Equine
Equine Superstars & Everyday Heroes
By Janis Blackwell
Deacon, a 22-year-old, flea bitten, gray Quarter Horse gelding is the Equine Superstar Everyday Hero featured this month. Deacon and his five-year-old rider, AnDee Jo Miller, reside in Chico, Texas. AnDee is the daughter of J.J. and Jennifer Miller and is the youngest of several Miller children. She has two big brothers who still live at home, Tallan Miller and Parker Emola, who are vigilant to watch out for her when she is on or around the horses and mom and dad aren’t near. In fact, it is the boys who got AnDee Jo riding alone on the horses to begin with.
During the summer when the parents were at work and the boys and their friends wanted to rope, they needed a safe place for AnDee (four at the time) since they were the baby sitters. So, they put her on their dad’s hazing horse (not Deacon) to keep her safely out of the way. Although when J.J learned of this, the boys might have been in a bit of danger, all turned out well, and AnDee has continued to ride big horses alone. But her safest and main mount is Deacon.
Deacon is out of a stud and mare owned by J.J.’s dad—one of the last colts he raised. When J.J.’s father became terminally ill, he made a request of J. J. That request was that no matter what else J.J. did after he passed, Deacon was to be Tallan’s for as long as he might want him. He was never to leave the place unless that was Tallan’s wish.
They broke Deacon (a colt at the time) and sent him off for some guys to use for day working. According to J.J., he could have sold him several times over while there because he was so gentle.
To read more pick up a copy of the August 2017 NTFR issue. To subscribe call 940-872-5922.
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.
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.
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)
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