Virden Rodeo & Wild West Daze

FRIDAY, AUGUST 8, 2014

Empire-AdvanceVirden

4 - 585 Seventh Avenue South • Virden • Phone: 204-748-3931Fax: 204-748-1816 • Email: [email protected]

Virden

WELCOME WELCOME all cowboys and cowgirls

Publishers of the Virden Empire-Advance • See us for all of your advertising and commercial printing needs!

…to the Virden Indoor Rodeo and Wild West Daze. We hope you have a great weekend!

The Virden Indoor Rodeo, one of the biggest commu-nity events of the year, is just around the corner.

“We would really like to fi ll Tundra Oil and Gas Place every night,” said Lonnie Brown, Rodeo Chairman. “That’s always the goal. A full arena just adds that much more to the rodeo atmo-sphere.”

Spectators can expect to see a lot of great rodeo action from bulls and broncs to team roping and barrel racing.

The ever popular mutton busting will take place dur-ing intermission at Friday and Sunday performances. The Manitoba Draft Horse Futurity will also take place on Sunday.

Shoot-Out Champion SundayIn addition to the regular

rodeo performances, new this year is Sunrise Credit Union Shoot-Out Championship Sunday.

“The Shoot-out is a con-cept that our board has talked on and off about for several years,” said Brown. “We de-cided to go ahead with it this year and hopefully bring some added excitement to our Sun-day night performance.”

In this round the top 10 contestants, or top six depend-ing on entries, will come back in each event to compete for extra prize money and cham-pionship jackets. This cham-pionship round will encourage contestants to approach it with a ‘go for broke’ mindset.

Brown added “It is kind

Virden Indoor Rodeo actionBy Charlotte Artyshko

Virden Indoor Rodeo & Wild West Daze

Thursday, August 14 - Sunday, August 17

of similar to the format that is used at The Calgary Stam-pede. It has the potential for our Sunday spectators to see some of our highest scoring rides and fastest times of the weekend.”

Dedication to rodeo It takes hard work, time,

dedication and planning to create an event such as that of the Virden Indoor Rodeo.

Planning for this caliber of an event starts a year in advance.

“The planning never really stops. Everybody always has their wheels turning on how

we can improve the rodeo and keep it fresh for our loyal spectators,” said Brown. “We have such a great rodeo base on our committee, and ev-eryone is very committed to keeping our rodeo going in a positive direction.”

Continued on page 2

Virden Empire-Advance, August 8, 20142

462 Seventh Ave. S. • Virden, MB • (204) 748-2393

Welcome to the RodeoWelcome to the Rodeospectators and participants.spectators and participants.

Welcome everyone Welcome everyone to the Virden Indoor Rodeoto the Virden Indoor Rodeo

and Wild West Daze!and Wild West Daze!

190 Nelson Street WestVirden, MB • 748-2251

Continued from frontAlthough entries are

not in yet, a strong entry is anticipated with the added money, champion-ship jackets and trophy saddles.

The addition of the big screen and leader board has brought an even high-er level of entertainment for spectators.

“We really feel, as a committee, that we are putting on a great rodeo,” said Brown. “I know as a contestant, that Virden is the one rodeos I look forward to the most. With the professionalism and attention to detail that this committee puts forward it has an atmo-sphere second to none!”

Jocelyn Hagan is the 2014 recipi-ent of the Gerry Holmes Memorial Award.

“I was overwhelmed when I heard the news of my induction. To be voted by your peers, there is no greater honour,” she said.

Presented each year to a Virden Indoor Rodeo & Wild West Daze Committee member who has made an outstanding contribution to the event, the award honours the memory Gerry Holmes, a woman whose involvement was exceptional and long-standing.

Hagan is the wife of Shawne Hagan, mother of four children - Alistair, Amanda, Thomas and Bron-wen and grandmother to Harley Mae and Slade.

She has been involved in every aspect of ranching and farming; from the purebred Charolais business to grain farming to the PMU industry, to the current cow/calf/yearling op-eration.

Hagan has been involved with the

rodeo for over 17 years. She started out helping with the set-up and tear-down of the grounds. From there she helped out the High School Rodeo along with Deb King and took on the job of working with the Queen Contest.

In 2004 Hagan was voted in as president of Virden Indoor Rodeo & Wild West Daze, holding that posi-tion for 10 years. She also played the role of secretary while they found a volunteer for that position.

