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Outside Circle: More goodbyes, barrel wins, equine dentist victory and CNFR

Jan Swan Wood

It feels a little wintery outside and there’s a little snow on the ground here at my place, but I don’t think it will bother us on our circle, so let’s hit a trot.

Two fine men, both ranchers and horsemen, have ridden over the divide in the past few days. There’s way too much of that happening and I hope that someone’s recording the stories of these folks that started life out nearly a century ago.

Milton Trask, 87, Wall, SD, died Nov. 11, 2010. Milton was a horseman. He absolutely loved a good horse and raised a lot of them. He told me once that he had the affliction really bad and hadn’t found a cure for his “horse-itus.” We always had a great visit about horses and ranching, and his knowledge of both was extraordinary. His good horses, often dun or buckskin, have kept a lot of folks mounted on the ranch and in the arena. His kids are all good hands too, which he was sure proud of. He’s survived by his second wife, Twila, Wall, SD; three sons: Casey and Shirley, Creighton, SD; Tracy and Marlie, Wall, SD; Todd and Samra, Wasta, SD; and daughter Anita and Mike Heathershaw, Quinn, SD. He also had 11 grandkids and a large extended family. He’ll be missed by so many.



Harry Berger, 95, of Oshoto, WY, was also a treasured rancher from the old school. Harry and his late wife, Montana, ranched most of their lives near Oshoto, WY. They simply loved horses and enjoyed visiting about them at the drop of a hat. Harry had a special liking for the Amigo Tramp/JB King horses and had a lot of them. Their pets were a big part of their lives too, and they would chat about them as well. I so enjoyed those visits, whether in Walmart or at a horse sale. He is survived by his sons Jerry, Larry (Sara), and son-in-law Donald Proctor, plus five grandkids and two great-grandkids. They just don’t make ’em like that anymore.

I owe an apology to Mark and Annette Viergets, Beulah, WY, for leaving them out of the survivors of CJ Viergets last week. Mark is CJ’s Dad and Annette is his step-mom. I am so sorry for that oversight.



The Casey Tibbs Center in Ft. Pierre, SD, was the host site for the 21st annual Casey Tibbs Foundation Tribute Banquet. The honors and who won them are: Rodeo Cowgirl Great, Jodie O’Bryan; Rodeo Cowboy Great, Steve Sutton; Past Rodeo Great, Chauncey Mandan; Rodeo Promotor, Johnny Smith; Ranch Cowboy Family, Dick and Lois Hart family; Animal Athletes, Justin Boots, liberty trick horse, and Chief, trained buffalo, belonging to Jerry Wayne Olson and Jerry Olson. They had quite a shindig there and all reported a splendid time being had. Special guest was Billy Etbauer, the first PRCA contestant to bank $3 million in a single event (Saddle Broncs). It’s also a great place to visit, so if you’re ever through Ft. Pierre, stop and take a stroll through. You’ll be glad you did.

I’ve never had the privilege of meeting Billy Etbauer, but of all the people I visit with, interview and know, I’ve never heard a bad word said about the man. By all accounts, he’s a humble gentleman who is abundantly proud of his wife Hollie and their family. That he is a many-times world champion and the winningest single event cowboy in history is just icing on the cake. He’s a hero and role model for so many of the up-and-coming rodeo hands and they couldn’t have a better one.

Texans made a stand and fought it out to the finale and won the right to do equine dentistry without a veterinarians license. A Texas judge struck down the effort by the Texas Board of Equine Veterinary Medical Examiners to prohibit equine dentists from practicing without a DVM on their wall. The equine dentists had been sent a letter by that board to cease and desist under the penalty of massive fines if they didn’t. Carl Mitz, one of the nation’s top horse dentists, teamed up with Institute for Justice Sr. Attorney Clark Neily for the two-year battle. Turns out that the Board was in the wrong and that what they were doing was even illegal.

This victory will hopefully lead to similar action on behalf of equine dentists and equine chiropractors in other states. We need equine dentists and chiropractors and there is no possible way that there are enough vets to do all the work, nor do they want to. Added to that is the shortage of large animal vets in the U.S. in general.

Congrats to Maher’s Shamrock Ranch, Pierre, SD, on being the breeder of Corona Dude Dancer, JBQH Futurity Reserve Champion and 4 Year Old Champion at Waco, TX. Owned by Casi Conrad, Hearne, TX, and ridden by Latricia Duke, Anson, TX. “Salty” went into the Futurity sore from a bad fall at Stephensville, TX just a week before, so Latricia didn’t push him at all, but he still ran second by only 37/100 second in the Championship round. “Salty” is by Maher’s stallion Cartel Dancer (s.i. 94) and out of This Chicks For You by Junoimgood. They still have the mare, so are still raising foals of that cross, plus those out of some sisters to the dam. “Salty” has also scored big in other major futurities and is running 1D times at the big barrel races. He’s being pointed toward a pro career and sure has the goods to do it. It will be fun to watch where he goes from here.

Also at the JBQH Futurity at Waco, my niece Dusti Swan, West, TX, and her homebred filly, Doozi, did well enough to make it back into the finals. Doozi is by Swan Quarter Horse’s Dr. Meter Reader (s.i. 90) stud and out of their grand old Paint breeding stock rodeo mare Dixie. That’s pretty special when it’s one you raised yourself! Keep up the good work, Dusti!

Jeanne Anderson, White City, KS, is going to the NFR in the #11 slot in the barrels next month. She’s riding Flaming Firebug, a ’99 sorrel gelding who is out of a granddaughter of Sea Bar and Boyd Flick. I thought that was pretty neat. Wouldn’t Clarence Bearry have been proud of that?

I promised to tell you how Shaun Stroh, Dickinson, ND, did at the Canadian National Finals last weekend. He ended up third in the average in the Saddle Broncs. Also at the CNFR, Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, SD, won first in the average in the Barrels. Great job representing the U.S. and the Dakotas!

I’ve ridden this circle out to the end, so I’ll call it a day. Send me your news and results!