Equine
The Mule Whisperer
By Corsi Martin
The cutting horse world has fallen hooves over ears for a uniquely gifted specimen not generally found at any cutting event. This creature has been cashing checks and cutting cows with the best of them, and it’s not even a horse and is hardly bigger than the cows in the herd.
Miss Lucy, a six-year-old mule, is taking the cutting horse world by storm and has remained consistent in her uncanny ability to perform with the best of them in the United States Cutting Horse Association. Owners, Tommy and Ruby Francois, bought Miss Lucy when she was a four-year-old from Francois’ brother in south Louisiana. The mule was originally bought with pleasure riding potential in mind. Lucy had just been broke and was great with people, but she had not yet become attuned with cattle. Standing at only 13.1 hands, cattle seemed to frighten Miss Lucy at first.
“Any time a cow would move, she’d run away,” Francois said. “Finally, she got the idea to go in the same direction as the cow. When she learned that, she kind of trained herself.” At first, having Lucy cut a cow was just horse play, literally. Francois had no initial intentions of transforming her into a competitor. The whole idea to compete came with time and lots of support from local cutters.
“When I saw how good she was going to be, I said ‘She’s going to be good enough to show,’” Francois said. “Everybody loves her; we have a good time at the cuttings.” This year, Miss Lucy has walked into the herd approximately 20 times. She recently scored a whopping 76 at a cutting in Sulphur Springs, Texas. For those who are not familiar with cutting horse scores and judging criteria, a 76 is well above average. Francois, who has been involved with cutting since 1969, says that Lucy is his second cutting mule.
To read more pick up a copy of the February 2018 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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