Equine
Equine Superstars & Everyday Heroes – Rowdy Dan
By Janis Blackwell
This month Equine Superstars and Everyday Heroes explores a whole new area of talented equine, one which until now, I have only encountered in the rodeo arena by way of a contract act.
That talented individual is a big bay gelding known as Rowdy Dan. Rowdy Dan’s new owner is Donna Wells, a name familiar to many who have been around horse activities in the Wichita Falls and surrounding area for many years. Donna is a long-time barrel racer, inactive in that sport for the past 27 years after handing her good horse off to her daughter. Recently desiring to return to it motivated her to look for a horse again.
However, before we can tell Rowdy’s story, we have to discuss what drew her to him. That would be the horse she owned and ran barrels on years ago and the one she handed down to daughter Lacy.
In her youth, Donna and husband Ronnie Wells (well-known farrier) trained race horses. One of those horses with which they had success was a big bay gelding known as “Whatacookiebar,” Cookie for short. Cookie was by “What Luck” by “Bold Ruler” and out of a “Three Bars” mare.
Cookie ran fourth in the Rainbow Futurity trials as a colt. According to his jockey, he should have loped across the finish line to an easy win, but chipped a bone in his knee about half way through the race, which caused him to drop from winning first to fourth.
After a year’s rehab, he returned to racing, but never had the same ability that he had shown going into the Rainbow trials. For a while, Donna’s need for speed was satisfied by breezing the racing colts.
To read more pick up a copy of the September 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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