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Outside Circle by Jan Swan Wood: Rabies alert, Keeneland, area fundraisers, horses seized, IPRA finals

What beautiful weather we’ve been having! Our grandsons have been here visiting and we’re having all kinds of fun. Lots of time in the saddle, checking cows, long walks and roping the dummy are some of the outdoor activities made even better by the good weather.

A good friend of mine from over by Belle Fourche was outside working in her yard when a barn cat attacked her and bit her on the ankle, then on the wrist when she was trying to fend it off. The cat was later captured, killed and sent in and sure enough, it was rabid. Be aware of how animals act around you at all times. Even a gentle barn cat can be a dangerous foe when it is rabid. My friend is now undergoing the series of shots.

The Keeneland sale of Thoroughbred yearlings always shows me what a different world we live in out here in ranchland. The average was down a bit this year to a modest $99,312. There were two colts that topped that $2.2 million mark and 13 head brought seven figure prices. I’m guessing those yearlings are nearly wrapped in bubble wrap to keep them safe and healthy.



The Sergeant Colton Levi Derr Foundation First Annual Gala will be Saturday, Oct. 25, at 5 p.m. in the Find Arts Building, Central States Fairgrounds, Rapid City, S.D. There will be guest speakers, social, dinner, music and a silent/live auction. Tickets are $25 and proceeds go to support the fight against PTSD. I’m sure they’d welcome any donations for the auctions. Call 605-391-8733 or 605-545-2505 for more information. Colton Derr was a ranch boy who served our country with honor and upon his return, could not overcome the demons of PTSD. The foundation set up in his memory has helped numerous veterans with their own personal struggles and this fundraiser is being held to continue that help.

The First Annual Horseman’s Ball will also be Saturday, Oct. 25, and will be a night of dining and dancing to benefit the Suncatcher Therapeutic Riding Academy program. It will have a roast sirloin dinner at 7 p.m. following a social hour at 6 p.m., then dancing to Badger Horse. The Ball will be at the Adoba Hotel in Rapid City, S.D., and the tickets are $60/person. Go to http://www.suncatchertra.org for ticket information.



Cases of horses being starved are in the news everywhere, but this one was kind of in our backyard. A boarding/training facility near Colorado Springs was found to have 14 dead horses in its barn, with a group of live horses wandering among them. Also at the barn was the well known stallion Dual Peppy, very malnourished. Dual Peppy won thousands in his career as a cutting horse, and has sired winners in NCHA, NRCHA, and NRHA competition. The owner of the stallion is Sherri Brunzell, and she is facing criminal charges of animal cruelty. The horses that were dead had been covered with tarps and most were just the skeletal remains. The whole grisly scene unfolded when two people who rent a house on the property were walking their dog and the dog went into the barn through a barrier. When they went inside to get the dog, the scene horrified them and they were quick to call the authorities.

The surviving horses have been removed from the facility.

On a much brighter note, the Indian National Finals Rodeo will be held November 4-8 at Las Vegas, Nevada. In looking over the qualifiers, I was sure tickled to see so many of the good hands from both the Great Plains and Northern Plains regions qualified. Congrats to all of you! F