If you have an interest in the rope horse industry, you’ve likely heard the name Miles Baker. Miles and his wife Daci have established themselves in the industry over the past few years through the intentionality of their training and their creation of the Relentless Remuda alongside rodeo legend Trevor Brazile.
While the joke has always been that behind every successful rancher is a wife who works in town, Daci Baker is a true partner in the horsemanship venture alongside her husband Miles and continues to be a shining role model for women whose passion intersects in the role of working cowgirl and wife.
It all started when these two young Oklahomans sat beside each other on the back row of a college class at Oklahoma State University. Although Miles and Daci had many mutual friends, they hadn’t spent time together or interacted until their educational pursuits in Stillwater. A year after the class introduced them, they started dating and began building the foundation for the strong partnership they have today.
Daci looks as comfortable in the saddle as her husband Miles, and yet did not grow up as a serious horse girl. She was familiar with the industry, and competed a little, but only recently started barrel racing, and didn’t start roping until two years into dating Miles.
She currently works for a crop insurance company and draws a steady paycheck while benefiting from flexible hours that allow her to help support Miles’ efforts in the horse training arena. When not helping with the Relentless Remuda or guiding farmers with ways to protect their crops, Daci enjoys her pursuing her own rodeo dreams.
She barrel races on a horse named Batman (“Wild About Fame”) borrowed from a local family. Daci laughingly mentions that he is big and kind, yet pushy and doesn’t have the manners that their rope horses have. Yet he has been a wonderful babysitter and taken her down the pro rodeo road. She has also enjoyed participating in some ranch horse association events on their Remuda horses and watching these rope horses try their hand at different situations.
A woman of diverse talents, she even competes in the nonpro classes at the rope horse futurities and the American alongside Trevor’s wife Shada and son Treston.
While Daci seems content with keeping her own pursuits quiet, she and Miles are truly a team and are complemented by the other family with which they share their dreams–the Braziles.
About two years ago, rodeo legend Trevor Brazile called Miles and wanted to send him several horses to train. Although Miles only had room to take one at the time, he made a lasting impression. Their talks evolved and a horse training and breeding business known as the Relentless Remuda was born under the Brazile brand.
That horse and rider partnership plays out in the husband-and-wife helpmate partnership as well. In fact, it was actually Daci who first developed an interest in the Relentless Remuda’s prize stallion Show Me the Buckles. Show Me the Buckles was online years ago and Daci stumbled across his picture, knowing nothing about him but drawn to his looks. She mentioned him to Miles, who vetoed the idea of breeding to him and they both moved on, the moment all but forgotten.
A few years later, Miles and Trevor purchased a horse named Dagger who happened to be sired by Show Me the Buckles. As Dagger came into his own, Miles posted him on social media and tagged Buckles. His owner, Rebeca Martin, called them, overjoyed at reconnecting with Dagger. A fellow Christian, Martin said she felt it had been placed on heart to offer Show Me the Buckles for sale to the Bakers and Braziles. While Trevor initially shot down the idea, a few days later he changed his mind and Buckles became a part of the Baker and Brazile herd. Now, Dagger is 5 years old in the prime of his futurity years with an LTE of over $77k and the Remuda consists of 6 of Buckles’ offspring, as well as 25 to 30 mares bred to him this year.
Their second stallion is a homozygous roan named Dirty Fling, affectionately called “Fling.” Fling is coming into his own as well, with his mane now starting to rival that of Buckles. His story is similar, joining the family by way of a kindhearted individual who knew this caliber of horse needed to be paired with the same caliber of trainer. Owner Melanie Smith of Solo Select Horses reached out to Miles and said she had a colt that would do well in roping and needed to be given a chance. Miles went and rode Fling and knew instantly she was right, bringing him home to their herd for training and breeding.
To further bring things full circle, Miles and Trevor first did business when Miles was in college riding a gray horse named Chica, who they flushed an embryo by Buckles out of and is owned by roping legend Lari Dee Guy. Miles is also rodeoing on Firecracker, the first baby out of Chica.
While these two studs are often the face of the Remuda, several other horses have stolen the spotlight. One in particular was a palomino gelding named Handsome, whom Daci showed and sold at Cowgirl Cadillacs.
While all their horses are special to her, Handsome stole her heart. As soon as she saw his long white mane and flowing tail getting off the trailer she chose him as her own, utilizing him for the daily work of riding fences and checking cattle. Although he hadn’t been through the rope horse program, he was so gentle and kind that when Cowgirl Cadillacs called she agreed to showcase him as he was the epitome of what the sale and she represented. Handsome found a wonderful new home as a result of the sale and Daci still keeps in touch with his new owners.
Daci is quick to credit God with all the blessings of horses, friends, and opportunities that she and Miles receive. With passionate hearts, skilled hands and minds, and grounded roots, the Bakers will undoubtedly continue to build the future of the rope horse industry alongside the Braziles.
*Featured photo credit to Emily McCartney Photography for Fringe Scarves
