Equine
Not all Gators are in Louisiana
By Janis Blackwell
One formidable Gator happens to reside in Oklahoma—Burneyville, Okla., to be exact. “Shameon U” (barn name Gator) is a nine-year-old AQHA gelding owned by Cayla Melby Small. The Melby family moved to Oklahoma from Minnesota in 2012. When asked what prompted the move, Cayla’s mother, Jane Melby, two-time NFR qualifier, responded that everyone had told her that once she made the finals, she would move south. Sure enough, after qualifying for the finals in 2011, the family moved to Oklahoma in 2012 where they now train futurity and rodeo horses and rodeo out of their home near Burneyville.
Jane had been the one to initially spot Gator as a potentially outstanding barrel horse. She saw him in a line of 200 horses with no saddles on at the Buckeye Futurity in Arizona his five-year-old year and picked him to be the best one there, which he was. She said that he was a grandson of “Dash to Fame” on the top side and “Gay Bar King” on the bottom. She went on to say he was built a little thicker than most and just looked like a turning machine.
Well, all of what Jane thought about him has proven to be true. She had wanted to purchase him at that time, but he had actually been sold to Mr. Duperier for Callie Duperier. But Jane was undaunted in her pursuit to own him and followed his career and ownership until he eventually was for sale by Annesa Self, who purchased him from Callie. In February of 2016, Cayla purchased Gator. Apparently a match made in heaven because the duo not only qualified for The American semi-finals, won Spanish Fork, Utah, and six other large, notable PRCA rodeos, qualified for the NFR where they placed in three rounds, but also seized for Cayla the WPRA “Rookie of the Year” title. Not bad for their first year together.
In 2017 Gator suffered a quarter crack and resulting infection, which necessitated his being laid off for time to heal. Cayla gave Gator plenty of time off to recover, and recover he did. They came back and placed in both rounds at Denver and made the short go. Then on to Fort Worth where they also made the short go.
To read more pick up a copy of the April 2018 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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