Heartland Twisters
Meet The Ladies of Chanute Bit and Spur Saddle Clubs
Established in the mid 1970's as the Chanute Bit and Spur Saddle Club drill team, this all female equestrian team took on their current name in 1991. Performing precisely choreographed maneuvers at a fast pace, In 2024 the girls plan to preform 2 fast paced, precision drills. For More information, to book the Twisters for your Rodeo or event, or to Join Contact Team Captain Rilee Jordan 620-778-5997.
Rilee Jordan, Paris & Batman
Rilee Jordan, a 25-year-old Galesburg, Kansas cowgirl, is a veteran member and current captain of the Chanute Bit & Spur Saddle Club Heartland Twisters Drill team. Rilee, the daughter of Doug and Mara Jordan is an a professional horse trainer and aspiring barrel racer. Rilee is a graduate of Coffeyville community college where she competed on the Red Ravens Rodeo Team and earned a Associates degree in arts. Rilee is also the Chanute Saddle Clubs Event Coordinator, Graphic Artist & Social Media & Website designer. While holding many Volunteer titles Rilee also holds a full time job as a Graphic Artist at Jim Allen Packaging . When Rilee is not riding with the Heartland Twisters or working she is an American Cowboys Rodeo Association Cowgirl Competing at rodeos in the Barrel racing as well as competing in Mounted Shooting, Ranch Versatility, and several other events. Rilee is also wants to learn Breakaway roping. Rilee has two horses on drill her 23 year old Sorrel mare Paris & her 17 year old Paint Gelding Batman. Paris is an all around cutting horse, cow horse, steer wrestling horse, & barrel horse who loves treats and to chase cows. Paris has been a drill team horse off and on for almost 10 years, and also used to work pens at the sale barn. Batman is an all around horse he has competed in barrels, poles, goat tying, been ranched on, roped off of, done mounted shooting, team sorting, ranch versatility, 4-H, worked in the sale barn & much more. Batman has been a drill team horse for Rilee and passed around to other members for almost 12 years.
Kayla Paz, Bear & Reba
Kayla Paz is a 37 year old, Chanute, Kansas cowgirl & a veteran member of the Chanute Bit & Spur Saddle Club Heartland Twisters drill team. The daughter of Daniel Jeffrey, Marcia & Derek Toy, Kayla works full time at Bridgewood Custom Cabinetry while also serving as vice president of the Chanute Saddle Club & on several of the club committee's. Kayla is also a mother of 2 very active boys & married to Army veteran, Paul Paz. Outside of her full-time job, the Saddle Club, wife & mother Kayla also has a small business called Small Town Custom Creations (cups, shirts, car freshies etc.) Kayla also competes in Barrel Racing & Cowboy Mounted Shooting. Kayla is riding both of her horses Bear & Reba. Bear is a 21 year old bay gelding who loves running barrels & being the center of attention. Reba is her 19 year old sorrel mare. she competes in mounted shooting and is a solid mount for the kids & grandpa!
Nikki Knight & Lacey
Nikki Knight Nikki Knight is a Yates Center, KS cowgirl. She is the wife to Cody Knight & the mom to three beautiful daughters, who she spends most of her time raising & homeschooling. Nikki is a Rn who works at ashley clinic. She loves to barrel race in her spare time while also watching and cheering on her girls as they work towards their goals and dreams! Nikki is partnered up with Lacey her youngest daughters Barrel horse who is an AQHA mare and all around great girl! Lacey is fun to ride, what she lacks in height she makes up for with heart and try!
Mara Jordan & Cherokee
Mara Jordan is the Eldest member of the team at 59 years old. She is a Galesburg, Kansas cowgirl, she is a veteran member of the Chanute Bit & Spur Heartland Twisters Drill team. Mara joined the team with her Daughter Rilee. Mara is the daughter of Jean Friend and Richard and Jerry Michael. Mara works at Tioga Territory in Chanute, Kansas where she helps design and create custom jackets and clothing merchandise & prizes for several national & world horse shows. Mara is the Chanute Bit & Spur Saddle Club Rodeo Committee Chair as well as the Neosho County Willing Workers 4-H Club Leader. When Mara is not riding with the Heartland Twisters she competes in local MEK Horse shows and Mounted shooting. Mara hopes to help her daughter achieve a family ranch where they can raise and train ranch and rodeo horses. Mara is riding her 23 year old all around babysitter horse Cherokee. Cherokee is a registered paint Mare who excels in performance classes including Western Pleasure, Horsemanship and Showmanship. She also competes in Mounted Shooting, 4-H events, and has formerly competed in Dressage and Jumping. Cherokee has been a member of the Heartland Twisters for 10 years.
