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Equine Superstars & Everyday Heroes

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By Janis Blackwell

About six years ago, what started as a pastime for Jo Haigwood began to evolve into a new career and business. Jo said her husband was always hunting and fishing, so she and her son would spend that time going to movies together. However, her son reached the age of wanting to be with friends more than going to movies with Mom.

It was then that Jo picked up a camera to fill in the free time in her life. At first she said it was just a hobby, and she shot pictures of rocks, trees and landscape, but that soon became boring to her. She needed something a little more exciting to shoot.

At one point in her life for quite a few years, Jo had been a barrel racer so she thought, “Why not pursue that type of action for my photos?” She didn’t really want to enter the sport again as a contestant, but this would give her a way to be part of that world, make friends and have a fun and exciting event to photograph. With that as her motivation, Jo H Photography was born. This month “Equine Superstars and Everyday Heroes” will take a look at a lady who captures them being superstars and heroes.

Jo began by shooting junior rodeos at Denton County Cowboy Church and then at St. Jo’s junior rodeo. That prompted others to call Jo to come photograph their events, and one weekend she heard that TOBRA would put on a barrel race the next weekend in Wichita Falls. She called their administration and got an invitation to go shoot pictures there. Jo said that began what 70 percent of her pictures are comprised of, barrel racers.

Jo set about to perfect her craft. She bought a Nikon camera. As she told it to me, it was the first one the man in the camera store handed her. On his recommendation that it was what she needed, she purchased it and has continued to use Nikon throughout her career. Jo said she is about 75 percent self-taught, but she did start out working with some local photographers to acquire skills she needed to be a professional.

To read more pick up a copy of the November 2018 NTFR issue. To subscribe call 940-872-5922.

Jo Haigwood on the other side of a photo. (Photo courtesy of Jo H Photography)

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Equine

AQHA Horse of the Year

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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.

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Equine

Tuff Enough: Tuff Hardman Wins Big At Cheyenne Frontier Days

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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.

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Country Lifestyles

Mandy Cleveland & Stable Strides Farm

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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)

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