Writing for the Brand

Hi all,

The January weather here in Texas was uncommonly nice. Sunny days, shorts and horses without blankets lulled us into forgetting that February is coming. While it is only in the 40s this week (and I know, it is MUCH colder for our friends to the north), you can see a change in horses and riders. Yesterday, I traveled to Carol Rose Quarter Horses in Gainesville to obtain an exclusive video and photographs of Carol, trainer Jay McLaughlin and Shiney Sushi. Shiney Sushi captured the Open Bridle championship in San Angelo during the NRCHA Celebration of Champions, and now the mare will retire from showing.

When I arrived the Rose Ranch crew was busy saddling and riding young horses, and boy, you could see they all felt good! The horses had a spring in their step and the bundled-up riders definitely felt it. It was great to watch them work sons of Shiners Lena Doc, Shining Spark and others. The riding pad is out near I-35, and the constant traffic, horns of 18-wheelers and other distractions sure can get a horse broke! Managing Editor Susan Morrison and I were able to see Shiney Sushi’s offspring, both by CD Lights, and even got to watch Jay ride the 2-year-old filly, Bossie.  He also rode the champion stallion, A Shiner Named Sioux, who is a full brother to Shiney Sushi.

The exclusive video of Shiney Sushi will be posted on WesternHorseman.com soon, and you can be sure I will post it on here at that time. Until then, here are a couple of photographs from our trip to Rose Ranch yesterday to hold you over. Check Western Horseman’s website and Facebook page soon to see Jay and Carol talk about this talented mare and her babies.

Bossie, out of Shiney Sushi and by CD Lights, has the athleticism of her dam, and the looks to go with it.

A Shiner Named Sioux, by Shining Spark and out of Docs Sulena, is a full brother to Shiney Sushi, the 2011 NRCHA Open Bridle World Champion.

Hello all, and happy rainy Wednesday! The February issue of Western Horseman is now in subscriber mailboxes and out on newsstands. In the issue, Shawn Hays offers insight on how to “Position Yourself for Success” in cattle classes.

Shawn is a cow horse trainer from Nocona, Texas. I originally met Shawn while at trainer Don Murphy’s in Oklahoma. Shawn and his wife, Tammy, had come up to work cattle. I again saw Shawn when I traveled to their place in Nocona to interview he and Tammy for an Arena All-Star on Tammy’s amazing mare, Shine Smartly. Shawn’s quiet manner both on and off the horse impressed me, as did his win in senior working cow horse on Shine Smartly at the 2010 AQHA world show.

Photo by Darrell Dodds

An avid student of both cattle and horsemanship, Shawn’s approach to training and showing in cattle events is methodical. He always tries to set up a run where the horse will be able to work to the best of its ability. In the February article on page 25, Shawn’s four tips for success include how to read the cow and get into position when boxing, and the best position and manner in which to take a cow down the fence in the fencework.

In addition to our online article, we filmed a brief training tip for westernhorseman.com. You can view the tip by clicking below.

Line of Sight

The video lays out a simple but precise exercise designed to engage your horse by keeping the cow in it’s line of sight. If a horse can’t see the cow, how can it react? Give it a try next time you work a pushy cow.  Be sure to pick up the February issue for the complete article with Shawn!

If you are a Stock Horse of Texas member, watch the video before the February 24th clinic in Abilene, where Shawn will conduct the cow horse clinic.

In California there is a road, the El Camino Real, which translates to the Royal Road. The road was established for travel between the missions, but I feel it is a beacon for my travels to California. Along this road, I have experienced some of the most interesting visits with buckeroos, vaqueros, artists, horsemen and other travelers. It’s been a royal blessing for me! Recently, I followed the El Camino Real to San Luis Obispo and Santa Margarita to add to my list of friends out West.

The Twisselman family was introduced to Western Horseman readers last October, in the article “True to All-Around.” I visited the family again to learn about a new event that they, along with horsemen Martin Black and Chris Cox, are putting together. The Horsemen’s Re-Union is a truly once-in-a-lifetime event. There is an abundance of horsemen, and those claiming to be horsemen, floating around the industry.

