Dust plumes as the music plays and the riders take their horses around the track. Walk, trot, reverse, walk the rail. The paints, appaloosas, and quarter horses are put through their paces as their riders, dressed in sparkly blue, purple, and black shirts, rock with ease in their saddles. weren’t for his sunglasses. He claims, “I don’t remember a day in my life without a horse.” Keith is such a horse lover that when asked how many he owns, he responds, “Four horses, but the day ain’t over yet.” He attributes this obsession to his grandfather, Herb Woods, a farmer who kept draft horses, mules, and saddle horses. With considerable pride Keith recalls his grandfather’s role as ringmaster for the Saddle Club; he was named “World’s Greatest Ringmaster” in 1982, two years before his death. A vocal supporter of the Saddle Club, Keith stresses that the organization is familyoriented. “It’s all about the kids. It teaches responsibility. There are chores to be done. It stays with them for life. The bond between a human and horse is irreplaceable.” Sue Aldrich, acting as organizer for this morning’s ride, produces sign-up sheets, lays out the donation jar for the upkeep of Walker School, and posts “Equine Liability” signs. She is active in the Saddle Club, although she admits she had a late start compared to many members. “I started riding when I was about twenty-seven or twentyeight years old. I was a country girl who was misplaced. I lived in the city.” Unlike many women who fondly remember a gift of diamonds or pearls, Sue recalls, “One of the first gifts my husband gave me was a yearling (Kala).” With a laugh, Sue admits that it’s been rumored that she had to marry Spencer to get the horse. She knows that horses aren’t for everyone, claiming,
“You’re either born with it, or you’re not. Cut my arm, and there’ll be a little horse sweat in the blood.” Perhaps the award for most determined rider should go to Bill Turner, who has been riding for fifty years. “I love it,” he says, “love horses. It’s in my blood.” But it hasn’t been easy. At age thirty-six, Turner lost the sight in his left eye, becoming legally blind. The doctors told him that his depth perception wouldn’t be good enough to throw a rope on a calf, “But I did it,” says Bill. His problems, however, were only beginning. He battled his blood pressure and underwent hip surgery. He tried roping again after the operation, but, without enough strength in his legs, he fell off and broke his femur. As he was lying on the ground waiting for the ambulance, he announced that he was retiring from team roping. However, Bill didn’t plan on retiring from riding. After his horse died, he went in search of a replacement. The horse he was considering kicked him in the head, crushing the bones on the left side. Bill quips, “I didn’t buy it.” Bill owns five horses and a mule. In explaining why he bought the mule at an auction, Bill states, “He was there, and I felt sorry for him because he was almost as ugly as I was. I paid ten dollars for him.” Bill named the mule Izzy after his Grandpa Israel because they were both “woolly and whiskery.” In his truck, Bill even carries “before” and “after” pictures of Izzy. “The people I bought him from said he liked jelly donuts and potato
The start of the rope race brings out the best in riders and horses. Jennifer O’Neil takes an early lead over Chris Greathouse, with Andrew Wilkinson and Teele Temme in hot pursuit at a monthly Posey County Saddle Club event.