“My job was very easy as there are so many great people doing all the hard jobs all year,” said Hagan who has sat on many boards in church vestry, choir, Brownies and Festival. “I strongly believe in this as a way to give back.”

Hagan added. “So many people put in so many hours of behind the scene work to pull off this spectacular event. To join the ranks of the past inductees, I am in awe of being in such incredible company.”

Hagan to receive Holmes Memorial award By Charlotte Artyshko

Jocelyn Hagan will be the recipient of the Gerry Holmes Memorial Award at this years Virden Indoor Rodeo. Photo/File Photo

Indoor Rodeo action continues in Virden

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Virden Empire-Advance, August 8, 2014 3

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Doug Sexsmith has been voted as the 2013 Horseman’s Hall of Fame recipient, an award he will receive in conjunction with the Virden Indoor Rodeo & Wild West Days.

His name is synony-mous with horses and harness racing in Mani-toba. The Virden farmer owned, trained and raced standardbred pacers over a near 40-year period.

Sexsmith took over farming from his father Bob, who retired and went to work for John Clark. The elder start-ed many harness racers for Clark, a very active breeder at Virden.

That was the trigger for the younger Sexsmith, a horse lover from child-hood, to take up the sport of standardbred racing. In 1970, he began purchasing colts for his father to break and train for the track.

Doug Sexsmith drove his fi rst race on the De-loraine track, winning the fi rst heat with a horse named Bobby Jim.

From the outset of his involvement on the race circuit in June 1973, Sex-smith enjoyed his share of wins, until he retired in 2009, with the sale of the legendary Oakridge Rambler. That horse set

a record in 2008, post-ing a time of 1:56.4 in Sunday’s Preferred Pace at Wawanesa fair.

This was the fastest mile in the history of the Manitoba Great Western Harness Racing Circuit - until three weeks ago, July 20, 2014, when a horse from Alberta raced the mile at 1:54.

Back in the 1970s until recently, harness rac-ing was going strong in Virden and on many tracks around Manitoba.

“There was a lot of racing going on back then. Probably 10 fami-lies that had [harness racing] horses in Virden at that time,” explains Barry Nolan, a Virden horseman.

Nolan was a standard-bred breeder at that time from whom Sexsmith bought several good horses. One of them, Ledra-dal Dawn, was a winning horse.

“I had a lot of good horses, I was very fortu-nate, right from the start,” Sexsmith, refl ects.

The ability to choose the right horse was a gift. “I’ve always had that bit of a gift,” says Sexsmith. “You look a horse in the eye and that kind of tells you what nature he is, what kind of a heart he’s got.”

He trained with pa-tience. “Some people have too many horses or don’t want to wait on them. They want speed right away,” says the equine sportsman.

“I wanted the horse con-ditioned so his tendons, his legs, everything was in good contention. Once I got him there, I didn’t want to break him down.

“By doing that you don’t make them race crazy, either,” he states, adding, “They learn to drive, you can handle them, then you ask them for speed afterwards.”

Driving on race day is an art as well. “You’ve got to be at it all the time to know what’s going to hap-pen...what to expect, what

not to expect. Just being a Sunday driver doesn’t make you a good driver,” explains Sexsmith.

“I always trained them at home and then I turned them over to this couple,” he points to a photo, “Jody and Ronnie Cullens.”

Sexsmith and his wife Mabel fl ip through bind-ers of photos. She has taken care of many details over the years. She knows the horses, recalls the people and the races. In the pages of racing history are photos of Gertrude, Sexsmith’s mother, in the winner’s circle with a horse she owned - Gertie

the Goer, who won the Manitoba Great Western one year.

The photo library brings to Sexsmith’s memory many Virden names. “Geordie Sproat, Dean Fontana, Jack Sawyer, Ray Dryden, Darrel No-lan, Bob Duke, those are guys that I watched,” says Sexsmith. “Orville Good was another one -he was a great influence.” He speaks of Robert Bazin and also of his neigh-bours, the Colemans and Braybrooks who had har-ness horses.

On July 25, Sexsmith is about to depart for a

weekend of trail riding. Looking out the farm kitchen window, the sad-dle horses have arrived in the corral for a drink.

“I better lock them in or I won’t have anything to ride,” he says.

