Born To Run Barrels - The Story of Biz & Raelene

Biz and Raelene running in the short go at the Calgary Stampede in 2000.

"If there was ever a match made in Heaven, it was Biz & Raelene." - Lois Hill

"That mare changed my life." - Raelene Konzak 

"The only bad part about being entered when Raelene and Biz were up, was knowing you were running for second place. They were tough everywhere!" - Holly Costello

 

Some champions are born destined for greatness. Some horses, like Bar Bee Buz (a.k.a. "BIZ") leave a lasting legacy that will not soon be forgotten. During a barrel racing career that spanned from 1992 - 2005, Biz would amass more than $200,000 in barrel racing earnings along with $20,000 in team penning winnings. Biz and Raelene dominated the Montana circuit with ten consecutive qualifications to the circuit finals and twice to the DNCFR. Biz and Raelene were a team with an unbreakable bond. They were THE force to be reckoned with. They were each others best friends in a time in both of their lives where all they truly needed, was each other. Their journey together is a tale worth telling  and here's how it all started: 

 

Biz in the beginning:

 

Longtime AQHA horse breeders, John and Lois Hill from Raynesford, MT have owned the great mare the majority of her life. In 1991, John and Lois attended a horse sale, in search of a mare by the Three Bars son, Bar Jay Bee. They had experienced a great deal of success with a mare by this stud, named Acute that went on to prove herself in the rodeo arena. Biz was the first horse in the sale and Lois was elated when she purchased the mare for less than half of what she was expected to bring. The odds were in Hills' favor as the day before the sale, a spring storm swept through dumping over a foot of wet snow on the ground, making the sale attendance less than normal. "I guess thirteen was our lucky number," said Lois. "Biz was born on April 13, 1987 and we bought her on April 13, 1991."

Lisa Scheffer running Bizz in 1995.

 

Biz was first sent to Lisa Scheffer to start on barrels. Lisa started Biz as a four year old and by the next year she was winning at the 5 year old futurities. Lois estimated that Lisa and Biz won over $60,000 in cash and awards at the futurities alone. Lisa went on to run Biz her derby year, as well. Unfortunately, when Biz became plagued with an illness that took several months to recover from, and Lois decided to bring her home to the ranch for some time off.

 

Raelene

Before I go into how Biz and Raelene got together I would like to tell you a little bit about the lady that I admire. I had always heard about what a good hand Raelene was from a friend of mine. When I started dating my future husband, he introduced me to his cousin, Raelene, and now I claim Raelene and her wonderful sisters as my own family! Since meeting Raelene six years ago, I have been able to spend time with her, soaking up all of her wisdom and knowledge. All the tales I heard about Raelene were in fact, TRUE! She is a hand with a horse. She does know a lot about rodeo and rodeoing the right way. She is a humble woman that deserves every bit of recognition she receives.

 

Raelene & Biz:

 

Biz was 8 years old and had been turned out in the pasture when recovering from an illness when Lois contacted Raelene Konzak to ride Biz. And the rest they say, is history. "Raelene and Biz were so connected it was a joy to watch," Lois said. Raelene and Biz developed a special bond while they dominated the Montana pro rodeo circuit in their 11 years together. "When they were at rodeos, no one other than Raelene could talk to Biz or she would lay her ears back." Lois explained. "When Raelene would leave the trailer, Biz would watch her so closely and knew the instant that she was back, even if she could only hear her voice." Biz and Raelene would go on to qualify for the Montana Circuit Finals ten times and be named the Montana WPRA Horse of the Year three times. They won PRCA rodeos at Plains, Livingson, Havre, Wolf Point, The NILE, Butte, Glendive, Augusta, Chinook and Sidney to name a few. Raelene and Biz qualified for the short go three times at the world famous Calgary Stampede, as well as qualifying for short go's at major rodeos such as Ponoka, Cody, and  Greeley. In 2001, Raelene and Biz were the 3rd highest money winners over the 4th of July. Raelene and sister, Darcy hauled together frequently when they were on the rodeo trail. Darcy had a great mare named "Rhula" that was equally as tough as Biz.  Raelene recalled one year while running at the Great Falls, MT pro rodeo when Biz and Rhula ran back to back and ran identical times. "Both of those mares that we ran were very high maintenance," Darcy recalled. "We had to travel with the lights on in the trailer and the two dividers open for both of them, because Biz didn't like being confined."

 

The success that Raelene had with Biz did not come easily. "Biz was a handful," Raelene laughed. "She was claustrophobic, so it was difficult to haul her in the trailer. After she destroyed my trailer the first couple times I hauled her, I decided to turn her loose in the trailer and she liked that much better!" Besides being claustrophobic, Biz had a deep hatred for men, especially Raelene's brother in law, multiple time NFR saddle bronc riding qualifier, Ryan Mapston. "She absolutely hated Ryan," Raelene chuckled. "He always tried to pet her and talk to her and she would pin her ears back and her whole body would shake."

 

Raelene and Biz likely had so much success together because they understood each other and Raelene could look past her faults. When Lois contacted Raelene about riding Biz, Raelene was not rodeoing full time, instead she was training horses, working several jobs and raising her daughter, Jimi Ray. When Raelene and I were recently talking about Biz, Raelene said through tear filled eyes, "other than Jimi Ray, that mare was my whole life. She loved me and she loved what she did. She was truly a gift from God."

 

In an interview before the MT Circuit Finals in 2012, Raelene was asked who or what event has been the biggest influence in your rodeo career? She replied: "A black mare "Biz" (Bar Bee Buz) of Hill Quarter Horses . . . she will always be in my heart." 

 

Biz spent 11 years with Raelene. She was still running at the top of her game at 19 years old. "Raelene and I kept wondering when we should retire her," said Lois. "But she was running so great and enjoyed it so much that we let her keep going." In the spring of 2005, Biz got bit by a spider, where she broke out in welts and the toxin settled in her feet. "We decided that maybe God was telling us that it was time to retire her," Lois said. Biz is now 27 years old and is enjoying her retirement with Hills'. Lois said it was a shock for both Raelene and Biz not to be together after all those years. "I think it was hard on both of us when I quit running her and she went back to her home," said Raelene. "She was just so tough that if her body would have allowed, she would still be running barrels to this day because she loved it."
Biz eventually settled into her life of retirement and motherhood. She has raised some exceptional foals, one of which is named "Barbie" that is owned by Raelene's niece, Raenee Mapston. Darcy says that the mare is a lot like her mother: tough and hard headed! Biz and is currently carrying a foal due in May.

"My memories of Raelene and Biz are that Raelene was probably the only person I know that could put up with Biz's personality. She was very particular; I think she kicked the back door out of a few trailers! I would hold my breath every time I saw them run because she would run so hard to that first barrel, it made me nervous! But she almost always turned it. They had a special connection that was so amazing to watch." -Rhonda Kountz

"I think what made that mare great was that she was just bitter tough. She had a tough spirit and I think that's why she has lasted so long!" - Darcy Mapston

"Biz had the prettiest turns. She bent around a barrel and headed to the next so fluid that she made it look effortless. That mare ran on any kind of ground and ran tough. I mostly saw those two run in the late '90's and early in 2000's, though I think she ran tough for longer. Raelene will always be a hand I look up to. She always has tough horses because she is a cowgirl that can twist them with any cowboy around! If she's entered, she's one to beat." - Holly Costello

Story by Bailee Murnion