Caitlyn Dahm CFR 2025
Caitlin Dahm has qualified for her fourth trip to the Canadian Finals Rodeo, after competing at 44 rodeos, placing at 21, and winning four. She and the Breakaway Horse of the Year, Gum E Bear (CD Olena x Smartest Little Cat), aka Gummy, took home $26,617.83 in regular season earnings, and are headed to Edmonton in third position.
Breakaway interviews are presented by, Crown + Crow Coffee. Good things come to crows who wait. But first, coffee.
Tell us about Gum E Bear, and what makes this horse so special?
This horse is just so honest. He tries hard and runs hard. He is also smart about the ground- if it has some slide he will have a big pretty stop but if it’s hard or sticky mud he safeties up. (Not where it will cost you money, it just won’t be a big WOW factor- but it will always shut the clock off) He scores in your hand and runs to position. I can’t honestly think of a run where he has costed me pulling a check. If I don’t place at a rodeo it is 110% my fault.
He also has a huge personality. He gets bored easily, will eat anything, hates ponies, and genuinely loves going down the road
What does it mean to you to have Gummy voted as Horse With The Most Heart by your peers?
Goodness, when there are so many nice horses going to the rodeos it almost doesn’t seem real! It makes my heart so happy that others thought Gummy was special too. Being a horse trainer this feels like winning the world to me. Dawson and I put a lot of hours into our horses, and work hard to bring the best out of every one we ride. So all I can say is, thank you ladies, it means the literal world to me!
What was your most memorable run this season, and what made it memorable?
I would have to say Sundre. My horse worked great and I drew an awesome calf to be 1.9 after a long dry spell. I had turned out of Stavely the weekend prior and was debating staying home for the summer to ride colts.
Ponoka was also an absolute blast. That’s just a cowboy rodeo. You get to score your calf out and run one down in front of a big crowd. That was my favorite set up of the year. Thank you for allowing us to rope on the big stage Ponoka!
What was different about your rodeo season this year compared to last year?
Last year I started off strong, I had a great circuit finals and won at the spring rodeos. This year coming into ‘25 I didn’t make the circuit finals from ‘24 so I didn’t have that money coming into the year. I actually didn’t even pull a check until Sundre this year! Things turned around fast and I was able to continue the momentum into the rest of the year.
What challenges did you face this year, and how did you overcome them? How do you keep confidence when things aren't going as planned, or you are in a slump?
I really struggled when I wasn’t winning at the beginning of the year. I kept changing horses and they have two totally different styles. Both gave me chances to win but just polar opposite.
My dad came up during branding season and helped us on the ranch and then came to four rodeos with me. I was so excited to have him in the rig for the weekend and be there to push my calves and I honest to goodness missed four in a row. I was at such a low in my roping I cut off my head rope just to pray it would stay open enough to go around the neck. It sucked dropping him off at the airport and it looked like I had forgotten how to rope!
I was at such a low, we aced my Holsteins and parked the liner in the arena to make a lane.. and I still missed a loping Holstein in a 40 ft lane..
I tried changing horses, ropes, saddles, shirts, socks, how I practiced, heck the only thing I didn’t change was my husband!
When I started Ironing my shirts for the rodeo and reading my bible more is when things really started to turn around. (We live far enough from the dry cleaners it’s not easy to have starched shirts every weekend) I was showing up to the rodeos with a wrinkly shirt, dirty rig, and an ungrateful attitude. The saying is true, how you do one thing is how you do everything. Iron your shirt, clean your truck up, rope your dummy, and wake up a little earlier and things turn around.
Tell readers something good that happened to you this season, other than winning or placing at a rodeo?
I am beyond excited! Dawson and I are building an Indoor arena and a house!
What would be your rough estimate of vet work annually to get to the Canadian Finals Rodeo? Do you know a rough estimate of what it cost (without factoring in truck/trailer cost) to make a run at the CFR?
I am so fortunate! Gummy is extremely sound. I have only injected him one time. In years past I have rodeoed on horses that needed multiple joints injected two times a year and that would cost anywhere between $2,000-$4,000 depending on where I was getting my vet work done.
I would say entry fees alone I probably spent $7,000 (I haven’t done the math, so feel free to correct me!) plus your fuel, def, and food on the road. Financially, this sport really doesn’t make sense, but gosh it’s fun!
What was the best restaurant you stopped at all year? Any hidden gems to mention?
You want me to narrow it down to one?!
