In From The Range

In From The Range

What’s new, what’s hot and what’s being talked up!

 

 

Johnny & June Singer Heidi Newfield Shoots For A Cure

 

Heidi Newfield—the former Trick Pony singer who shot up the Country charts in 2008 with “Johnny & June”—was one of several performers who shot their way in a different arena.

 

Country stars Jason Meadows, Rhett Atkins, Ray Scott and Great American Country Television’s Storme Warren participated in the third annual Outlaw Annie Shoot for a Cure, held September 2 as a kick-off to the CMSA Eastern U.S. Championships in Murfreesboro, TN. 

 

Country crooner Trent Willmon won top celebrity shooting honors for the second straight year.

 

Chad Little and Shifarrah Carr took home the buckles as overall champions in the open competition.

 

The Shoot for a Cure raised $8500 for the fight against breast cancer. Proceeds benefit the Greater Nashville affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Foundation for breast cancer awareness.

 

Shoot For A Cure host Annie Bianco-Ellett is national spokeswoman for the Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association. She is the first and only woman in mounted shooting to win a world title overall and travels the country competing and offering shooting seminars. Annie’s shooting and riding skills have been featured on ESPN, Outdoor Life Network, TNN and Fox Sports Television, and she is the official shooting instructor in CMT’s hit reality show “Cowboy U.”

 

“Shoot for a Cure” is sponsored by Wrangler, Flying W Ranch, Carl Black Chevrolet, American Cowboy, Western Horseman, Charlie 1 Horse, Western Shooting Horse, Cimarron F.A. Co, E.M.F., Weaver Leather, WAHL, Colt, Classic Equine, Ruger, Case, Montana Silversmiths, Cactus Saddlery LLC, Townsend Ranch and Jack Daniels.

 

The event was produced by Ellett in association with the Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association.

 

Estimated $300,000 Available in 2010 Extreme Mustang Makeovers

 

The Extreme Mustang Makeover will offer an estimated $300,000 in prize money as it enters its third year of competition. Industry observers say the first two years are nothing short of amazing in events across the United States.

 

“We’ve been very fortunate in this economy to be able to sell out all of our events with the average adoption of the Mustangs holding at about $1,000 per head,” said Mustang Heritage Foundation Executive Director Patti Colbert. “Our goal each year has been to place 1,000 Mustangs in good homes through the Extreme Mustang Makeover and our Trainers Incentive Program and the American public has responded. We will close out 2009 with 1,000 of our nation’s wild horses gentled and starting new relationships with their adopters.”

 

Trainer applications are available now for events taking place in Oregon, California and Colorado with more events planned for Tennessee and Nebraska. First up in the “regular season” will be the $10,000 estimated Northwest Extreme Mustang Makeover March 19-21 held in conjunction with the Northwest Horse Fair and Expo in Albany, Ore. Trainer applications are due November 1 and are available though the event web site at www.extrememustangmakeover.com. For-ty geldings will be gentled for this competition with up to 40 trainers accepted to participate in the event. Trainers may apply for more than one horse to train.

 

The 2010 season will begin, however, with a return engagement to the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo January 22-23. Mustang Magic brings 15 of the 2009 season’s top trainers in an invitational competition featuring horses they picked by draw in September during the Extreme Mustang Makeover Western Stampede in Fort Worth. Trainers competing in this event were among the top three contenders during 2009 events.

 

Colbert also promises some exciting new elements to the competitions in 2010 with well-known horsemen and clinicians offering their support and expertise.

 

“Trainers can expect to see top horsemen like Al Dunning, Craig Cameron and Ken McNabb involved with the Extreme Mustang Makeover in ways we’ve not seen these horsemen involved before,” said Colbert. “Plus, we are going to be introducing some interactive ways for our fans to get even more involved, so 2010 is going to be an exciting year.”
Visit extrememustangmakeover.com for more information.

 

 

Cowboys Converge on Las Vegas

 

December in Las Vegas is not just for Rodeo anymore.

 

Granted, the time tested Wrangler National Finals Rodeo is the mainstay that transforms the glitter town into the hottest Cowboy celebration in the world. Tens of thousands of Western minded people gather for almost two weeks of adrenaline pumping Cowboy mania—but there’s a whole lot more now that a new game is in town.

 

Over at the South Point Casino Arena, Thunder EquiGames rocks the southern strip with a variety of competitions featuring high stakes scratch. Events kick off first with preliminaries of the World Series of Mounted Shootout that brings all levels of riders to vie for big dollars, buckles and prizes. It promises to bring the highest payout ever to the sport of Cowboy Mounted Shooting and the spots are full of enthusiastic competitors. 

 

Also running two rounds at that time: the Charmayne James Open Barrel Race and the Spin To Win Rodeo Magazine World Series Open Team Roping.

 

Week one culminates on Friday afternoon, December 4, with the finals of all three events—and the special added attraction of Freestyle Bullfighting. And if you’ve never seen that, it is an adrenaline sport like no other. Simply put, professional rodeo bullfighters take on some of the rankest bulls around, intent on a fight in a one-on-one, animal vs. man challenge.

