Connect with us

Equine

Equine Superstars & Everyday Heroes

Published

on

By Janis Blackwell

About six years ago, what started as a pastime for Jo Haigwood began to evolve into a new career and business. Jo said her husband was always hunting and fishing, so she and her son would spend that time going to movies together. However, her son reached the age of wanting to be with friends more than going to movies with Mom.

It was then that Jo picked up a camera to fill in the free time in her life. At first she said it was just a hobby, and she shot pictures of rocks, trees and landscape, but that soon became boring to her. She needed something a little more exciting to shoot.

At one point in her life for quite a few years, Jo had been a barrel racer so she thought, “Why not pursue that type of action for my photos?” She didn’t really want to enter the sport again as a contestant, but this would give her a way to be part of that world, make friends and have a fun and exciting event to photograph. With that as her motivation, Jo H Photography was born. This month “Equine Superstars and Everyday Heroes” will take a look at a lady who captures them being superstars and heroes.

Jo began by shooting junior rodeos at Denton County Cowboy Church and then at St. Jo’s junior rodeo. That prompted others to call Jo to come photograph their events, and one weekend she heard that TOBRA would put on a barrel race the next weekend in Wichita Falls. She called their administration and got an invitation to go shoot pictures there. Jo said that began what 70 percent of her pictures are comprised of, barrel racers.

Jo set about to perfect her craft. She bought a Nikon camera. As she told it to me, it was the first one the man in the camera store handed her. On his recommendation that it was what she needed, she purchased it and has continued to use Nikon throughout her career. Jo said she is about 75 percent self-taught, but she did start out working with some local photographers to acquire skills she needed to be a professional.

To read more pick up a copy of the November 2018 NTFR issue. To subscribe call 940-872-5922.

Jo Haigwood on the other side of a photo. (Photo courtesy of Jo H Photography)

Continue Reading

Equine

The Danger of Lower Limb Wounds of Horses

Published

on

By

By Garrett Metcalf, DVM

It is common for horse owners to have a horse with a wound or laceration at some point in their life. Sometimes small lacerations can be perceived as benign, inconsequential problems that do not need immediate veterinary attention and are managed by the owners or trainers initially. Unfortunately, these simple-looking wounds can involve very important anatomical structures that can lead to serious infections that can be life-threatening or, at best career-limiting, for the horse.

Large wounds tend to get all the attention from owners or trainers because when they occur they are so obvious and visually appalling that medical attention is sought almost immediately. Those types of large wounds can be devastating, but they often involve the upper body regions of the horse, which heal better and often don’t involve structures such as joints or tendons.

To read more, pick up a copy of the March issue of NTFR magazine. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.

Continue Reading

Equine

A Rodeo Photographer’s Journey

Published

on

By

By Phillip Kitts

Have you ever wondered what the rodeo looks like for contract personnel in the winter?
This month we will look at what the winter months look like from the rodeo photographer’s perspective.

To understand the time and demands that go into a career as a rodeo photographer, let’s start at when the season gets busy. Not all rodeo photographers work the same. There are many varieties in their career field. They can vary from the few weekends here and there to the full-timer who travels more than 30 weekends a year.

The full-timer that spends most of their year working usually hits the road in late winter. Yes, the winter months are slower but the photographer who has cemented themselves into the field usually books a few during late winter.

Rolling into the spring it begins to get busy. Depending on the photographer, spring can start with an every other weekend type schedule all the way to every weekend through the summer. In 2023 there were photographers that had 20-plus weeks straight going from rodeo to rodeo.
When late fall rolls in things begin to slow down, even for the go-getter who books everything they can.

To read more, pick up a copy of the March issue of NTFR magazine. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.

Continue Reading

Equine

Where Legends are Made

Published

on

By

By Krista Lucas Wynn

The format of the American Rodeo, now known in its entirety as the American Western Weekend, has changed quite a bit throughout the years. The inaugural American Rodeo was held in 2014 at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. It is now held at Globe Life Field, across the street, with two full days of reined cow horse, cutting, reining, and rodeo competition.
Rodeo cowboys and cowgirls have been working to qualify for the 2024 event since last January. It is a long road to the American, starting with qualifier events all over the country. If a competitor wins money at a qualifier, they then advance to the regional finals in Las Vegas, Oklahoma City and Lexington, Ky.

Then, the top five from each event move on to the Contender Finals in Abilene, Texas, Feb. 10. There, the field will continue to be narrowed down to five in each event to compete at the American rodeo.

To read more, pick up a copy of the March issue of NTFR magazine. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.

Continue Reading
Ad
Ad
Ad
Ad
Ad

Trending