Ep 317: Behind the Scenes of NFR Dreams with Lorissa Jo Merritt
During the ten days of the NFR in Las Vegas, we all get to watch the product of a year-long—and often lifelong—journey to the Thomas & Mack. What we don’t always see is the small army behind each competitor who helps make that run possible.
In this episode, I’m thrilled to sit down with Lorissa Jo Merritt— sister of Katelyn Scott and sister-in-law to Halyn Lide, who both qualified for this year’s National Finals Rodeo. While Lorissa is a talented horsewoman herself, her role behind the scenes is one we don’t talk about enough—and it is a pivotal role in the road to the NFR.
Lorissa shares how she's embraced her role as the “horse finder” and “accountability partner" in Katelyn's journey, the story of how Peanut Seed—Katelyn’s main mount for this year’s finals—came into their lives, how he got his name, and the team effort that goes into an NFR qualification.
A Conversation With Lorissa Jo Merritt
I met Lorissa, Katelyn, and the crew about three years ago now—hard to believe it’s been that long. But I’ll tell you this: I still chuckle when I think about those two days they came and rode with me. Lorissa is a big personality in the best way, and I’ve been on the “waiting list” to get her on the podcast for about a year and a half. And I’m glad we finally made it happen—because this episode is about something that doesn’t get talked about nearly enough.
During the ten days of the NFR in Las Vegas, we all get to see the finished product. We get to watch the run. We get to see the lights, the Thomas & Mack, the adrenaline, the big moments. But what we don’t see is what it took to get there. What we don’t see is the small army behind every competitor who makes that journey possible. And that’s exactly why I wanted Lorissa on.
Because behind every person who qualifies for the NFR, there are people behind the scenes who helped build that result. There are mentors. There are friends. There are families. There are “horse committees,” chauffeurs, grooms, therapists, encouragers, and sometimes… a “horse finder.”
That’s Lorissa.
Meet Lorissa: The Horse Finder & Accountability Partner
Lorissa is Katelyn Scott’s sister—and she’s also the sister-in-law of Halyn Lide, who made the finals last year and again this year. She’s got a busy career as a hairdresser, and she’s dedicated to that. But she also loves horses, owns horses, rides a lot… and as she told me, she’s a very good shopper.
And I’ll just say—when you’ve got somebody in your corner who’s always looking, always thinking, always paying attention… that matters.
Katelyn’s a talented jockey. Everybody knows that. She can ride about anything. But even if you can ride, you still need horsepower. You still need the right horse at the right time. And that’s where Lorissa’s role becomes pivotal.
How “Peanut Seed” Came Along at Exactly the Right Time
One of my favorite parts of this conversation was hearing how Katelyn’s main NFR mount this year—Peanut Seed—came into their lives.
When her main mount got hurt and the Fourth of July run was coming up, Lorissa knew Katelyn needed another option. So, she started thinking through horses that might fit. She reached out to Jessica Anderson—who had been having success on Peanut locally—and asked about leasing him for July.
Jessica wasn’t interested in leasing. But she was willing to sell him. And that’s where the real story starts.
Lorissa told it straight: “We ain’t got that many coins.” So, she went to work—made calls, filled out paperwork, leaned on a couple “thinker friends,” and figured out a number she could make work.
Then she went and tried him… without telling Katelyn. She doesn’t go into trying a horse with a long list of requirements, a “type,” or a certain look in her head. She wants to feel the whole package without the bias. She rode Peanut, found him exactly what Jessica said he was—broke, solid, honest—and then she took him to a barrel race.
And he won. That’s a pretty good first impression.
Then she had to call her sister and “come clean” that she bought a horse.
And you can imagine how that went—excited… and also like, “Really? You did what?”
But that’s what accountability partners do sometimes. They make moves when somebody else is too close to the pressure to make the decision.
The First Run Wasn’t Perfect—And That’s Why the Story Matters
Here’s what I appreciated most: Lorissa didn’t act like this was a “storybook” from day one.
