story by Lily Weinacht
Beating the clock and beating cancer is foremost in Lisa Lutjen’s mind every day. The 51-year-old barrel racer and GCPRA member from Florence, Arizona, was diagnosed with breast cancer in April of this year, and the road has not been easy. She had to take a break from the rodeo trail much of the summer after undergoing surgery and chemotherapy, but the support of her rodeo family and the solace of her horses has carried her through. “There’s a light at the end of the tunnel—I have 20 more radiation treatments. It’s a pretty aggressive cancer, and not real common, but so far so good. I’m just getting back onto my horses and doing what I love, and I know that will be the best therapy for me, physically and emotionally. I want to use this down the road to inspire other women to come back from cancer.”
Lisa, who qualified for The American Semi-Finals in 2016, grew up in Arizona junior and high school rodeoing, and she also competed in the predecessor of the GCPRA. She college rodeoed for Scottsdale Community College for two years, primarily in the breakaway roping, but eventually switched to barrel racing after her daughter—and the roping cattle—moved out. “I took a bit of a hiatus from rodeo raising my daughter, Kelsey, and supporting her through her high school rodeo career. When she left home, I got back into it, and it was pretty easy because I’d helped her ride and exercise horses. She trains futurity horses, and last year I qualified for The American Semi-Finals on a mare she trained for Nichols Quarter Horses, J-Lo.”
J-Lo (KN Fabs Gift of Fame) is going to the WNFR under Ivy Conrado this December, and Lisa now rides Complete Bully, owned by Tom Stockton. She competed on Bully at The American Semi-Finals. “I’ve had Bully for three years now, and he’s been my rock since this whole cancer thing,” says Lisa. “He’s such a sweetheart and easy to ride, and I can just look into his big black eyes and know he cares. He’s an own son of Bully Bullion and his mom is Complete Return. I also have some young horses that are coming along, and it’s satisfying taking these horses and getting them to do these things for you. I just enjoy the thrill of competition more than anything, and the people.
“The horse world has been so incredibly supportive. Kenny Nichols (owner of Nichols Quarter Horses) is a lifelong friend, and he auctioned off an embryo to help with the medical expenses. The CCOBRA barrel racing association did a benefit down in Marana, and the BR Diamond Spur barrel racing association did a benefit also. I travel a lot by myself,” she adds, “but if there’s an opportunity to go with my brother and his sons, I like to do that. I enjoy spending time with family, and they’re real good about supporting me at rodeos. At Queen Creek (Lisa’s first rodeo back since treatment), they were right there to help me.” Lisa’s husband, Bob Lutjen, works for a gas company and is often on the road, but he’s equally supportive of Lisa and joins her at rodeos when he’s home. “I also want to thank my dad, Jerry,” says Lisa. “He’s helped keep my horses going all summer and done anything and everything I’ve needed.”
Lisa also works in accounting for a nursing registry, then hustles home to her horses. She has a young mare she plans to run in futurities next year. “Bully had surgery last year and I’ve been out this year, so I’d like to compete in the GCPRA for one full year and not have anything come up. I just want to be with my horses, and beat cancer!”
