Fox Trotters Shine at the 2nd Florida Cowboy Challenge by Lisa Wright
Foxtrotter Group Photo
The day began with great anticipation, I had attended last years Cowboy Challenge so I was quite sure I was prepared for this years. Linda Balyeat, Ross Harper, Keri Cooper, Melissa Wadsworth and I strolled up to the two arenas to look over the challenges ahead of us. I immediately realized my plan for being prepared had one slight problem, not one obstacle was the same as last year. As a matter of fact they were far more difficult. We realized we should just throw caution to the wind and do our best literally, due to the heavy winds that day and both courses were outlined in yellow caution tape which was flapping furiously in the wind.
This was going to be a day to remember from the giant beach ball (large as our horses) to jumping hay bails, roping a plastic cow, walking thru debris and tires to shooting an air rifle at a scare crow. There were 18 obstacles total and 62 entries, what a Horsemanship Day!
Linda
Congratulations to Linda who rode Casey’s Big City Lights for finishing 11th and Ross riding Perfect Sunrise finishing 16th, As For Doc’s Chippin Away and myself we completed all 18 obstacles and I believe we were close to the top 20 and Keri riding Pretty Boy Floyd who completed all 18 obstacles, good job. Melissa Wadsworth and Spitfire’s Traveling Jazz decided they were not ready for the challenges but enjoyed cheering us on and look forward to coming in March to the next Cowboy Challenge. Many horses had trouble completing 50% of the obstacles, our Fox Trotters proved to be excellent mounts.
Ross
As I looked back on the day, one thought kept crossing my mind, the bond I witnessed between rider and horse. At the close of the day, the Cowboy Challenge was about having the ultimate trust with your horse. So many different breeds attended, from Draft Horses to Thorughbreds and everything in between, this was more than how our Fox Trotters would shine and reach the top 20. This was about witnessing extraordinary relationships between rider and mount. It was about Linda Balyeat holding Light’s head as she whispered how proud she was of him and gave him kisses. This was about Ross Harper proudly boasting about Perfect who hadn’t been ridden in a couple months and had only practiced one day. It was about Keri Cooper praising Floyd dressed in her purple hues at every challenge he completed. This was about Melissa Wadsworth who forgave TJ for not wanting to participate and rode him around the grounds as if he had won The Challenge. As for myself and Chip I couldn’t have been more proud of my dear friend, each day he is my teacher in so many ways from patience to perseverance.
Lisa
Special thanks to all of our fans who cheered us on, your support was wonderful and greatly appreciated. Thank you Linda, Ross, Melissa and Keri for the laughter and good times we all shared. See you at the next Cowboy Challenge.
