John McNeely, 53, has been raising bucking horses on the Blackfeet Reservation in Montana since high school. One of his horses, Virgil, a big 13-year-old grey gelding was recently honored by his cowboy peers as the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association Bareback Horse of the Year. Virgil’s bucking talents have also been recognized by the Canadian Professional [...]
Emma “Pee Wee” Burge Ott was born in 1919 in Giswil, Switzerland. At the age of 9 her family immigrated to the United States. Arriving at Ellis Island, the family established roots in California. Emma’s parents worked at a dairy farm. Emma began riding the calves and as a teenager she was hired to ride steers [...]
Riding horses when you’re “of a certain age” can be a bit unnerving but we do it because we love it. We find a way to mitigate our physical limitation and shut down that voice in our heads trying to psych us out. Yes, it’s a long way to the ground. Yes, the ground is hard. [...]
Its official! Barrel racing phenom Mary Burger is the 2016 champion in the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA). Her first place finish last weekend at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas clinched the national title. Mary now holds the record as the oldest female barrel racer at 68-years-old. Riding her buckskin gelding, Sadiesfamouslastwords aka [...]
Mary Donna Smothers, 69, qualified to run barrels in The American competition in Arlington, Texas this year. Smothers lives in Texas and credits her 12-year-old horse, Six Moon Firewater, for their qualification. Their time was a quick 13.976 seconds. “He’s a great horse, and he knows his job,” she said. “Marty takes care of me.” So [...]