Differing methods, training programs or gimmicks draw in portions of profit from around the globe. Instead of another expo or competition pitting one horseman against another, the Horsemen’s Re-Union will bring more than 20 horsemen from the United States, Canada, Australia and Switzerland together in Paso Robles, California, to start more than 40 horses over one week. The horses belong to the Twisselman family, and are of the famous “Pick and Shovel” bloodlines I wrote about last October. From Playgun to Doc Bar, these 2- and 3-year-old horse are the product of careful breeding for specific ranch and all-around genes. In April, at the event, the horses will be started by some of the best horsemen around. Here’s the kicker–the horses will be sold after the event in sale! How would you like to own a horse that Martin Black, or Pat Parelli, or Ty Van Norman, or Craig Cameron started? Here’s your chance.

Chris Cox, left, Cathie Twisselman and Martin Black all aboard Madonna Inn Quarter Horses in California.

My April “Hands-On Horseman” section will feature an article outlining how this event came about and the particulars. I know that after spending four days with Martin, Chris, Cathie and Rowly I am incredibly excited to get back out there in April for this amazing display of horsemen.

But, I didn’t spend all my time gazing at beautiful horses–I also met with renowned artist and Vaquero historian Ernest Morris at his home in Templeton. The 83-year-old continues to stretch his creative boundaries with different art mediums. The few hours I spent barely scratched the surface on his amazing life, but I was able to learn quite a bit about both him and some incredible traditions.

Vaquero historian and artist Ernest Morris.

In Santa Margarita, I had the honor of meeting and photographing Alie McKee. Alie and her husband, Jeff, manage the historic Santa Margarita Ranch that is home to the original mission. Parts of the mission walls still stand in the barn that is the centerpiece of this beautiful ranch. A perfect stopping place between Paso Robles and San Luis Obispo on the El Camino Real, the Santa Margarita Ranch is steeped in history–right down to the wagon wheel ruts that are still visible from hundreds of years past. Senior Editor Jennifer Denison will put Alie’s story into a “Women of the West” to appear later in the year.

Alie McKee and her husband, Jeff, manage the historic Santa Margarita Ranch.

My last day in California was spent in Carissa Plains, just east of Santa Margarita with Martin Black and the Twisselman family. I felt like I had my own Martin Black clinic to attend. He helped work with some of the 4- and 5-year-old horses and even gave me a tip or two while I rode around on Cathie’s older mare, Ziva. (You can see Ziva in the photo below with Chris Cox in the saddle). It was another fabulous learning experience for a life-long horse(wo)man life myself.

Chris Cox and Ziva trail in some of the Madonna Inn Quarter Horse herd in San Luis Obispo.

The January issue of Western Horseman features a very special “Women of the West,” Mary Bell Cooksley. I visited Mary Bell on her family’s Shorthorn cattle farm outside of Berwyn, Nebraska, last June. She was a wonderful interview, lively and full of wisdom. Sadly, at 91, Mary Bell passed away in October. We had planned to run the article and did so as tribute to a truly Western woman. At her first words, I knew I was speaking to a special woman who enjoyed finding the challenges in life.

“When I was in high school, I started out to write a thesis on the origin of the Palomino color in the horse,” she said. “I did it because I wanted to know. Of course, with a thesis, you had to have a bibliography. I could only find two sources at that time of possible places to find that information–a short paragraph in the Encyclopedia Britannica and an article in a 1936 Western Horseman.“

Born in 1920, Mary Bell was very influential in Nebraska, not only in cattle but in politics. She was  on of the first women ever elected president of an Elks Lodge, and was a member of several associations, including Nebraska Association of Fair Managers, Nebraska Thoroughbred Breeders Association and American Shorthorn Association.

Sitting with her for a few hours, I learned much about her past and enjoyed hearing her life’s work. Though today the farm is Cooksley Clear Creek Farm, for many years her father reigned cattle king over Haumont Shorthorns. It was impressive to see the lineage of the Haumont/Cooksley cattle that can be traced back 10 generations. She explained how her father selected cattle, and why their herd was in such demand. However, Mary Bell truly lit up speaking about her husband, Leo Cooksley. They met at an ice skating party and Leo convinced Mary Bell to reject a scholarship to Nebraska Weslayan and attend Nebraska University, where he was in school.