I genuinely try to stop at a bakery or coffee shop in every little town we go to. I adored downtown Medicine Hat. They literally have like five coffee shop/bakeries. Also- Okotoks has a kick butt Farmers Market with all the goodies so enter for Saturday there!
What is your least favourite part of being on the rodeo road, and what is your favourite?
Least - I miss all of our babies at home (broodmares, foals, up and coming prospects) I love being gone rodeoing but I feel like I fall behind on my young horses.
Fave- I love seeing my friends, competing, trying new bakeries, and seeing new things.
What therapies are a must have for your horse?
I believe every Therapy is effective and would be beneficial for your horse. I am a little old school in the fact that I just make sure my horse has a big pen to lay down when traveling, his legs are wrapped, and when we are home he is kicked out in a huge pasture and I try to keep him legged up good during rodeo season. One thing I LOVE about Canada is with our season you can actually give your rodeo horse a break. I think this is crucial mentally and physically for our horses. Sometimes if they had a little something bothering them you can kick them out and let them heal without knowing they even needed it.
How do you manage to balance life at home/work with life on the road?
We are extremely lucky. Joe and Sandra Dahm (Dawson’s parents) are so good to us. They feed, water, look after our cows, horses, you name it they take care of business while we are both gone. We try to work hard while we’re home to try to offset when we’re away from the ranch. At the end of the day none of this would be possible without Joe and Sandra. Thank you both!
Who did you travel with this year? Do you have a funny or heart warming story you could share about your time together, or anything you would like to share about them?
This year I traveled a lot with Ashley Watt. I didn’t really know her on a personal level until she came to live with us in Oklahoma for a couple of months to escape the Canadian winter. We had a blast going to a lot of jackpots, training young horses, and eating Mexican. It was easy to transition traveling together. It’s nice. Her truck is always clean, her rig is put together, there is food in her fridge, and I can bring my dog. Ashley is also always game for a bakery or coffee stop.
She offered me any rope in her bag when I couldn’t hit a fence post and never sugar coats anything. We had a lot of fun together. I am proud of her and the season she had on her young horse. I am excited to see what they accomplish this next year.
How are you preparing for the Canadian Finals Rodeo practise wise? What is your routine like to be ready for Edmonton?
I have been riding a lot of our young horses just because I have missed them. On gummy I will try to rope some sharper calves, rope my dummy, and have him firing out of the corner.
If your horse was an actor/actress in a movie, who would play them, or if your horse was a character from a movie, which character do they remind you of and why?
Hahaha, he would be Adam Sandler
If you could swing a leg over another qualifier's horse, who would it be and why?
The Whiteside’s ride Teacher! He has taken two girls to the CFR every year. Kylie can be 1.9 and then Bradi can hop on and Teacher never takes her throw away. If she needs to be 2.6 he will run to the hole and kill the rope. He is a horse of a lifetime!
Are you a type A or type B breakaway roper?
Type B all the way. If you see my rope bag I have 10 different weights, brands, and lengths. I don’t really care how early or late we get somewhere and I just go with the flow. The only thing I care about is my horse and what dummy I rope.
How many breakaway horses do you currently have in your string?
I have one finished horse and we have a few prospects. I usually have to sell a few nice ones a year since I don’t have a “9-5” and training and selling horses is my “Job”
What is your advice for someone who wants to take a shot at making the Canadian Finals Rodeo?
Make sure you’re mounted. Whether you buy a nice horse or take a year to season one you’ve made. You need horse power to compete at a high level. Work hard in the winter to have some money saved up for the summer run. If you want to make the finals bad enough you will make it happen. Work hard, practice hard, and be grateful for what the Lord has blessed you with!
Thank you to my Husband for shoeing my horses, opening the chute, maintaining the rig, cooking great meals, driving late nights and being my biggest supporter!
Thank you to Joe and Sandra Dahm for providing our horses with the best quality Alfalfa, big pastures, arena to rope in, looking after our animals, and so much more! Dawson and I would not be able to chase this crazy dream without you guys!
Thanks to my parents Heather and Chad for coming to Canada to support us, opening the chute, answering the phone on late night drives, helping us get down the road, and so much more.
Thank you to my Sister in Law Dr. Brandy Rimmer for always being a phone call away for any of our equine needs/vet questions
Thank you Cassie for taking the time to Interview us! We appreciate you!
Thanks to my sponsors Tim Cooper Custom Hats and J9 Equine! Proud to represent great brands!
