Kentucky Derby, area champs, stolen horse watch, green grass warning
The wind is really starting to get to everyone I’ve talked to. Makes everything cranky and horses goofy and I’ll be glad when it goes down. Let’s hit a lope and see if we can work the hump out of this ol’ pony’s back.
The 136th Kentucky Derby was run on May 1st. Churchill Downs had received over two inches of rain leading up to the race, so the track was sloppy, to say the least. A 20 horse field ran a fast paced race, but in the end, the great riding of Calvin Borel brought Super Saver down the rail and to a two-and-a-half length victory. He had held Super Saver off the pace and stayed mid-pack with him until the last turn, when he slipped up on the inside and, with plenty of speed left, took the win. You’ll recall that’s the tactic he used last year when he piloted the relatively unknown Mine That Bird to the Derby win (much to the satisfaction of everyone from west of Kentucky). Running in second place was Ice Box, third Paddy O’Prado, and fourth Make Music For Me. Super Saver is sired by the deceased Maria’s Mon and out of the A. P. Indy mare, Super Charger.
Lots of congrats to dole out today. First, I want to congratulate AQHA Champion, Look Whos Larkin Now and his owner, Tracy Lyn Luekeke-Cutler of Stratford, SD, and trainer Kevin Winter of Ericson, NE. The 2000 bay gelding has points in halter, performance halter, tie down roping, heading, heeling, pole bending, reining, trail and western riding. Sounds like he does everything but drive the pickup and hitch up the trailer! He was bred by David Spaulding of Brookings, SD and epitomizes what the Quarter Horse was meant to do.
Next, Dane Kissack of Spearfish, SD was named the Central Rocky Mountain Region Rookie of the Year in college rodeo. He was also reserve All Around and Reserve Tie Down Roping Champ too. He rodeos for Gillette College, and is a super nice young man, besides being a talented rodeo hand. Good job, Daner!
In the younger category, Prestyn Novak, son of Danelle and J.D. Mutchler of Newell, SD, was named the NHSRA Times Jr. High Division Student Athlete of the Month. He’ll be a name to watch as he comes up through the ranks of high school rodeo, for sure.
Don’t forget the Coy Price Memorial Roping to be held at Newell on May 15. Enter at 10, rope at 11. If it’s rainy, it will be held at Wendt’s Arena 17 miles north of Newell. Call J.D. at 605-748-2437 or 605-490-0343 for info. Several divisions each of Breakaway and Team Roping are on the agenda.
The Steens are still looking for their great mare, Cruiser, who was stolen from their pasture. She’s an outstanding barrel and pole horse, so it’s quite possible that that is what a person might see her doing in her new location. Keep your eyes peeled: she’s a young 18 years old, well built, black mare with white hind pasterns with dark spots around the hairline. She also has a unique blaze in her face: narrow line between the eyes, then widening out over the bridge of her nose, narrows again above the nostrils, then wide again between them. Please keep watch for they would sure like to have her back. I’m sure any tips would be held in confidence too. Call Cecilia Steen at 605-993-6192.
If you’ve got a good, broke horse that you want to sell, you might consider putting him in the Lauings Mill Iron L Sale on Aug. 15. Denny and Doris Lauing are holding their sale at the Pennington County Event Center in Rapid City, SD this year, instead of at their ranch at Blunt, SD. They would like to add a few more broke horses to the lineup to go with their usual lineup of great weanlings, broodmares and started colts. Call them at 605-962-6344 or email at ddranch@sbtc,net.
Wyoming’s Mike Miller of Big Piney won the National Reined Cow Horse Association Stakes Non-Pro Championship for the second year in a row on March 28 in Nampa, ID. Riding Feather and Cash, a four year old mare by Cats Red Feather and out of Splash A Lil Cash, he marked a 215 in herd work, 197.5 in the reining and finished with a strong 221 in the cow work. He collected $11,080 for the win.
Also back in March, Josh Peek of Pueblo, CO won the Wrangler Timed Event Championship at the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, OK. Josh, 30, won $50,000 for the average and another $58,000 for placing in two of the fast round. They compete in Tie Down Roping, Steer Roping, Steer Wrestling and Team Roping at the event. Josh is also second in the standings in the PRCA All Around. The reason I’m bragging on him here is that his Mom grew up here in South Dakota. The lovely Nadine Packer Peek is her name and she’s a sister to Bob Packer of Sturgis, so I’m sure Uncle Bobby Dale is pretty proud of him too!
High School Rodeo season is in full swing in the northern plains, and a little mud, wind, rain and cold don’t deter the young contestants at all. May freeze their folks nearly to death, but it’s all good. I’ve been going through some fairly severe withdrawals from high school rodeo since my son graduated last spring. I thought the transition would be even more difficult, but last weekend was so miserable that I didn’t feel a twinge of remorse over not sitting in a grandstand trying to keep all the times and scores and not slip into hypothermia. As soon as it’s sunny and beautiful I will probably suffer pretty bad, but until then, I’m going to be warm and dry!
The green grass is big and rank and when combined with these cold days, can be downright dangerous for some horses. Grass founder is a common problem this time of year, especially with the weather as it is. If you have a horse that’s already predisposed, such as being overfat and/or cresty necked, a pony, has been foundered before, or has some of the metabolic disorders such as Cushings disease, you need to be on the lookout. The best preventative is to lock them up and feed grass hay instead of letting them run on pasture. If you see your horse in discomfort, such as standing with the front feet out in front of him, rocking back and forth on his feet, or not wanting to get up, get your vet on the phone for instructions. Every moment counts in preventing permanent damage. Might pay to have a tube of Bute on hand for such an emergency too.
Have a great week and send me your items of interest!