“It was a mutual attraction with Leo,” she remembered. “He graduated in 1941 and got assigned to his first year of active service at Fort Robinson in northwest Nebraska. It was one of four remount stations in the U.S. I was teaching home economics when he called me on the phone, said he had two weeks leave at Christmas, and what did I think of getting married? His parents and his father’s parents had all been married Christmas Day, so we got married on Christmas Day in 1942.”

Mary Bell followed Leo and his Army contracts through many states, until they settled in Nebraska. The two began raising cattle and horses. Though initially wanting to bring a Quarter Horse to their area, Leo instead applied for an Army remount Thoroughbred stallion. Thus began their Thoroughbred business.

“We decided the remount Thoroughbred was the most versatile for us,” she said. “And, if you had one good enough on the track, it was Christmas in July. We did get quite a few racing percentages. At one time we had 7 Thoroughbred stallions and 75 broodmares. We have sold them to be polo ponies and jumpers, but mainly, they went to work on ranches.”

Mary Bell was tough, and a few of her adventures are noted in the “Women of the West” article. Her family, six children, 14 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren, were very important to her. It was a privilege to spend time with someone who has seen momentous change in our society and to hear her reflections on those changes.

“There is a mindset in this country that agriculture is an inexhaustible wealth, and we can keep mining it,” she said. “But, it is not. As the old Indians said, white man crazy turn land grass-side down. When you do that to too many acres, you’re going to be hungry. You can’t raise potatoes on concrete. There are entities that want to do away with livestock production because they think it takes up too much of our land.  Maybe two legged livestock take up too much of our land.

“Mankind is not the wisest husbandman in the world. He is given to excess and bad decision, and does not allow for government’s intelligences in most cases. I say this because I’ve been on this Earth so long that I’ve seen this happen.”

Though Mary Bell is no longer with us, her thoughts on agriculture and the changes that have been made, and those that are coming, weigh on my mind. It was an honor to meet her, see her beautiful, beloved cattle and truly experience a Western woman.

Unless you are living under a rock, you know that the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo is rocking Las Vegas, Nevada. Tonight, Wednesday, December 7, is round 7 and that means we are past the halfway point in this 10 round marathon. I got in touch with Binion Cervi of Cervi Championship Rodeo in between performances yesterday to get some inside scoop and to see how the Cervi bucking horses were doing at the Super Bowl of Rodeo!

Q: We are halfway into the NFR. How are your horses doing?

Awesome so far! L25 Party Shop was the highest marked horse in the eliminator pen Sunday [round 4] and has been the highest marked horse of the entire show so far. Unridden still this year after throwing World Champion Jesse Kruse!

War Glory was good on Monday bucking off Sam Spreadborough. Jason Havens placed in money on Hostage [Bareback riding, round 4] and Sacred Sacrifice bucked. Several haven’t been out yet because of being drawn as re-rides, but they will be out later this week, including Rose Puff [Tilden Hooper rode to a 75 in Round 6], War Victory and Hello Dolly. Cody Wright missed out Sparky Savannah so he got a no score. Overall it’s been good!

Q: Does the stress of the trip and a long show affect them?

A lot of people’s horses can’t take the long show and we likely will see a couple more re-rides the second half than we did the first week. Fortunately for us, our horses are used to 2- and 3-week-long shows like Denver, San Antonio and Houston, so generally speaking our horses do well regardless. In 2010, L25 Party Shop bucked better his second trip. And, the cowboys won higher money slots the second time around on our horses.

Q: Hello Dolly was on the cover of the magazine, how is he doing? Tell me how he is looking compared to other broncs competing.

He was drawn as a re-ride in his first trip and they ended up not having to use him, but he will be out in the 8^th round on Thursday because every horse here bucks a minimum of one time.

Q: What do you guys do in your down time in Vegas? Are y’all gamblers or do you like to see a show?

Scotty does gamble some out of boredom being here three weeks, but not Chase and I. The first weekend we had a celebrity friend of ours, neighbor Todd Helton who plays first base for the Colorado Rockies, come in with Chase, and I gambled next to him because he’s a 21 playing son of a gun! But generally no, and Chase never has gambled believe it or not.

