Equine
Building the Future
By Krista Lucas
The Rising Stars and Future Stars calf ropings are premier youth tie-down roping and breakaway roping events that give the next generation of ropers a truly professional feel in and out of the arena. Young cowboys and cowgirls travel from all across the country to these events to compete against tough competitors.
The youth ropings were the creation of Chris Neal, who has produced the events for the past 16 years. The Oklahoma cowboy not only contributes to furthering the youth of rodeo today, but he is also accomplished in the arena himself.
Neal grew up around the sport and has always known that being involved in rodeo and roping is what he wanted to do. Over several decades, he has won many accolades. Starting as a young teenager, he worked his way up through youth, amateur and professional ranks.
“I won a lot throughout youth rodeos and junior calf ropings growing up,” Neal said. “I also started going to the amateur rodeos here in Oklahoma when I was 14 years old. Then in 1995, I won the World Champion Junior Calf Roping at Smith Brothers in Denton.
“I bought my International Professional Rodeo Association card when I was a senior in high school and made the IPRA finals for the first time. I went on to make the IPRA finals six or seven times and won the average at the International Finals Rodeo in 2001.” He has also experienced success in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, in not one but two different circuits.
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I bought my PRCA card in 1996 and made the Prairie Circuit Finals five times, and then later on switched my circuit to the Great Lakes circuit and made those finals five times,” Neal said.
To read more pick up a copy of the August 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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