 

The focus shifts during week two the EquiGames. With a purse in excess of $3-million, the World Series of Team Roping gets down to business with a series of events leading to the finale on Saturday afternoon, December 12.

 

Preliminaries are free to the public and the South Point is a great place to “hang out” over those two weeks. The finals
on Friday December 4 and Saturday, December 12 require tickets that can be purchased at the event or in advance at www.southpointeventscenter.com.

 

So if you like rodeo, mounted shooting, team roping, barrel racing and bullfighting, Las Vegas is the place to be from December 2-13. Hotels book fast but deals can be had. Check out www.equigames.com for more on the World Series and www.nfrexperience.com for complete rodeo information.

 

 

WNFR Heats Up Vegas

 

Every year 50,000 Cowboys, Country and rodeo fans, and all those in between, stampede to Las Vegas when the city welcomes the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (WNFR). This December will be no different when Las Vegas hosts not only the WNFR, but also the World Series of Mounted Shooting and Cowboy Christmas, Country Christmas and Cowboy Marketplace Gift Shows as well as a stellar list of high caliber Country Music stars–in a way that only Vegas can.

 

The Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, in its 23rd year in Las Vegas, will come to the Thomas & Mack Center Dec. 3-12, showcasing the talents of the nation’s top 15 money-winners in seven different events as they compete for the world title. At the end of two intense weeks of competition, the WNFR will crown world champions in: bareback riding, steer wrestling, team roping, saddle bronco riding, tie-down roping, bull riding, and, for women only, barrel racing. Sold-out attendance is expected to exceed 175,000 over 10 days.

 

What’s at stake: Eight world championship titles–and the gold buckles and saddles that go with the titles–will be awarded at the conclusion of the Wrangler NFR, based on annual earnings, oh, and did we mention, a purse of $5.625 million!

 

Las Vegas during the WNFR is also about shopping. With three separate shows including Cowboy Christmas Gift Show at the Convention Center, the Ariat Country Christmas Western Gift Expo at the Sands and the Cowboy Marketplace presented by Roper Apparel at Mandalay Bay, you can shop till you drop with tens of thousands of other eager shoppers vying for the perfect gifts in every imaginable Cowboy and Western category.

 

If you can’t find something to do in Las Vegas during the WNFR, you’re in the wrong Las Vegas. Make plans early and take advantage of low room rates when booking online.

 

 

VIVA LAS VEGAS WNFR

 

Where to go at Night

The Rodeo

Nightly 6:35 p.m. weekdays, 5:45 p.m. Saturday & Sunday.

 

Official WNFR Hotels

South Point–NFR Trade Show
Monte Carlo–Bareback Riders
Hooters–Steer Restlers
Golden Nugget–Team Roping
Palace Station–Bronc Riders
Mirage–Tie-Down Ropers
Excalibur–Barrel Racers
Silverton–Bull Riders

 

Gold Coast is always hopping after the rodeo. National Finals Tonight is hosted nightly by Don Gay, Joe Beaver and Dan Miller in the Gold Coast Showroom and admission is free. With all that’s going on at the South Point Casino, the place will also be packed with Cowboys for the nightly NFR Awards.

 

Cowboy Dancing

Stoney’s Rockin’ Country will definitely satisfy those with two-steppin’ desires. The 20,000 square foot country bar features a 2,500 square-foot dance floor. Local cowboy favorites, Road Runner Saloon and Dylan’s Dance Hall, will also be sure to show WNFR fans a great time.

 

Cowboy Grub

Las Vegas dining offers an infinite amount of restaurants to satisfy the palates of all the city’s guests. Some Western-themed restaurants include Harrah’s Toby Keith’s I Love this Bar, Rio’s RUB Bar-B-Que, Red Rock’s Salt Lick Bar-B-Que, and Lucille’s Smokehouse Bar-B-Que.

 

 

Cowboy Classics Raises the Bar

 

It seems very simple: determine how a trailer is going to be used, and design living quarters to meet that need. That common sense philosophy at Cowboy Classics Living Quarters is raising the bar in the custom trailer industry.

 

Owner and president Roger VanHoozer has six design criterion “that we live and die by.” At the heart of his company is a desire to build exactly what the customer needs, turn it around in a timely fashion, and send it out in working order.

 

“The trailers we build now are better than the ones we did last month but not as good as the ones we’ll build next month,” VanHoozer says. He and his chief engineer and designer meet at the end of every day to discuss what has worked well and what needs improvement.

 

“We believe the components of the living quarters should just work and keep working,” he adds. “People are there to enjoy their trailers, they shouldn’t need a PhD to operate them.”

 

Recently Cowboy Classics designed a new trailer for the Porters, a mounted shooting family. With three small children and a parent traveling with them, the main thing the family wanted was space.

 

“The kids have their own bunk room and play room in the back (with triple-stacked bunks),” VanHoozer says. “Slideouts provide lots of seating and the eight-foot tall trailer helps to open it out, allowing us to maximize floor space and livability.” For information on custom living quarters from Cowboy Classics, go to cowboyclassicslq.com.

