Cultured Cowgirl

In its 75-year history, Western Horseman has commemorated many of its own milestones, as well as those in the horse industry. However, I think most longtime readers and staff from past and present would agree that none compare to the 75th Anniversary Celebration and Ride that occurred this weekend in Colorado Springs, Colorado. With more than 150 people in attendance, from 19 states and Germany, and several top Western clinicians, there was no shortage of conversation and camaraderie.

Mike Kevil, Buck Taylor and Craig Cameron were among the "celebrity" guests along for the ride.

The event kicked off with a mixer on Friday night, which I wrote about in my previous post. Then on Saturday, before dawn, glossy-eyed from only a couple of hours sleep, I wandered into the pasture to catch my horse and haul him to the U.S. Air Force Academy for a day of riding along the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains. Besides spending time with magazine readers and celebrating the publication we all grew up with and admire, this ride was going to be even more special than most because my dad decided to join me with his mule, Fred. He also brought another mule for art director Ron Bonge to ride.

When I arrived at 7:30 a.m., horses were saddled and picketed, ready for the day's ride.

When we pulled into the staging area, a large meadow on the west side of the government property, horses from the AFA string, as well as those brought in from Sombrero Ranches in Meeker, Colorado, and M Lazy C Ranch in Lake George, Colorado, were picketed. Some early birds who brought their own mounts were saddled and ready to go, while others eagerly waited to meet their assigned partners for the day. Having lived in Colorado my entire life, I often take for granted its towering terrain and scenic beauty. But thanks to people I met from Pennsylvania, Louisiana, Arkansas and Texas, I was reminded of how lucky I am to have such riding opportunities in my backyard.

To start our ride out right, Western recording artist Michael Martin Murphey rode in on a stagecoach provided by Jim Newell of Fountain, Colorado. The sound of the rumbling stagecoach, thundering hooves and jingling harness, as well as the sight of dust flying as the horse-drawn vehicle made its way up the gravel road was like a scene from the Old West. Newell’s coach is a replica of a 19th-century Abbot Downing Co. model, which Mark Twain once praised as like a “cradle on wheels.”

Murphey, a resident of Southern Colorado, exited the coach and sang his rendition of the National Anthem. The echoes of his pure voice and acoustic guitar echoed over the mountains, a sound I soon won’t forget. Then everyone set out for the ride.

Riders came from 19 states and Germany.

The first half the ride, we meandered over a small water crossing and along a gradual trail. Besides a few rocks, the terrain was mild and suitable for horses and riders of all levels. After a brief lunch break, catered by The Pinery, riders has their choice of continuing on a shorter or longer ride. Of course, I chose the latter. After all, I had hauled all the way down there. Even though I rode drag the entire time to avoid the bottlenecks, several riders made it back to visit me. These were some of my favorite comments:

“Where would you get to see this many clinicians in the saddle at one time?” “Western Horseman, trail riding, Murphey–this an all-American event, that’s for sure.”

“Only Western Horseman could put on an event like this.”

“Water, and lots of it, is a good thing at this altitude.”

“I didn’t mind the stop-and-go, it just gave me more time to meet and talk to people.”

“Follow a trail? I don’t think so, I’d rather blaze my own.”

I met nobody who didn’t enjoy the ride, and the entire weekend for that matter. Those of us who worked in the Colorado Springs office always sensed Dick Spencer’s presence often, and joked that the occasional sounds of footsteps or slamming file cabinet drawer heard in the early morning or late night were because Dick was working right there with us.  As I reflect on the meaning of this ride, I can’t help but think that each time I felt the tingling warmth from a ray of sun, it was Dick Spencer riding beside us, smiling at what this weekend was all about–bringing together horses and riders from around the world to celebrate the things that meant the most to him, the Western stock-horse industry, cowboy culture, Western Horseman and its readers.

–Jennifer Denison

Nearly six years ago, the Western Horseman staff sat down around a table together and began planning our 70th anniversary issues. What stands out most to me about that meeting wasn’t a particular article idea, but rather a comment from A.J. Mangum, who was editor at that time. “Before long we’ll be planning the 75th anniversary, so we should probably start thinking about that, too.” At the time, the 75th anniversary seemed so far away. But tonight, after years of painstaking planning, Western Horseman kicked off one of the most significant milestones in the magazine’s long history.

An estimated 150 people–a mix of staff, Western artists, horse-industry influentials and readers arrived at Latigo Trails Equestrian Center in Elbert, Colorado, the staging area for the long-awaited Western Horseman Celebration and Ride. The three-day event includes a mixer, trail ride at the United States Air Force Academy, a dinner and Michael Martin Murphey concert, and a clinicians’ round-table discussion. It’s been more than a year since the magazine’s headquarters moved from my home state of Colorado and moved to Fort Worth, Texas, so it’s sentimental–and even a little emotional–to once again feel its presence and heritage in its longtime home.