Mabel volunteers to go out and do that. “She used to do a lot of work in the barn when I fi rst started, harnessing, getting horses ready for me to take out,” says her husband.

Sexsmith has shifted gears, now occasionally driving a team for hay rides and trail riding with friends, his passion for horses continues.

Two horses owned and trained by Doug Sexsmith - Im A Dixon and Dixon Kash - both paced the fastest mile of the day at Holland, MB, both finishing in 2:01.1 minutes. Pictured (l-r) Ron Cullens, Cullens’ children, Mabel Sexsmith, Bob Brydon (part owner), Albert Basin (from whom Sexsmith purchased the horses), Doug Sexsmith and Jody Cullens holding Dixon Kash. Photos/Submitted

Doug Sexsmith driving his record setting standardbred pacer, Oakridge Rambler.


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Get roped it’s rodeo!

BRUNCHSunday, August 17 • 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

New twisted potato appetizers.Assorted varieties.

Plaisier smiling after his first ride at the Calgary Stampede. Photo/Calgary Stampede Rodeo

Bailey Plaisier riding this spring in Kendersly, Saskatchewan. Photo/lweisimages

“Riding in the same arena as Canadian and world champion cowboys is a big honor and has been a dream of mine since I was a little kid,” said Bailey Plaisier.

The 17 year-old cowboy from Oak Lake made his Calgary Stampede debut on Thursday, July 10.

The criteria for novice events is that a rider must be 16 to 20 years old and be a member of a rodeo association, whether it be high school, amateur or pro.

Riding a horse called Hail Caroline for 73 points placed him in the top 6, which allowed Plaisier to ride again on Saturday, July 12.

Super Sue bucked hard on Saturday but Plaisier hung on for 67 point ride, leaving him in fourth place overall.

“After making the whistle on my fi rst horse and hearing my score, I was pretty excited because I knew that would get me back to the next round with the other top fi ve guys there,” said Plaisier. “It felt really good knowing I could ride well enough to keep up to some really good riders that were a bit older than me.”

As a second generation cowboy, Plaisier is no stranger to rodeo. His father, Trevor Gompf, rode bulls and was a pick-up man.

Plaisier started out riding bulls until about a year ago when he added bareback horses to the mix. Now he just rides bareback.

In recent months he has started going to some pro rodeos, riding in some pretty big rodeos. “I think that really helped me keep my nerves under control when I stepped out and saw the huge crowds,” said the novice.

Plaisier plans on make a strong career as a professional; to win Canadian and world champion titles and continue competing at the Calgary Stampede.

Local cowboy rides at Calgary Stampede

By Charlotte Artyshko

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By Charlotte Artyshko

The countdown is on. With less than a week until the Virden Indoor Rodeo and Wild West Daze.

The annual Downtown Daze Events will begin Thursday, August 14 from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. at Victoria Park with a free stakeholder and community barbecue sponsored by Corex.

A juggler/comedian is set to take the stage during the barbecue along with some presentations.

From 5 – 9 p.m. Seventh Avenue will be blocked off from Queen Street to Raglan Street for the downtown events. Most of the businesses also stay open until 9 p.m. to allow for evening shopping.

Live music, infl atables for kids, a juggler/comedian, Chuck wagon races, petting zoo and numerous other activities will be taking place.

Firefi ghters, RCMP and STARS will have displays as well.Businesses are encouraged to decorate their windows and displays in the

spirit of rodeo.Of course none of this would be possible without volunteers.Hunter added that if anyone would like to volunteer they can contact Hunter

herself or the Virden Chamber of Commerce.“Downtown has grown,” said downtown events co-ordinator, Donna Hunter.

“The crowd pleaser seems to be the Chuck wagon Races which has been a long time tradition in Virden. Of course the kids eyes light up when they see the infl atables.”

Welcome to the rodeoWelcome to the rodeo

Mayor, Council and StaffTown of Virden

236 Wellington StreetVirden, MB

Phone (204) 748-2440

Wild West Daze


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320 Frontage Road West • Virden

t: 204.748.2223 • f: 204.748.3979

WelcomeGood luck to all Good luck to all

Rodeo Contestants!Rodeo Contestants!

204.748.2300326 King St. E., Virden

Virden’s Rae Lyng will have many great memories from her time as a member of the Lake-land College rodeo team.

