Road to the Horse day 1

Jody Wood of the Wood Ranch brought a beautiful remuda for 2010. Greys, palominos, some striking bays ... it's alw.ays nice when the herd is colorful. These three year olds were also playful, alert and active.
I'll post photos on my return home.
I always like to ask folks which colt they would have picked. Interestingly, Tommmy Garland said he wouldn't have picked any of the colts choosen. He favored the bays. Josh Lyons did like the #9 horse. Ken McNabb chose #9, WR Turning Diamonds, a 2007 gray gelding by Blue Diamond Hancock out of Turning Commander.

Cameron chose colt #10, WR Shining Alamo, a 2007 palomino by Shining King Cody out of Alamosa Annie. Richard Winters chose #1, WR Shiner Flashback, a 2007 sorrel gelding by Shining King Cody by Flashy Flashback.

Winter's haltered his horse first and according to our resident training expert Jody Cook, may be ever so slightly further along than McNabb & Cameron. That said, Craig spent a lot of time bonding and rubbing his horse. It's so hard to tell this early.
All the horses were haltered and introduced to desensitization techniques of various degrees. But none were saddled.

They are closely matched for tomorrow's round pen sessions. It's just too early in the game to know. Predictions are all over the place.

On another note, the riding demos where outstanding.

Ken McNabb left not a dry eye in the house. He rode to the song "my father in me" while Trent and Kirk, his young sons played with cars in the dirt at the center of the arena. His flying lead changes, diagonals and half passes were outstanding. But when Kurt McNabb, Ken's father joined the boys to play ... 5000 people were moved beyond words. They wrapped the tear jerking ride with Ken dismounting and all four McNabb's walking out hand in hand.

Craig Cameron rode to a montage of two songs - and this man's ability to maneuver his horse at breakneck speeds is why he is the original "Extreme Cowboy". His seat is sublime and his cues are invisible - his ride is awe inspiring.

Richard Winters and his daughter Sara (age 20) executed dual reining spins, wore matching chaps and hats and executed a routine that rivaled any freestyle dressage or reining performance I've ever seen ... well, except Stacy Westfall's ... but really - how do you trump Stacy?

The opening ceremonies brought together Kurt and Trent McNabb and Tootie Bland's neices (4th generation Bland cowgirls) to carry the sponsor flags and Shortie Tarpley, wife of the new (and completely awesome by the way) boss wrangler Adam Tarpley.

For entertainment the incomparable "One Armed Bandit" John Payne was back with his buffalo, his mule and a new paint pony we should see him ride tomorrow. He ain't the 10 time PRCA entertainment act of the year for nothin' - it's just flat out jaw dropping to see him herd two buffalo up on top of a stock trailer and execute a reining spin on the same trailer while said trailer is pulling out of the arena.

and ... that, is all for tonight folks!