 

 

Circle Y Saddles Brings Out Men’s Version of the Kenda Lenseigne Mounted Shooting Saddle

 

Circle Y Saddles has introduced a men’s version of the popular Kenda Lenseigne Quick Shot saddle made specifically for male competitors in Cowboy Mounted Shooting.

 

Champion cowboy mounted shooter and six-time world record holder Kenda Lenseigne collaborated with Circle Y to create her special shooting saddle earlier this year. With plans to expand the line, Circle Y worked with her to create a design comfortable and functional for men––the Rundown Shooter.

 

Both styles of shooting saddles have the Circle Y Flex2® tree which conforms to the horse and allows for freedom of movement. The saddle is lightweight and has a shock absorbing skirt for additional comfort for the horse. A roughout seat jockey, fenders, and suede seat help the rider stay in position. The adjustable stirrup leather positioner strap determines the amount of leg swing the rider prefers. The swell is low and tilted forward for maximum clearance of the two guns and holsters riders are wearing.

 

“Circle Y is honored to have Kenda on our team for the valuable insight and knowledge she has for this growing sport. We are excited about the newest shooting saddle made with men in mind,” said Mark Jemelka, general manager of Circle Y Saddles.
 

 

 

Thirty Year-Old Shooting Horse Making The Rounds

 

So you think your 20-year-old mounted shooting horse is getting up there in age?  Think again. Try Stormy—one of the oldest living shooting horses, occasionally still making the rounds at 30.

 

Owner Jerry Tarrantino acquired Stormy at age 6 and has owned him ever since. Jerry says the horse was a pistol when he first got him, and they went round and round the first year before things began dialing in. “He was never afraid to try anything,” Jerry says. “And he would relax in the midst of anything. I think that is what made him such a great shooting horse.

 

This also benefited Jerry when Stormy worked in front of the camera, in films like “Tombstone” and commercials for Taco Bell and Bulls Eye Barbeque. “There would be a lot of things and a lot of action going on around him and he would just cock his leg and go to sleep,” recalls Jerry. “I was able to do a lot of things on him because he didn’t mind doing it.”

 

Stormy started mounted shooting at the relatively ancient age of 18. Jerry says Stormy wasn’t one of the fastest horses out there, but he didn’t make many mistakes; he was great at barrel turns and entered patterns with very few missteps. The result: Stormy brought his owner one of the first CMSA World Championships in 1996. The horse is also a CMSA Hall of Famer.

 

Jerry and his wife Kathy own and operate Victorian Traveler, makers of period reproduction carpetbags (Carpetbag.com). The couple moved from California five years ago to Chino Valley, Arizona.

 

Although Jerry himself does not actively compete any more and Stormy spends most of his days out to pasture, they still participate in mounted shooting exhibitions and demonstrations when asked.
 

 

 

NRS Presents Mounted Shooting Saddle

 

The NRS Saddle Shop, Decatur, TX, has designed its first mounted shooting saddle with help from industry professionals and riders. NRS owner and CEO David Isham and saddle maker, Billy Cogsdil presented the first saddle to CMSA level 6 competitor Curt Moore.

 

The NRS Training Center, also home of the NRS Pro Series Saddle Shop, held it’s first mounted shooting event back in April. Cogsdil was able to meet with different mounted shooters and find out the specific needs for a mounted shooting saddle.
The saddle incorporates old Western design with a modern functionality and features a two-piece loop inlaid seat, border stamping, brass hardware and round skirts.

 

The saddle is built on a modified association tree with 14-inch swells to help hold the rider in the saddle. It is built with a shorter, 3-inch horn to help prevent the gun belt from getting caught on the horn. The NRS saddle shop has the abilities to build each custom saddle to fit individual’s style and need.

 

The NRS Pro Series Saddle Shop has the ability to customize each saddle for the rider. Go to NRSworld.com for more information.

 

AQHA Offers Reduced Rates For 3 And Over

 

Quarter Horses aged three and over can be registered, but the price is usually prohibitive. As a service to members and horse owners in this difficult economic time, AQHA is offering a reduced registration fee for these older horses.

 

Normally the 3-year-old fee is $550 and the fee for horses 4 and older is $1,000. But for a limited time, AQHA is offering a reduced rate of $300. All of your paperwork needs to be in order, meaning that all requirements of registration must still be met in order for the horse to be considered for registration.

 

All paperwork can be sent directly to the AQHA office at P.O. Box 200, Amarillo, Tx 79168. You can also bring paperwork to one of the remaining AQHA events this year, including the World Shows in Oklahoma City and the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas.
 

 

Don’t Let Your Horse Make You Sick

 

According to a recent zoological report, more than 100,000 emergency room visits per year are due to injuries from horses, and an estimated three to five per cent of these visits are related to bites. Some of the more interesting diseases your horse may give you include staph infections, the hendra virus, and equine influenza. Theoretically, your horse can also give you rabies, although the author of the report, Rick Langley, MD, MPH from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, says it is unlikely.

 

“Good personal hygiene, particularly hand washing with soap and water after any contact with horses, is an important step in minimizing the occurrence of these infections in humans,” Langley says.

 

Langley’s article is particularly timely and comforting in the wake of the recent exposure of hundreds of people at a Texas rodeo to a rabid horse.

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