“I really enjoyed that

Robins ReviewBy Robin Wark against each other in

the arena it was nothing for us to cheer for each other, haul with each other, … lend a horse to someone when in need, etc.”

The daughter of Kelly

“Rae is a very, very nice person,” Quam said. “She always is in a good mood. She asks a lot of questions...she is very willing to learn.”

She competed for the college in barrels, pole bending, goat tying and breakaway roping.

“She had some tough luck, but she has all the ability in the world,” Quam said.

Lyng impressed the veteran barrel racing horse trainer with her willingness to work with young horses and dif-ferent mounts. Quam praised Lyng for all the effort she puts in work-ing with horses.

At Lakeland, Lyng graduated this spring from the school’s envi-ronmental conservation and reclamation pro-gram. She was going to be spraying herbicide in the spring and summer but hopes to get a full-time position doing rec-lamation work in the fall. While excited to pursue her chosen career, Lyng will miss her time with the Rustlers rodeo team.

“I’ll miss competing at the college rodeos and having the oppor-tunity to work with the awesome coaches,” she wrote. “Lee Macmillan

we were provided awe-some coaches and that we had such an awesome team,” she wrote in an email about her experi-ence competing for the Alberta college. “De-spite that we competed

and Cherie Lyng was certainly an important part of the team. Rusty Quam, a well known bar-rel racer who works with the team, praised Lyng’s personality and willing-ness to always help out.

and Randy (Smith) were great at helping with rop-ing and Rusty was awe-some at helping me get my colts started on the barrel pattern and get-ting my seasoned barrel horse competing better and more consistently.”

Lyng came to Lake-land after a solid high school rodeo career. In grades 10 through 12, she qualifi ed for events at both the Canadian High School Rodeo Fi-nals and the U.S.-based National High School Finals Rodeo. In Grade 12, she closed out her high school career by qualifying in barrels, poles and breakaway for Canadians and barrels and poles at nationals.

Just like when she was in high school, Lyng competed in college ro-deo with the full backing of her family.

“My parents, as well as extended family, came to almost every rodeo I competed at despite the 10-hour drive, often on back-to-back weekends, just to support me,” she wrote. “They were also awesome for bringing horses back and forth from Manitoba and Al-berta when I wanted to swap my younger trainer horses.”


• RODEO • 7:30 p.m. • Tundra Oil & Gas Place Gates open at 6;30 p.m. • Intermission: Mutton Busting • Coors Light Barn Bar 10 p.m. - 1 a.m.

in Sunrise Credit Union Banquet Hall, Featuring Erin Fleury Band Please drink responsively

• Human Chuck Wagon Races• Live Music Stage• Mechanical Bull• Barbecue• Infl atables for kids - Kerr’s Bouncers• Independent tables for sales• Face painters • Business sidewalk sales• Dunk Tank

• Petting Zoo • Human Jail • Clown• And much, much more!

Human Chuck Wagon Team Entries: Contact Tina by phone or text at (204) 512-0748; sign-up sheets available at The Source, 430 Seventh Ave. S., Virden

Thursday, August 14

Friday, August 15

Welcome to the

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August 14-17

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Downtown Events 5 - 9 p.m.

Corex Rodeo Kickoff BBQ 11 a.m - 2 p.m. Victoria Park


• Pancake Breakfast 8 - 10 a.m. Legion Hall• Parade 10 a.m. - departs from Virden Collegiate• High School Rodeo 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. (Tundra Oil & Gas Place)• 3D Barrel Racing 3 p.m. (Outdoor Arena)• Draft Horse Futurity - obstacle course 3 - 5 p.m. (Tundra Oil & Gas Place)

• RODEO • 7:30 P.M. • Tundra Oil & Gas Place • Gates open at 6:30 p.m. • Intermission: Mutton Busting

• Daze Dance 10 p.m. - 2 a.m. (Virden Curling Rink) Featuring Pop Vegas. Tickets available at Virden School & Offi ce Supplies, Sooper Dave’s and Virden HiWay Grocery. Must be 18 years or older to attend. Photo ID is required. Please drink responsibly

Saturday, August 16

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• Draft Horse Futurity Halter Class 8 a.m. (Tundra Oil & Gas Place)• 3D Barrel Racing 11 a.m. (Outdoor Arena)• Rodeo Slack 11 a.m. (Tundra Oil & Gas Place)• Demolition Derby 1 p.m. Demolition Track on PR #257, west of the Cement Plant. Contact EC Andrews (748-5916), Candice McLauchlan (512-0443)

or email [email protected]

