Connect with us

Equine

He was just a horse

Published

on

By Ddee Custer-Haynes

How many times have horse owners heard this from a non-horse owner? “Yes, speaking for myself, I truly get it; a human’s life is more important than an animal’s life.” However, that does not stop the heartache and tears when a good horse has to be put down due to age, illness or poor health.

To put it into perspective, have you ever lost a best friend—a friend who was your closest confidant, gave you unconditional love, and confidence, but yet could make you cuss in one breath and laugh in the other? If you have ever had that, then you may just understand a little better this story of a one-of-a-kind horse named Spot.

It all started about 28 years ago when I received a call from my brother-in-law Terry. He knew I was looking for a horse for my daughter who was 10 at the time. “He’s nothing special,” Terry told me. “He’s just a solid ranch horse. I’m not sure what he knows, but I have rode him a time or two and worked some cattle on him, seems pretty solid.” Taking his advice, I made the trip out to try this horse.

I will never forget the day I laid eyes on him. It was a chilly mid-October day when I pulled up and saw a tall sorrel paint standing with his head held high looking my way. As I stepped from my truck, a slim cowboy with welcoming eyes and a broad smile looking close to my dad’s age greeted me. “You must be Ddee,” he said. “Terry told me you were coming.” As he gestured toward the horse in the pen, he said, “I just call him Spot. Did you bring your saddle? Take him for a ride if you want. I left a bridle on the post.” To read more pick up a copy of the June 2016 NTFR issue.

Continue Reading

Equine

AQHA Horse of the Year

Published

on

By

By Krista Lucas Wynn

Each year, when the professional rodeo season wraps on Sept. 30, the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and Women’s Professional Rodeo Association announce the Nutrena Horse of the Year, presented by the American Quarter Horse Association, in each event. This is a prestigious award, voted on by the members of the associations. To be named Horse of the Year by fellow competitors is a high honor only a few achieve.

To read more, pick up a copy of the November edition of North Texas Farm & Ranch magazine, available digitally and in print. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.

Continue Reading

Equine

Tuff Enough: Tuff Hardman Wins Big At Cheyenne Frontier Days

Published

on

By

Tuf Hardman Wins At Cheyenne

By: Krista Lucas Wynn | Copy Editor

The name, “Daddy of ’em All,” instantly brings to mind the world’s largest outdoor rodeo and western celebration. Cowboys and cowgirls from all across the country dream of competing on the iconic Cheyenne arena dirt.

Every July, pro rodeo contestants travel to Cheyenne, Wyom. to vie for the title of champion of the Cheyenne Frontier Days. The rodeo is steeped in western tradition and celebrated the 125th year this summer. With nearly two weeks of rodeo action, fans watched bareback riding, calf roping, breakaway roping, saddle bronc riding, team roping, steer wrestling, barrel racing, bull riding, and steer roping.

Steer roper, Tuff Hardman, knew winning “the Dad” was a tall order, but with a good horse and a few prayers he left no doubt who the best steer roper at Cheyenne was when it was all said and done. After two rounds, Hardman qualified back for the finals tied for ninth place with a time of 30.8 seconds.

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

Continue Reading

Country Lifestyles

Mandy Cleveland & Stable Strides Farm

Published

on

By

Stable Strides Farm

Utilizing the horse to human connection.
By: Hannah Claxton | Editor

Deep in the heart of Texas, both humans and horses at Stable Strides Farm in Pilot Point, Texas aer demonstrating just how big their hearts really are. Founded by Mandy Cleveland in 2001, Stable Strides Farm serves dozens of Equestrians with Disabilities and Veterans each week.


Deep in the heart of Texas, both humans and horses at Stable Strides Farm in Pilot Point, Texas aer demonstrating just how big their hearts really are. Founded by Mandy Cleveland in 2001, Stable Strides Farm serves dozens of Equestrians with Disabilities and Veterans each week.

“My boys have been riding since they were 18 months old, and for the first 17 years they had a leader and sidewalker. When we moved here, and Mandy started teaching them, she just said, ‘Let’s see what they can do,’ and they ride independently now,” Danielle Frank explained, whose two sons, Adison and Aiden, ride with Stable Strides Farm. “Mandy is amazing beucase she doesn’t place any limits on them, she always wants to see what they can do.”

It is her dedication to never setting limits that earned Cleveland a spot as a national finalist for the NSBA 2024 Dianne Eppers Cowgirls Reaching-Out-to-Community Award. The award was established by the NSBA Foundation to recognize cowgirls across the industry for their selfless contributions to the equestrian community.

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

(Photos Courtesy of Hannah Claxton)

Continue Reading
Ad
Ad
Ad

Trending