An all-star lineup of past and present magazine staff and trainers and clinicians turned out for the night’s mixer. We didn’t have a red carpet to roll out, but a concrete entry into the indoor arena area, seemed to be a more appropriate platform to showcase our guests as they entered. Bob Avila, Martin Black, Jack Brainard, Craig Cameron, Doug Carpenter, Chris Cox, Al Dunning, Marty Martin, Robert Miller, DVM, and Curt Pate were among the horsemen mingling in the crowd. Readers, such as Joe and Connie Vara, from Chappell Hill, Texas, took advantage of the chance to meet the “celebrities” they read about in the magazine.

“Where else would you see all these guys together in one room,” said Joe who competes in Stock Horse of Texas events.

Joe and Connie Vara traveled to the Western Horseman 75th Anniversary Celebration and Ride from Chappell Hill, Texas.

Making information from top horsemen accessible to our readers has–and continues to be–a priority for the Western Horseman staff. Bringing some of the best horsemen together to meet readers seemed impossible not that long ago, considering the trainers’ and clinicians’ travel schedules. But that’s the power of Western Horseman, you can’t help but want to be a part of it.

–Jennifer Denison

During its short time in business, the Pony Express created some of the most colorful legends and lore in Western history.

I admit, I’m not a typical traveler. A vacation to me is not about relaxing, but rather creating adventures, seeing historical sites and taking in slices of Western life not visible from the Interstate, a resort or a tropical island.
On a recent trip to Nevada, I could’ve easily taken I-80 from Elko to Reno, and probably saved time, but instead I drove south to Ely and started a colorful, yet barren, journey along Highway 50. The deciding factor to take this route was a free, pocket-sized booklet I picked up called The Official Highway 50 Survival Guide. Inside, it dared me to discover the adventure along the 287-mile stretch of blacktop dubbed the “Loneliest Road in America” by Life magazine. Even more appealing, I could stop in five towns along the way and have my book validated with a stamp, and at the end of the trip send in the postage-paid postcard inside the booklet and receive a souvenir certificate to commemorate my adventure. What a deal!
Maybe it’s a product of my rural upbringing, but as I proudly hold my certificate, I really don’t think most people need a “survival” guide to Highway 50, just a little common sense. For example, water and a half-tank of fuel are essential, as well as plenty of toe-tapping tunes, podcasts or audio books. Cell service is a little sketch for most of the trip. For fellow Western road warriors out there, here are five things I found fascinating about Highway 50. Some are quirky and some are obvious, but all are uniquely part of Western heritage. I hope you’ll follow in my tire tracks and enjoy the trip, too. And, please let me know the sites and scenes that most interested you.

1. Sand Mountain. About 32 miles east of the town of Fallon, the sagebrush terrain transforms into a surreal, two-mile long mound of sand, like the landscape you’d expect to see in Egypt. This area was once the coast along Lake Lohantan, which dried up thousands of years ago. The sandy spot is a popular recreational area for riding ATVs and sandboarding, which is much like surfing in the sand. Cowagunga! Ironically, that term allegedly was first used by gauchos to express excitement at tipping a cow.

2. Pony Express and Overland Stagecoach corridor. Continuing east, between Fallon and the historic mining town of Austin, you’ll retrace portions of the Pony Express and Overland Stagecoach sites. Stop and ponder what it’d be like to be a young mail carrier riding hundreds of miles solo, across the brutal desert terrain, not knowing what might be over the next hill. Now, I could see a survival guide for those men. Three spots along the route–Cold Springs, Middlegate and Sand Springs–are designated with historical markers worth stopping to read. Old formations and foundations still exist on the sites.

3. Stokes Castle. Located in Austin, this abandoned rock tower rises above the trees and overlooks the quaint community. Built in 1897 as a summer home for Anson Phelps Stokes, a wealthy mine owner and banker, the castle is just one of the buildings that retains this town’s nostalgic feel. At one point, the castle was almost moved to Las Vegas, but Molly Magee Knudsen, a New York socialite and cousin of Stokes, purchased the property and a Nevada ranch to boot.

4. Eureka. This historic silver-mining community has been well-preserved for passersby. The old opera house and courthouse, both built in 1879, are examples of beautiful architecture from the past. Eureka Sentinel Museum, which houses regional relics, is also worth a look-see.

5. Great Basin National Park. The eastern end of Highway 50 is the gateway to one of the most diverse national parks I’ve encountered in my journeys. Here, high desert meets glacial mountains, open space collides with hidden caves. Although I didn’t get to explore the area for long, I see that trail riding, hiking and camping opportunities abound. I’ll definitely be returning for an environmental encore.

Surrounded by open range, "The Loneliest Highway in America," was a welcoming road to me.