• Rodeo • 5:30 p.m. • Tundra Oil & Gas Place • Gates open at 4:30 p.m. • Intermission: Finals of the Draft Horse FuturitySunrise Credit Union Shoot Out Champion

Family Day Sponsored by SUBWAY Free Admission for 15-years-old and under

Sunday, August 17

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As we look towards another year, it’s hard to believe that Virden’s Demolitioin Derby has been around since the 1960s. Before being part of the Indoor Rodeo weekend festivities, the Derby was held in con-

and Wild West Daze. On the usually hot

and humid day, the bleachers are packed and the concession is in full swing; there are door prizes to be won as well as a 50/50 draw. But the most gripping

Very few changes have been made for 2014, most of the re-vamping came in 2013 - which included a re-vamping of the heat categories, additional prizes for drivers and a larger Feature heat jackpot. Drivers may see a large jackpot again this year.

This year’s Derby will take place on Sun-

VIRDEN’S HISTORIC DEMOLITION DERBY

Virden’s Andrew Carruthers and Kola’s Chris Flannery battle it out during the 2012 Virden Demolition Derby. Photo/Virden Demolition Derby

junction with the Fire-man’s Rode and before that, the Silver Dollar Days and Virden Fair.

The Derby is cur-rently held on the third Sunday in August, and runs in conjunction with the Virden Indoor Rodeo

action comes in the cen-ter of the pit where men and women battle it out to become the ultimate smash up champion.

The Demolition Der-by is the biggest fun-draiser of the year for the Virden Legion. The proceeds from the event allow the Legion to pro-vide upkeep as well as weekly entertainment and events.

day, August 17, at 1 p.m. at the Derby Pit which is located on PR#257 (Kola exit if you’re coming off Hwy #1), and 1/8 mile south of the cement plant. Due to Mother Nature wreak-ing havoc on the area, the bridge south of the pit is closed. Access to the pit will now only be via the Service Road or Hwy #1.


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An old western town lay asleep in the sunOf a long summer day that was then almost done.The shadows were long and the hosses stood ‘roundSort of restin’ one leg and their head hangin’ down.Two cow punchers down at the “Last Chance” saloonWas tryin’ to sing. They was both out of tune.At one end of the street that was dusty and narrowA scratchin’ the dirt was some chickens and spar-rows.

The dogs slept in the shade and the people they strolledLike they felt plum contented in body and soul.If you looked just a little way off to the westYou could see the high mountains with snow on their crest.The shadows of clouds drifted over the flatAnd it shore made a right purty pitcher at that.A drunken cow puncher was ready to goAnd he figgered he’d ort to put on a big show.

He spurred and he hollered and shot his six gun,And he aimed to take out with his hoss on the run;But he didn’t remember his cinches was slackUntil after he got his old pony ontracked.That cow hoss he started to buck and to bawlAnd got rid of that cow puncher saddle and all.And before that drunk waddy got clear of the wreckHe was bit by two dogs, which he didn’t expect.

The hoss he bucked into a long hitchin’ rackWhere a team was hitched to a wagon raired back.They lit out a draggin’ the old rattle trapAnd swingin’ the broke ends of two hitchin’ straps.A whole lot of people come from everywhereThe sparrows and chickens they took to the air.The kids made for cover, the women all screamedAnd the dogs was all chasin’, that runaway team.

A feller run out like some man allus didA yellin’ and jumpin’ and wavin’ his lid.When the hosses got close why the man lost his nerve.He got out of the way but he made the team swerve.They tore down the porch posts in front of the store.They busted the winder and several things more.

An Old Western Town

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They was off of their feet when at last they got stoppedPiled up in a heap with the wagon on top.

They was fast in the harness, one hoss nearly strangled,But the crowd went to work and they got ‘em untangled,But just when they started to take ‘em awayThe storekeeper come out with plenty to say.His place had been wrecked, but what made it worse stillThe man with the team owed the store man a bill.He swore he would take it all out of his hideHe shore wasn’t bluffin, he got in and tried.

But most of the citizens present they reckonedThat the storekeeper come off a mighty pore second.The town marshall come with his badge and his gunJust in time for a drink when the whole thing was done.