Q: There are a lot of great horses competing at the NFR. If you could own one horse from another string, which one would it be?

A gelding named J8 Eight Ball of the Bar T Rodeo Co. Jesse Kruse won the [fourth] round on him. Every trip that horse has he bucks, and I’ve never seen an off day on him. And of course I would like 299 Lunatic Fringe from the Burch’s because he is always good and his breeding capabilities for future great horses are good.

For complete coverage of the WNFR, visit prorodeo.com. For more information on Cervi Championship Rodeo, visit cervirodeo.com.

Everyone goes for the gold at the World.

Hi all,

November means one thing for me: the AQHA World Championship Show! On Sunday, November 13, I traveled to Oklahoma City to gather a few interviews and watch several horses and trainers compete. The atmosphere at the World is always great! Not only are the top horsemen in every Western discipline in one location, they bring along the top horses.

I had the opportunity to photograph Bob and Dana Avila with their amazing gelding Brother White for an upcoming article. I’d seen “Preacher” compete at past world shows, but missed his last go in the amateur working cow horse with Dana on board. The gelding likely made his last appearance at the world show this year. Sightings like that make this show special. I didn’t have long to dwell on the fact I missed Preacher’s go because I ran into other horses that Western Horseman featured as “Arena All-Stars.”

Monday morning the junior and senior working cow horse preliminaries got underway. Sitting with Don Murphy for much of the junior class, I was able to ask questions on scoring and how each horse was performing. Then came the senior, and I was up out of my seat. Not one but two past all stars were showing. First came NMSU Truckin Chex, a stallion Susan Morrision wrote about in the October issue. “Elvis” also had a daughter showing in the junior. The great stud had some trouble during his run and didn’t make the finals, but it was a treat to watch the big horse work. Next came “Slider.” Topsails Rien Maker and Russell Dilday have won just about every event, but not an AQHA senior horse world championship. Unfortunately, the pair bobbled a lead change in the reined work. Despite a phenomenal showing in the cow work–which proves size does not matter working a cow– they didn’t advance to the final round.

It was a lot of excitement for a Monday, and Tuesday was equally good. The senior tie-down roping prelimiaries got off to a good start with the August “Arena All-Star,” Zans Even Parr scoring a 220.5. “Smurf” and trainer C.R. Bradley will return for the finals and try to pick up another world championship. Watch clips from the run by clicking the image below.

Click the image to view the video.

Also competing in the senior tie-down was Chris Littlefield, who was the September Hands-On Horseman section trainer. Ross Hecox shot a video of Chris describing how he trains calf roping horses to work the rope. I had a chance to watch Chris and Sparkle Peppy Bars in action. The horse worked great and the pair made it back to the finals with a 220 score. Watch their run here:

Click the image to view the video.

The World Show is always interesting, and this year was no different. Be sure to watch for more great Arena All-Stars in upcoming issues, and keep an eye out for these great horses to compete at popular events.

Russell Dilday, in red, and Jay McLaughlin warm up for the senior working cow horse.

Hello all!

Last weekend, Oct. 27 and 28, I participate in my first Stock Horse of Texas clinic and competition. The Stock Horse of Texas organization (also known as SHOT) has been providing education, camaraderie and competition to Western stock horse enthusiasts for more than 10 years. Obviously, I was late to get on the SHOT wagon.

The SHOT event was in Rosenberg, which is my home town, so I had an excuse to not only ride but also to see my family. With a wonderful borrowed horse, I made my way south. At the SHOT event I rode Another Star Dancer who we call “Beazey.” Beazey belongs to my friend Carisa, who I met the summer I taught on the Texas 4-H Summer Horsemanship Clinics teams. Carisa is pretty busy year-round and Beazey had not been ridden in quite some time, but I took the week prior to the SHOT event to ride her into as good a shape as I could—and also to ensure I wouldn’t get bucked off! I also took those days to read up on the SHOT rules and to go over Susan Morrison’s article in Western Horseman from 2010, “No One-Trick Ponies,” where Bozo Rogers outlined how to prepare for and show in several ranch versatility events.

