I spent quite a bit of time in Clovis, starting with the MRNM Seminar and ending over a week later with Joes Roping. The Seminar was great! Travis Connor from Arizona taught Horsemanship and let me tell you this is an experience that you will not get anywhere else! All seminar participants switched horses and I mean switched, we each rode every other horse there, and though I began to fear my walking ability due to soreness, I had confidence in the saddle! It was priceless riding so many different horses and working to make each one run a consistant pattern.
In the evenings I had to miss the Personality portion taught by Amy Wilson and Jesse Gearheart-Staton because I was doing my queenly duties at the performances for the National Federation of Professional Bull Riders. I had the honor of presenting the American Flag. The Bull Riding was a new and fun experience. I started off somewhat worried that Mudd would be the only horse there but luckily a couple gentlemen were horseback to remove the bulls.
Jerry Slaton ~ our very talented Wagon Boss
After that weekends excitement ended, I began promoting the Joes Roping Events. With the help of Miss Melanie to aid my poor navigation skills (flat lands!) I dropped off tickets to sponsors of the Duke of the Dutch Ovens, which is a MRNMP Fund-Raiser, held during the Ropin and visited almost all of the radio stations in the greater Clovis area. Then it was time for the Roping to begin. Mudd got some lessons in shagging calves and I can honestly say that I rode the hair off that mare! Ashlee Stallings, aside from generously hosting me in her home, also lent me a couple of her horses to shag cattle on so little Mudd wouldn't get too tired. The Chuck Wagon Cook Off was a big hit and I sure did eat enough...I had to decide for myself which Wagon had the best cobbler you know. The winning Wagon was awarded a Curtis Fort Bronze. Sunday, before the big match I hosted a Dummy Roping, which was great! A fine time was had by all and there will be some tough ropers coming up in the ranks from the looks of them. As the weekend wound down for me, it was just gearing up for the world renowned ropers that were entered in the elimination match, in the end Ryan Jarrett was the winner. Wayne Needham produced a great roping!