The sun soon went down. Then a few golden streaksFrom the afterglow showed on the snowy peaks.The kerosene lamps shed a soft yellow lightWhere the town folks was cookin’ their supper that night.

‘Twas a real western night with no fog or no hazeThe stars hung in clusters so bright that they blazed.Some neighbors they gathered to visit and talkYou could hear the slow footsteps along the board walk.There sprung up a soft gentle breeze from the westOne after another the lights went to restAnd the curtain of night settled quietly downOn that best of all places, an old western town.

From Rhymes of the Ranges and Other Poems, 1947Bruce Kiskaddon (1878-1950) is one the most admired “classic” cowboy poets and his poems are frequently recited. Most are in the public domain.


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Janine Ketterer, granddaughter of Cherald Joynt of Virden, competed successfully in the American Quarter Horse Association Youth World Cup held recently in Texas. Photo/submitted

Out of a field of 80 competitors, 17-year-old Janine Ketterer, representing Luxem-bourg, finished 10th in cutting and 11th in reining recently at the American Quar-ter Horse Association 2014 Youth World Cup.

She is the grand-daughter of a well know Virden horse judge and qua r t e r horse owner, Sherald Joynt.

Joynt’s daughter, Laura Ketterer owns and operates Dusty Rose Ranch in Germa-ny’s Black Forrest not far from the French and Swiss borders.

Not far from the Ketterer establ ish-ment , Morey Fisk, son of Leonard and Darlene Fisk, of Oak Lake, is a trainer at HorseAcademy, just two hours from Dusty Rose Ranch.

With the likes of this Manitoba influ-ence, Western horse-manship has spread around the world into areas like Germany - traditionally the home of dressage and show jumping.

Teams came from

World YouthBy Anne Davison

Austral ia, Austria, B e l g i u m , C a n a d a (Quinn Brandt from Steinbach, Manitoba was the only Mani-t o b a n ) , D e n m a r k , F rance , Germany,

Ireland, Israel, Italy, Luxembourg , New Z e a l a n d , N o r w a y, Switzerland, UK and USA.

The Youth event was started by an Aus-

tralian Quarter Horse E n t h u s i a s t n a m e d Jack Cooper in 1975.

The show alternates between the USA and other countries and has been held in Can-

ada several times.This year, Youth

World Cup was held in Bryan-College Sta-tion, Texas from July 3 to July 13.

April Devitt Waddy

from Kentucky and Derek Hanscome from Nova Scotia were the AQHA judges.

Sixteen clinicians w o r k e d w i t h t h e youth.


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welcome

Have a great weekend!

This Arabian mare named Hosanna is enjoying the view with her rider, on one of her last rides in the Arrow River hills. She has checked cattle, sorted and moved many cows and put in miles of pleasure riding, carrying young people. Hosanna and a young rider survived a head over heels flip during cattle work on rough, hayland and on one occasion she had to be stripped of her saddle, bridle and tie down to free her from a submerged tree in a creek crossing. Her recent duties have been babysitting weanling ponies. She has finally retired to pasture life at the ripe old age of 30. Photo/Anne Davison

Horses and cattleHorses and cattle go

together like sox and shoes, and since the ear-ly days in North Amer-ica, cowboys worked cattle from the back of a horse.

Here in Manitoba, some still do.

Virden veterinarian, Dr. Everett More not

By Anne Davison only fixes horses, he rides them too.

Today, he is also a purebred cattleman with the herd name, More Brothers Simmentals. More used to show hors-es and still has nine horses on his place.

But horses fulfill a practical purpose for More - checking and moving cattle.

“I ride a fair bit - most of the riding is in the spring. I’m on the horse every day, it doesn’t matter the weather,” he says, add-ing, “For A.I. it has to be done.”

He explains that he is checking heat cycles in his cow herd, for an artificial insemination breeding program.

More enjoys r id-ing with a practical purpose. Selling the horses that are broke and seasoned, he starts a new horse on the cattle-checking circuit each year. He explains,

“There’s no pressure, it’s regular riding for 30 minutes twice per day.” Trail riding with a purpose agrees with his green horses, he explains. “They know what we’re doing.”

Horses are a very practical way to man-age cat t le in rough terrain. “Besides, you can’t see anything from a quad,” says the cow-boy vet, “just the cow in front of you.”


Virden Indoor Rodeo & Wild West Daze

Welcome to all competitors and rodeo fans to the Virden Indoor Rodeo and Wild West Daze!