Maci Knight & Pistol
Maci Knight is a 15-years-old Yates Center Kansas Cowgirl. Maci is the daughter of Nikki & Cody Knight & The middle sister to Mayson & Maddie Knight. When Maci graduates she plans to become a professional horse trainer & barrel racer. Maci is riding Pistol a 14 year old appendix gelding from the race track & is now Maci's barrel horse. Maci has also ran poles and other events including being on the team with pistol! Pistol has been Maci's partner since May 8th of 2024.
Maggie Hood & Sterling
Maggie Hood is the daughter of Victor & Janalin Hood of Chanute KS. She competitively breakaway ropes with KHSRA, and likes to spend every spare moment in the practice pen. Maggie has the honor of being the Chanute Rodeo Royalty coordinator, and is excited to promote more rodeo queening opportunities for cowgirls in Kansas! She is the proud owner and artist behind Art of the Prairie, where she hand-makes western goods for the working cowgirl. Maggie has a God-lit fire to promote the western lifestyle and rich rodeo heritage of those who have come before her. In the future Maggie plans on attending Fort Scott Community College while she college rodeos. Maggie is blessed to ride her big grey gelding Sterling, who is an experienced pick-up horse and a flag girl’s dream
Mattison Morgan & Maverick
Mattison Morgan is the 16 year old daughter of Matt and Mary Morgan. She is a senior at Chanute High School and a member of the Bit and Spur Saddle Club and the Heartland Twisters drill team. Matti is an active member in her FFA chapter and participates in many sports, such as: bowling, dance, trap shooting, and archery. She is very passionate about art, writing, riding her horse, and dance. She is a God loving, Christian, Kansas born cowgirl. Matti has lived in Chanute Kansas her whole life and now lives on a farm. She was blessed with her first horse at the end of 2022; a 12 year old gelding paint named Maverick. Only lightly ridden, she worked with him daily for months. After months of hard work, they have become best friends. Maverick is being trained for barrel racing, flag holding, drill team, and more. After high school, Mattison plans to go to Labette County for a couple of years and then transfer to Wichita Med to be a nurse practitioner specializing in OB-GYN.
Mayson Knight & Wonder
Mayson Knight is 19 years old, she is from Yates center is. This is her second year of drill team. Her mom and sisters are also on the team. Mayson is currently working on becoming educated in silver smithing. Wonder is an 8 year old thoroughbred, she has raced and place in the top three multiple times. Wonder loves to run fast and work hard. She is a great partner and a best friend. She has the biggest and brightest personality, her owners and friends never had to wonder about that!
Emily Rauber & Paint
Emily Semrad & Robin
Emily Semrad Is a 25 year old Chanute, Kansas cowgirl. Emily grew up on a farm as a Kansas native but is a Texas cowgirl of 10 years just recently moving back to Kansas. Emily has been a part of the Equine industry since day one saying she never grew out of that "horse phase" passion. Emily has a background in herd management, barrel racing, instructing, training, trick riding & Roman riding. Emily's goals are to continue to learn all she can in the equine industry & always grow as a rider & horsewoman. Emily is Riding Robin an 14 year old all around gelding. Robin has done mounted shooting, barrel racing, tie down calf roping, breakaway roping, team sorting, Ranch versatility & more Robin has been a Drill team horse for 3 years on and off, & has been used in the sale barn.
Emilie Rauber is a 23 year old cowgirl coming from Walnut, KS. Emilie is the daughter of Steve & Michele Rauber, is an aspiring barrel racer, roper & professional horse trainer. When Emilie is not at work or training horses she enjoys rounding up cattle, team sorting, & running barrels. Emilie's horse "Paint" is the youngest on the drill team at 4 years old. Paint enjoys learning new skills & accelerates at barrels, poles, flags, sorting cattle & giving kids rides!
Linsey Starliper & Jazzy
Linsey Starliper , a 26-year-old cowgirl from Elsmore, Kansas. Linsey is a proud mother of three beautiful children and enjoys spending her free time trail riding and barrel racing her mare, Jazzy. She works at Bridgewood Custom Cabinetry, where she helps create beautiful cabinets from a dedicated factory to your home. Today, she proudly represents the Heartland Twister Drill Team, bringing her love for horses and the western lifestyle into the arena."
Heartland Whirlwinds
Established in 2025, this new team is taking the arena by storm!
This year, we're excited to introduce our Junior Team - the Heartland Whirlwinds!
The Whirlwinds are here to help grow the Heartland Twisters by encouraging younger girls to get involved & learn alongside our experienced team. It's a great opportunity to build horsemanship skills, gain valuable friendships & Boost confidence!
Are you 7-12 years old & ready to join the fun?
Contact Team Captain Rilee Jordan at 620-778-5997 for more information & to sign up!
Maddie Knight & Lacey
