JohnRyon Foster was the first and second high call in the Open Intermediate Heeling Finals on Buffalou and Wood You Know, executing under pressure to hold his positions and win $20,000 and $15,000, respectively.
He picked up another $8,000 when he finished eighth in the Open Finals on Buffalou, and $3,000 more for finishing in the top 20 on both Jonezin For My Boss and Wood You Know.
“I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t a little nerve wracking,” Foster, 27, said. “I was trying to keep everything together and stay focused since I had multiple in the short round. I knew that if I did my job on my horses that we could get it done. Besides, at this point, everything that went into [training] is harder than doing your job in the finals. I’m just happy to be here.”
In addition to his total of $56,000 won between four horses in the Intermediate and Open Finals, Foster also collected the 2024 ARHFA Year-End Intermediate High Money Earner Superior Trailer.
2024 ARHFA Intermediate Heeling Champion: Buffalou
The 5-year-old son of cutting stallion Cattalou, Buffalou proved he had the grit to hold his No. 1 callback position and score an aggregate of 937.5 on four head to earn $20,000.
“Me and my dad are partners on him, and I showed him part of his 4-year-old year before he got hurt,” Foster said. “I only got him back this year and started showing him at the end of the year. He’s always been really good, but we’ve finally starting to put all the pieces together.”
According to Foster, Buffalou sustained a left hind suspensory injury that needed a lot of time off and rehab. But when he came back—aside from being fresh—Buffalou was ready to work.
“He’s good minded, easy to train, stops good and does a lot of things correctly,” Foster said. “I just have to do my job.”
Foster plans to show Buffalou his 6-year-old year in the futurities before keeping him as a personal jackpot horse.
2024 ARHFA Intermediate Heeling Reserve Champion: Wood You Know
With an aggregate of 933.43 on four head, Wood You Know (Woody Be Tuff x Little Bow Knows) garnered $15,000 in winnings for owners Nancy Galbreath and Dee Merritt.
Now 4 years old, Wood You Know was in cutting training with $2 million rider R.L. Chartier until he was 3 years old.
“He’s special and a really talented, mature 4-year-old,” Foster said. “R.L. did a great job with him. He was really broke, so it was an easy transition to rope horse. Some of the cutters can be a little cowy in the roping but he’s been easy. I think he likes this job a little better.”
2024 ARHFA Intermediate Heeling Results
| Place | Horse | Rider | Owner | Agg. on 4 | Money |
| 1 | Buffalou | JohnRyon Foster | Rob Foster | 937.5 | $20,000 |
| 2. | Wood You Know | JohnRyon Foster | Nancy Galbreath/Dee Merritt | 933.43 | $15,000 |
| 3. | Elon Von | Bubba Garcia | Tripp Townsend | 929.43 | $10,000 |
| 4. | Jonezin For My Boss | JohnRyon Foster | Randy & Teresa Quarne | 929.05 | $8,000 |
| 5. | Playing Tuff | Lane Reeves | Hard Way Land and Livestock LLC | 926.01 | $6,000 |
| 6. | Purrrlow | Blake Walker | Blake Walker | 924.25 | $4,000 |
| 7. | Smoke And Glitter | JohnRyon Foster | Lisa Stephens | 923.35 | $2,000 |
| 8. | Charlize Angel | Jake Bourdet | Wyatt & Lacy Bourdet | 921.96 | $2,000 |
| 9. | Sally Carrera | Jake Bourdet | Wyatt & Lacy Bourdet | 921.13 | $2,000 |
| 10. | The Darkk Side | Miles Baker | The Darkk Side Syndicate | 921.1 | $2,000 |