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Beautiful Jim Key by Mim Eichler Rivas

This book stretches the imagination as to what exactly a horse is capable of. Long before Monty Roberts, the well know ‘horse whisperer’ of the early 20th Century, an extraordinary man in Tennessee by the name of William Key trained an extraordinary horse whom he named Jim Key.

William Key was a self-taught veterinar-ian, former slave, Civil war veteran, prominent African-American en-trepreneur and one of the most renowned horse whisperers of his time.

From the book’s fly leaf we read, Beautiful Jim Key the one-time ugly duckling of a scrub colt that became one of

the most heralded and beloved heroes of his time... Said to have an IQ equivalent to that of a hu-man sixth-grader, Jim ex-ploded on to the national scene in 1897 by dem-onstrating inexplicable abilities to read, write, spell, do mathematics, tell time, sort mail, cite biblical passages and debate politics.

By the late 1800s the humane society move-ment was gaining traction in the USA and around the western world. It was a world of harsh reali-ties, post American Civil War, where black people had been considered as ‘property’ along with the horses that died in the traces of the cabs and coal wagons.

In this world, Beau-tiful Jim Key and his

patient trainer and friend, were key players in help-ing society at large begin to consider animals as thinking, feeling crea-tures.

The book, Black Beauty: Autobiogra-phy of a Horse by Anna Sewell, published in 1877, just 10 years prior to Jim Key’s debut before the American public was a shocking book in its day and probably one of the sticks of dynamite that helped launch the humane movement.

Rich in history and hu-man detail, Beautiful Jim Key, The Lost History of A Horse and A Man Who Changed the World is a fascinating, thoroughly researched and well writ-ten book. It can be found at Borden Regional Li-brary in Virden.

Book review


Terri Cosens204.748.7699

Lloyd Carruthers204.748.1695 or [email protected]

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Good luck to all of the Rodeo contestants!

The growing popularity of rodeo, which, according to the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association, attracts 30 million fans each year, has piqued the curiosity of many people who have never before attended a rodeo or watched an event on television. Upon discovering the ro-deo, men, women and children often find it as compelling if not more compelling than most popular mainstream sports.

For those interested in rodeo but uncertain about its terminology, the following are a few terms to know, courtesy of the PRCA.• Barrelman: An entertainer who uses a barrel

to distract a bull after a ride. Such distractions sometimes protect the cowboy.

• Breaking the barrier: This occurs during a timed event when a rider leaves the box too soon, failing to give the bull a sufficient head start. Riders who break the barrier are assessed a 10-second penalty.

• Bullfighter: An athlete who protects the bull rider after he dismounts or is bucked off. A bullfighter can distract the bull by directing

its attention to the exit gate or even stepping between the bull and the bull rider.

• Chute: a pen that holds an animal safely in position.

• Covering: this occurs during roughstock events when a rider stays on at least the mini-mum time of eight seconds.

• Draw: Conducted three days before each PRCA rodeo, the draw is random and assigns each roughstock competitor a specific buck-ing horse or bull. Time-event contestants are assigned a calf or steer in a random on-site draw shortly before each rodeo begins.

• Flags: used in rodeo’s timed events so judges can signal the timers to stop the clocks. Judges in the arena will drop the flags.

• Flankman: a cowboy or cowgirl who works in the bucking chutes, adjusting the flant strap around the animal before the ride.

• Go-round: each round of competition in a rodeo.

• Hazer: the cowboy who rides on the

right side of the steer from the contestant to make sure the steer runs straight.

• Hooey: the knot a cowboy uses to finish tying the calf’s legs together in tie-down roping.

• Piggin’ string: the small rope used to tie a calf’s legs together in tie-down roping.

• Rank: an adjective of praise and respect used to describe especially challenging roughstock.

• Riggin’: a suitcase-style handhold custom-ized to a rider’s grip and attached to a molded piece of leather that is cinched, with a pad, around the horse’s girth.

• Roughstock: the bucking horses and bulls used in bareback riding, saddle bronc riding and bull riding, usually bred and raised for the job.

• Stock contractors: the companies that bring livestock to the arena forrodeos.

• Triple Crown Winner: a cowboy who wins three world championships in the same year.

Terms to know before attending a rodeo


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Virden Rodeo & Wild West Daze