Falyn Thomson CFR 2026

Quick Info

Horse: She Mooner Lisa, Chili, Red Roan, (One time Mooner x Mae Wright Checks).
Horse I will possibly be using Spark N Jet, Taz, Bay Roan, (Heza Diamond Spark x Jenny Lea)
Rodeos entered: 22
Rodeo won or placed high at: Won Ponoka Stampede. 4th-5th in Red Deer, 8th Buffalo Lake, 4th hand Hills, 3rd in Grimshaw, 5th in Lethbridge
Total earnings: $25,187.15
CFR qualification #: 1
Saddle, Pad, Bit, Rope: Slone saddle, Diamond wool pad, Kerry Kelley Square Port, Cadoo Lonestar ST

2026 CFR Interviews Presented by Alliance Equine

Tell us about your horse’s back story. 
We ended up with Chili as a 3 year old, she was originally going to be a heel horse for my dad, but she had a lot of run and fire to her so we decided that she was going to be my barrel horse throughout high school and college. She made nationals for me in the barrels in high school twice, as well as placing at many college rodeos in the states. My good breakaway horse got hurt in college, so I had to start Chili in the breakaway, and she took to it like she had been doing it forever. She has been my number 1 A string horse ever since. She is a spitfire with a crazy girl attitude but she does try her heart out every single run no matter mud or shine. She deserves all the credit in the world and I am so grateful for the vets working to save her life right now from a very bad colic. I am upset that she will not get to come to Edmonton as she is the sole reason I am there, however I am just hoping and praying that she will get to come home soon. My backup horse Taz is likely who I will be riding. We raised him at our ranch, and he was the first horse I started solely by myself. He has been used at a few rodeos throughout the year, and has been doing very well for being as green as he is. 

How did you get into horses and breakaway roping?
My dad has been in the rodeo world since before I was born and throughout my childhood dad trained rope and cow horses. So I have been in the game since I was a baby! I think I could throw a rope before I could walk and I have always been lucky enough to ride some of the best horses in the business thanks to my dad.

Tell us about your win at The Ponoka Stampede! Talk about your runs, the feeling after your last run, and knowing you had won! 
It was definitely a big one for sure! I was very lucky to draw some really good calves and have the horse under me that I did. My first run I drew a really hard running calf and Chili is just so fast that she caught up to it a quarter way down the pen, and gave me a perfect shot to get him roped. My goal for the second run was to just be clean and rope him sharp, however if there is a shot I was going to take it, and I got a beautiful shot right out of the box and was able to win the round! The last calf of the long round I actually got the tag numbers a little screwed up as there was orange and green tags, so I had no idea what that calf was going to do, I knew I just had to let him out and Chili was going to track it down right where I needed to be! After roping my last calf the feeling was pretty surreal as I rode all the way down to the catch pen to grab my rope. Seeing them setting the saddle and all waiting for me to get back to the chutes was an incredible feeling. Chili was looking at the crowd with her ears all perked up like she was posing for them which is so her! I just knew I wouldn’t have had the chance to get where I was without everything lining up the way it did!

How does it feel to have qualified to the Canadian Finals Rodeo in Edmonton, and what are you most excited for?  Take us back to the moment you realized you had officially qualified. What happened?
As a rookie qualifying is your biggest goal and to be able to accomplish that my first year of Canadian Professional Rodeo is a huge accomplishment. I am very excited for the week itself, not so much the runs, but everything leading up and my family being able to attend as I have been down at school for the last 4 years they couldn’t always make it down, so this is what I am most excited for! Everyone was telling me after Ponoka that I had the CFR made however with all these talented girls roping up here, I was waiting to the very end to make sure because anything can happen but it was a great feeling seeing the standings after Merritt and I was still in there!

Looking back at your season as a whole, what are you most proud of?
I would have to say with everything going on, my horse. She made so many miles with me in the last couple years and she has just never missed a beat. She gets off the trailer every time just full of energy and ready to go win. This is what gave me the chance to be where I am.

Do you have a pre-run routine that helps you get into the right mindset?
I try not to get into to much of a routine, every rodeo is different and circumstances are always changing so I try to just be in the mindset at every rodeo no matter what has gone on before or during the rodeo!

What do you do to keep a sharp mental edge in the game of rodeo? How do you stay motivated throughout the season?
I just take it one rodeo at a time, this season was a bit of a wild ride for me as I wasn’t even planning on rodeoing much and me and my traveling partner were just going to get her permit filled where we could, and then it was just going to be going to ones here and there, but that definitely changed after Ponoka, as I had to keep going to even make my rodeo count for the CFR! This season was a hard one to keep motivation through as our home place in BC was surrounded by a wildfire most of the summer, and I was always rushing home to move cattle or horses out of the way of the fire. By a miracle it did miss our house, but all of the pastures around were not so lucky. The support of my family is 100% what got me through the summer, and all the help and encouragement I was receiving was a huge part of me getting through the season.

What's one part of your horse's care program you refuse to compromise on?
My horses always get to come home and get turned out after rodeos, they get to go on some green grass and get a huge pasture to just go be a horse and let off some steam!

What goes through your mind in the box before a run?
I try to block everything out before a run and just focus on my horse and the cow in the chute, everything else will fall into place where it is supposed to! I just make sure that my horse is standing where she will have the best chance to get me there, and the calf is looking where it should be!

Did you face any challenges this season? Tell us about them.
As I mentioned before this season has been full of challenges for me and they have definitely showed at some points for sure. Right before Ponoka we were leaving to head to Fort McLeod and my little dog got into an accident and we ended up losing him. I had to go rope that night there, and head to Ponoka to rope in the morning. I was in shambles about my dog and it was pretty hard to focus on much else, but I had my boyfriend with me and he helped me get through that and stayed positive for me the whole time we were in Ponoka! Right after we got home from Ponoka, the Wildfire started just a few miles from our house which then turned into the biggest wildfire in BC this summer. We had to evacuate our whole place including around 50 horses and over 300 cows, no sleep and breathing in more smoke then you’re supposed to was a huge drain on the entire family. It seems the challenges are continuing all the way to the CFR, as Chili went into surgery a few days ago for a very bad colic that we could not get resolved any other way and her outlook is unknown as of right know.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to chase the CFR dream?
My advice would be to never give up no matter the challenges or how hard the day might feel. You just have to get up and keep working every single day to accomplish your goals. Don’t let anyone tell you that you cannot do something and never lose faith in yourself and in God as he will open the door for you when its ready to be open! 

Who has been in your corner the most this season, and what have they done to help you get here?
My boyfriend Houston has been there with me through everything that has happened this summer, and I would be a wreck without his support and positivity everyday. My family has also been huge supporters and continued to urge me to go to rodeos this summer no matter what was happening at home.

A huge thank you goes out to my family and friends for staying by my side through this very tough year so far and they continue to do so. I would not be where I am without them. All the rodeo committees this year also deserve a huge thank you, as rain or shine the rodeos were always put on to the best of their ability, and it really showed!