookie of the Year
- Washington Barrel Racing Association 2x Reserve 500 Novice Champion
- Washington Barrel Racing Association 4x Open Finalist
- Washington Barrel Racing Association 2x Novice Finalist
- Washington Barrel Racing Association Outstanding Service Award
- National Barrel Horse Association World Qualifier
- National Barrel Horse Association Washington State Open Reserve Champion
- National Barrel Horse Association Washington State Round Winner
- Inland Empire Barrel Racing Association Horse With The Most Heart Award
- Inland Empire Barrel Racing Association 2x Open Champion
- Inland Empire Barrel Racing Association 2x 500 Novice Champion
- BRN4D Finals World Championship Round 2x Qualifier
- 1D Average Champion & Saddle Winner, Not Dun Races (Idaho)
- Fastest time clocked on a Standard Pattern: 17.048
- Pro West Rodeo Association Wins: Cashmere & Newport
- Southwest Best Open Year End Award Winner (Texas)
- 5000 HOUR AQHA Award
- Career Earnings (2008-2017): $65K
Jill has coached others who have gone on to achieve many accomplishments including:
- Washington Barrel Racing Youth Finalists
- Inland Empire Barrel Racing Youth Champion
- 1D, Jackpot, 4-H, & Rodeo Wins
- BRN4D Idaho State Champion
- Washington Barrel Racing Novice Finalists
- Women's Professional Barrel Racing Association permit holders
- Silver State Contestants
- Washington State 4-H Fair Contestants
- North West National Barrel Racing Association average winners
- High School Rodeo & JR Rodeo Contestants