I don’t know what I was worried about because Beazey handled SHOT like a pro. Friday was clinic day and dawned COLD. Of course the first cold snap of the year would occur the day I was to be up and horseback early in the morning. We all took the wind and cold in stride and the clinic had nearly 100 participants. I chose to ride in the novice group, as I had never done SHOT. First, we headed to the trail course where SHOT President Brian Sumrall took us through the obstacles.

Ready to work a cow at the SHOT clinic.

Brian made sure that we understood that the goal of each obstacle was not merely to get past it, but to show that your horse could calmly move toward an obstacle, such as a bridge, walk over it with interest and no hesitation, and then move on. One thing Beazey and I worked hard on was not hurrying through obstacles, especially elevated poles. I learned Beazey is a bit of a klutz.

Next, it was on to the stock pleasure portion of the clinic where Texas Tech University Ranch Horse Team member Kelsey Stokes explained the gaits and pattern to us rookies. Kelsey and another SHOT competitor Zinn Lindsey offered advice to each rider. Beazey has been trained in reining, so she is comfortable doing a cute little Western pleasure-like jog, but Kelsey informed me that most SHOT judges like to see the horse move out more in not only the extended jog, but also the regular jog. Tips like these sure came in handy the next day when it was time to show.

After lunch, cow-horse trainer Ross Ericsson from Dickens, Texas, helped each of us face and work a cow. I am a decent cutter, but I have never done cow horse. The novice working cow horse pattern only calls for the rider to box, or hold, the cow on one end of the pen and not take it down the fence to turn. Ross helped me to track the cow with Beazey, and then made sure we were turning with the cow in the proper fashion. Having been reining trained, Beazey spins with more forward than is asked for in a cow horse turn, so each time I turned with the cow, I backed the mare a step or two prior to turning.

Finally, James Collier, a reining horse trainer from Needville, Texas, helped riders to ask their horse to complete spins and circles, emphasizing the proper body position of both horse and rider. By this point Beazey and I were just flat wore out! Seeing how I had essentially pulled her from pasture to competition arena in under a week, we headed out a bit early to let her rest.

Saturday brought the competition, where I showed Beazey to 34^th in the trail and 12^th in the stock pleasure. We had a few bobbles in trail—like deciding the large log was too big to sidepass over. But I had fun and made several friends over the two days. I see why organizations like SHOT are becoming even more popular with riders like me who have a 9-5 job, but want to compete and be part of the horse community. SHOT is by no means easy, but it offers different levels of experience for competition. Plus, each show is preceded by and educational clinic so there is always a chance to improve. The membership cost is relatively low, and, especially if you don’t compete in cow classes, showing is affordable. Overall, I really enjoyed the opportunity to get back in the saddle and compete with other Western riders.

The pattern was fairly straight forward, but fun.

Now, I’m logging off to go ride poor Beazey—there’s more SHOT shows next year and we need to prepare.

Last weekend I experienced my first Red Steagall Cowboy Gathering. The gathering celebrated its 21st year, and was held in the Fort Worth Stockyards. From chuckwagons to horsemanship clinics, and poetry to Western music, attendees were immersed in the Western lifestyle. There was something for everyone who came out, including a Trappings shopping area and ranch rodeo.

Here are a few photos for those who couldn’t attend. Hopefully, these photos will encourage you to visit the Red Steagall Cowboy Gathering next year! Visit redsteagallcowboygathering.com for information on next year’s event.

The weather was perfect for the outdoor event.

The Texas Trail of Fame inducted new members on Saturday.

Lined up and watching cattle at the Ranch Cutting Horse Association National Finals. A good looking set of ranch horses if I ever saw some!

This young lady stepped in for a late addition to the cowboy poetry session and blew us away!

Chuckwagons stretched from the front of the Cowtown Coliseum across the Exchange Building lawn, providing a unique look at the old cowboy way of cooking.

Dutch oven cooking may just top all those four star chefs in town.

An invitational team roping featured members of the Ranchos Vistadores and Tejas Vaqueros.

Western lifestyle lovers of all ages pitched in at the chuckwagon cooking area. A youth chuckwagon cooking contest was held on Sunday.