She told the story of Katelyn’s first run on Peanut at Pecos—big setup, big atmosphere, and one of those situations where you’re reminded how quickly things can go sideways.
Katelyn makes a good first barrel, good second… then the rein wraps back around his mouth and he comes back toward the first before she gets him redirected to the third.
That story stuck with Lorissa, and I get why. Because it’s real. It’s not always instant success, even when it looks like it from the outside. There are hiccups. There are adjustments. There are learning moments that you don’t see on the highlights reel. And that’s what makes the journey so meaningful.
Where the Name “Peanut Seed” Comes From
His name was already Peanut—but Lorissa added “Seed” because of a faith-based reminder Katelyn had shared from the road: the idea of mustard seed faith.
Lorissa told Katelyn, “You’re just going to have to have a peanut-seed kind of faith.” And it stuck.
I love that, because I think a lot of horsemanship is exactly that. You do the work. You prepare. You ride what’s in front of you. And you keep moving forward with the belief that those small steps add up.
The Part Nobody Sees: The Work Behind the Work
One thing Lorissa and I talked about is that when a person makes the finals, a lot of people see the last few weeks and assume it was “just a hot streak.”
But what people don’t realize is what goes into it — the early mornings, the constant loping and legging those horses up, the pattern adjustments, the spa days, the brushing, the time, the bonding.
Katelyn doesn’t just love to win—she loves to ride. I think it’s easy, in a busy life and a busy program, to lose that simple joy. After hearing Katelyn talk about it, I made it a point to remind myself in my own training sessions to “just go ride” for a few minutes—enjoy it, feel it, and be present with the horse. Sometimes that small decision changes everything.
Mentorship and Accountability
We also talked about something that I think is a huge part of why Katelyn ended up where she did this year.
Mid-summer, like it does for everybody, things get hard. Horses get a little tighter. The momentum isn’t quite as free. You’ve asked those horses for their life for months. And at some point, even the best horses can start to rattle a little bit.
Lorissa pushed for a call. I don’t say that to make myself the hero of the story—because I’m not. But I do say it to highlight what accountability looks like.
Sometimes you just need a fresh set of eyes. Sometimes you need somebody to say the thing in a slightly different way, so it lands.
And if you’re listening to this and you’re thinking, “I don’t have that,” let me encourage you: go find it. You don’t need a huge team. But you need somebody who keeps you steady, keeps you honest, and reminds you what you’re capable of when you’re too tired to remember.
Lorissa said it best: when you share your goals with somebody and walk that out together, you grow faster. You get better. You stay grounded.
“Don’t Compare.” Ride the Horse You’re On.
One of the strongest takeaways from Lorissa was her mindset around comparison.
She said, “You don’t compete where you compare.” And then she went even further: take the compare out of it completely. Ride your journey. Ride the horse you’re on.
I couldn’t agree more. Comparison is the thief of joy. It’s also the thief of progress. Because the minute you start wishing your horse was someone else’s horse, you stop learning how to bring out the best in the one you’ve got.
And the truth is—Katelyn’s horses are a perfect example of that. They’re all different. Different styles, different backgrounds, different strengths. And they’ve all played a role in getting her where she is.
The NFR Doesn’t Just Test Talent—It Tests Gratitude
As we wrapped up, I told Lorissa what I hope everybody feels if they ever get the chance to go to Vegas and experience the NFR—whether they’re competing, helping, or just cheering someone on: Enjoy every minute of it.
There will be noise. There will be pressure. There will be expectations. There will be emotions you didn’t plan for. But, it’s also a gift. And, it’s a blessing.
So, if you’re on your own road—whether that’s rodeo, horsemanship, training, or just trying to get better—remember this:
It takes a small army.
It takes mentors.
It takes accountability.
It takes faith the size of a peanut seed.
And if you’ve got people around you who show up, work hard, and love the horse first… you’re already winning.
Thanks again for listening, and thanks again to Lorissa Jo Merritt for coming on.
