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
Mara Jordan & Cherokee
Rilee Jordan, a 24-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. While holding many Volunteer titles Rilee also holds a full time job as Productions Assistant at Farm Talk newspaper In Parsons . 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 21 year old Sorrel mare Paris & her 15 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 6 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.
Melody Wallace, Thunder & Batman
Melody Wallace is an "old enough to know better, too young to care" wannabe cowgirl from around Chanute, KS. She is a wife, mother of 4 boys and daycare provider. When she's not chasing after kids, she enjoys horseback riding, hiking, and being outdoors in general. She serves as the treasurer for the Chanute Bit & Spur saddle club. She has been with the drill team for 4 years now, first as a rider, then behind the scenes as our technical assistant & Co-Capitan & is now back in the saddle. Melody will be riding Thunder for our first drill and Batman for our second. 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 & Grey Boy & Conway
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. In her spare time Nikki is an Rn who works at a health clinic. Nikki is partnered up with her husbands horse Conway an 18 year young Buckskin Quarter Horse, who spent his younger years under the rodeo lights as a Steer Wrestling horse! He is no stranger to the spotlight and has so many good traits about him. Some of Nikki's favorites are the amount of grit & try this little gelding has! Along with his big heart & love for his family. Nikki would like to give a special thanks to her husband for sharing his horse & all his support!
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.
Mara Jordan is the Eldest member of the team at 57 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.
Elizabeth Thompson & Slim
Elizabeth Thompson is the 18 year old daughter of Mary & Ed Splechter & Dustin & Pam Thompson. She is a Senior at Chanute Highschool & is a Chanute native. Liz is a very active member of her FFA chapter & has learned how to weld. She plays right field for the Chanute blue Comets Highschool Softball team & helps manage the Comets Cross Country team. Liz also enjoys Trap Shooting, 4-H, Dance, Photography, spending time with family & competing in as many competitions with her FFA Vet science team as possible. In the future Liz plans to attend Kansas State University & major in Equine Science & veterinarian medicine so she can become an Equine Veterinarian. Liz is Riding A leased Mule named Slim 2 None. Slim has done a little bit of everything. including Packing and riding the Rockies in Colorado, teaching the community kids how to ride, to competing at mule shows at the Denver National Western Stock Show, Kansas State Fair, Tulsa Mule Congress and many more.
Maci Knight & Pistol
Maci Knight is a 14-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 13 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.
Mayson Knight & Roxy
Mayson Knight is a 17 years old cowgirl from Yates Center Ks. She recently joined the Chanute Bit and Spur Saddle Club, along with her family, and the Heartland Twisters drill team, with her mom and sister! She, along with her two sisters, are homeschooled by their Mom! As a senior Mayson plans to go to fort Scott next year to get her Cosmetology degree. Mayson is riding Roxy.
Emily Spragg & Robin
Emily Westhoff & Desperado, Jimmy & Paint
Emily Spragg Is a 23 year old Chanute, Kansas cowgirl & new member of the Bit & Spur Saddle Club & Heartland Twisters. 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 Westhoff is a 22 yr old cowgirl coming from Walnut, KS. Emilie, daughter of Steve and Michele Rauber, is an aspiring barrel racer, roper, horse trainer, and wife. When Emilie is not at work or training horses she enjoys rounding up cattle, team sorting, running barrels, and trying to sneak home another critter to the farm. Emilie has 3 horses on the Heartland Twisters Drill Team. Desperado, an 18 yr old BLM mustang who enjoys chasing cows on round ups and dragging calves. Jimmy, an 18 yr old Quarter Horse enjoys anything from running accross pastures chasing calves to running barrels & Paint, a 3 yr old pinto is Emilies up and coming drill horse that enjoys learning new skills such as the barrel pattern, roping, ranch versatility, and attention.