Don Bell created his first sculpture in 1994.

Hi all,

On October 7th, the All American Quarter Horse Congress kicked off in Columbus, Ohio. Touted as the largest single breed horse show in the country, the Congress is a two-week marathon of a horse show, and it includes events from reining to Western pleasure and halter to cutting. Many horse show competitors consider the show more challenging than the world championship show.

The 2011 Congress marks the first year that the newly created Don Bell sculpture, The All American, is presented to class winners. I was able to sit down with Don for an article in the October issue—”Congress Commission” on page 122. The process of mocking up and then completing the bronze was a lengthy one, and involved not only Don but a committee of horsemen and women involved in the Ohio horse show.

“I thought being asked was a big honor, and it really inspired me,” Bell says in the article. One of the driving forces in recreating the well-known Congress bronze was to portray the modern-day Quarter Horse, a horse that is less muscled, more athletic and balanced. An AQHA carded judge, Don Bell knew just what to look for in the horse he modeled the bronze sculpture after.

“I’ve studied conformation, and i’ve always seeing things I haven’t noticed before. I think my horse judging has helped me,” he says. Horse judging impacted his ability to create a balanced bronze, and Don’s love of the Quarter Horse and his experience showing in many disciplines connected to the industry. Plus, he has also won a Congress bronze.

Don and his wife Joetta both compete in Quarter Horse shows and National  Cutting Horse Association Non-Pro cutting competition. Pick up an October issue to read the full story, and to keep up with the All American Quarter Horse Congress visit. oqha.com.

See ya!

Recently, the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and the American Quarter Horse Association release the Horse of the Year honorees. Looking at the list, it sure reads like a who’s who of Western Horseman subjects!

In the tie-down roping category, the top horse, “Sweetness,” and the third place honoree, “TC,” are known to WH readers. Here’s a spoiler for our December issue: The Arena All-Star will be Sweetness! The great gelding was also pictured with Clint Cooper in “Super Coopers” in June’s issue. Be sure to check back in December for more on Sweetness.

Last November, I was able to write an article on a horse I’d seen for several years—Time to Catch WA, better known as “TC.” TC came from Brazil with owner Frederico Werneck in 2007. The horse was already famous in Brazil having placed in the Brazilian Quarter Horse Futurity race as a 3-year-old, was reserve in the Brazilian equivalent of the NRHA’s reining Super Stakes, and wining several calf roping championships. In December 2007 he broke into a whole new world—American rodeo. Blair Burk rode the gelding to a fifth-round win and tenth round tie at the NFR. Frederico knew he and TC were destined to stay in the US and continue to compete at rodeos.

Frederico ropes one on TC in 2011. Photo by Ross Hecox.

At 19 years old, TC has helped Frederico, Burk, fellow PRCA roper Tyson Durfey to win checks  at some of the country’s largest rodeos. TC’s talent in the roping arena was rewarded when he was voted third in the horse of the year poll this year. In last year’s article, Tyson Durfey said of TC: “I thought it was so cool to see a horse that had come so far and done so well.”

TC is a permanent member of the Werneck family. “You can never say ‘never,’ but I don’t want to sell him,” he said back in 2010. “I would be glad to see my little girl rope on him when she was 5 or 10.”

What more can I say in a blog about “Vegas?” RA Sonoita Silver was the 2010 Horse of the Year, and this year he finished tied for second. Not only is he pretty, but the horse is a roping machine. In the May 2011 Arena All-Star, owner Turtle Powell talked to us about what made Vegas special to him.

“There is a lot of difference between a good horse and a great horse,” he says. “A great horse steps up to the plate and you can win a lot.” And win they have. This year, Turtle and Vegas will head to the horse’s namesake town sitting 13th in the PRCA world standings. You can be sure the grandson of Playgun will be ready to fire out of the header’s box at the NFR.

Vegas has helped Turtle Powell win since 2005. Photo by Darrell Dodds.

To read the full list of AQHA/PRCA Horse of the Year honorees, visit prorodeo.com. Be sure to pick up our November rodeo-heavy issue on news stands October 15th. We’ll see you all down the road!