CHANGING LIVES,
ONE RIDER AT A TIME
I want you to know what an impact your clinic had on our girls, and to give you the their results of their High School Rodeo, post-Camarillo clinic. Lily and Gracie had their best results yet, and placed in the top five in each event (barrels, poles, goat trying, and breakaway). Typically, their barrel and pole runs were out of control; knocking barrels and hitting poles. This time, however, they made clean runs and stayed in control. Kalysa was happy with her results. In her pole run, she had the second fastest time. Keri came late on Saturday, but won the 2nd Go in barrels with the fastest time! It was her absolute personal best, at 18.320. Syd won the 1st Go in barrels with an 18.550. She ran smooth and straight to the third barrel. She was smiling from ear-to-ear!
– Keala, Hawaii
Sharon, I just wanted to thank you for the amazing Western Classic experience my horse and I had this year (2006)! It’s always fun because so many friends are there and it’s like a reunion, but what made it a lot more special for me was the focus on breast cancer. My Grandmother passed from it when she was 37, and my dad was only two years-old with seven other brothers and sisters. My mom has been a breast cancer survivor for five years. Like you mentioned, sadly, so many people are affected by this disease.
Two years ago at the classic, I hit the barrels so hard on the first two runs, I had to take my horse home and did not run on the third day. Even though I wore shin guards, my legs were just too sore! Although I could not ride, my youngest daughter and I came down to cheer everybody on. When we left, while we were getting on the freeway, a van ran the stop light and hit us hard, almost totaling the car. We were OK, but when we got home I got a call that my Aunt Margie had just passed from cancer (that originally started from breast cancer). I was very close to her. So this year, on the way to do our third run, coming down the off ramp, I said, "This one's for you Margie." I think she was watching. It was a very special weekend. Thank you again!
– Renee Ryckebosch, 2006-2007 Western Classic Grand Champion, Nevada
Sharon, I competed with my two mares this weekend in a field of 125-135 contestants. Both mares ran 1D times on the1st and 3rd Go’s. I would have placed similarly on the 2nd Go, but went back to tipping coming out of my 2nd barrel. You and I both know what I did. I corrected it on 3rd Go. I was sore and tired, but got the job done. You have helped me more than you know and I plan to continue to make you proud of me.
– Robin, Wisconsin