CoWBoys & CoWgirls

Battle in the Saddle

Photos by Gary Cox safe Harbor’s annual fundraiser barrel race, Battle in the saddle, got underway at the show Place Arena in Cordova, tN January 13-16, 2022. Photographer gary Cox went by the show PlaceArena on friday to capture some of this year’s action. the show offered $20,000 total added money with: $250 addedyoung guns and $500 added young guns Average; $5,000 added open 4d; $1,000 added open 3d Poles. New to this year’s event was pole bending competition, which saw 144 runs over two days. the traditional kids’ foot race (ages 10 & under) was not held after the Big drag 100 this year. But the cake auction did go on during the Big drag. the show had a good turnout, attracting 443 riders in friday ’s classes: poles: 69; young guns: 46; open 4d: 328. As expected, saturday ’s totals were higher with 505 runs: poles: 75; young guns: 45; open 4d: 385. All in all, there were a total of 971 entries in the open. saturday was a typical mid-south winter day with 40 degrees and rain, which changed to a wintry mix saturday night dumping a few inches of snow on the area. By sunday morning the area had a light dusting of snow, with temperatures around or just above freezing and only about an inch accumulation. thus, sunday ’s run numbers were lower: 295 total, with young guns: 37; open 4d: 258.

Pole Bending was a new division added to this year’s show. denise evans on lightning rollin stone topped friday ’s 1d placings with a time of 21.322. saturday ’s open Poles saw Angie dowell and Cougars twister topping the charts in a time of 19.808 seconds. in theAverage, it was Josh morton and redneck Wheels winning 1d with a time of 20.422. the young guns competition was fast and furious, with darcy dement setting the pace on friday night (14.825). she and her horse Hel on socks were also second in the open with a time of 14.825. saturday and sunday ’s (and Average) winner was kanely Cooper on red Native dunit (14.619). darby toole on spit N fire won friday night’s open in 14.758 seconds. saturday ’s open win went to Billy Hatzman on Honor Bounds ghost (14.557). on sunday, the final runner of the weekend, sierra Waldrep and lordy Hez dashin, clinched the win with a time of 14.443. in the Average, kanely Cooper and red Native dunit topped the chart with a time of 14.619.

Cowboys & Cowgirls

Weekend winners: young guns: 1d Champion: kanely Cooper on red Native dunit - 14.619

Pole Bending: 1d Josh morton on redneck Wheels - 20.422 open 1d: kanely Cooper on red Native dunit – 14.615 saturday High stakes: Billy Hatzman on Honor Bounds ghost – 14.557 find full results of all classes posted at: https://www.safeharborevent.com official photographer for this year’s event was Brent Puhl Photography. Please visit his website for photos of all the competitors: https://puhlsphotography.smug-

mug.com.

Next year’s Battle in the saddle is planned for January 13-15, 2023. safe Harbor of memphis provides a variety of faith-based support services to help people recovering from addiction, the homeless, ex-offenders, and the fresh start program for women who are experiencing problems in substance abuse disorders. safe Harbor provides recovery skills and relapse prevention; employment skills and money management; pastoral support; anger management counseling; fatherhood development; and transportation services.

“thank you to everyone who came out this weekend to help us raise money for safe Harbor!” event organizers posted on facebook. organizers also had many thanks for sponsors of the show, to the ground crew, to Brent Puhl photography, to vendors, and to the show Place staff. find more information at: www.safeharborevent.com and at www.safeharbormemphis.org

Evelyn: A Life Cut Short

Avery upsetting event happened at Battle in the saddle: Jamie osborne’s Palomino mare, evelyn, disappeared from her stall at the show Place Arena in the wee hours of saturday morning, January 15, 2022. “she was last seen in Barn f in her stall eating her hay at the shelby showplaceArena in memphis,tN at 2:30 a.m. sat. morning, ” she posted on facebook. to this day, they don’t know how she got out of her stall.

Jamie and husband John were, needless to say, extremely upset, but were also heartened by the outpouring of help in looking for her. they even filed a report with Net Possee, which was circulated all over the country. sadly, the mare was found deceased five days later (January 20, 2022) offWalnut grove road west of Haley Harvest road near the Agricenter. No cause of death was given by the news media. it was a bittersweet end to the search. then, words of condolences came pouring in from all over the country and the osbornes were, again, heartened by all the kind support from the horse community. it was especially sad for the family be-

Evelyn went missing from herstall at the Show Place Arena at Battle in the Saddle on January 15, 2022.

cause they had bred for her and raised her from a foal, and she was a part of the family. Her sire was shawne Bug leo and she was out of Jamie’s mareAfire inside, aka “Jetta. ” she was only three years old and was beginning to learn barrel racing skills. evelyn’s registered name was JlBAfiery Bug leo.

Jamie wrote a poignant tribute to evelyn on facebook:

Death will always be a part of living in this big book of life. Unfortunately, we can never know when our chapter is up.

Sometimes things happen that you just cannot explain, that we will never understand, and that we will never want to accept.

Evelyn was perfect. Not a single thing about her was bad or wrong. I had so many big plans and dreams for her, but God does, too. God knows what is best for all creatures here on this earth.

Losing her was never part of my plan today. And as much as I don ’t want to accept it, I have to.

Evelyn Lou, I know in my heart that where you are now is absolutely beautiful and the most perfect place we could ever dream of being. Heaven has gained one of the prettiest and sweetest horses I will ever be blessed to own and be around. I love you so much and I will forever miss you sweet girl.

Jamie and John osborne are so very appreciative to everyone who came out to help look for her – on foot, on horseback, flying a drone, even paddling in a boat down theWolf river, and especially to the mPd helicopter pilot who flew over the area to try to locate her. Evelyn as a beautiful foal (photo by Dana Schocke) “We greatly appreciate everyone who came out to help us.We are so thankful for all the efforts of people who temporarily put their own lives on hold to help look for her. to all people in the equine community, including random people we did not even know, who just genuinely cared –you are all amazing and we are so grateful to you, ” Jamie said.

©MSHR