Horsemanship Competition Completed!

You could hear a big sigh of relief from all of the contestants this afternoon when the horsemanship competition was completed. While the horsemanship award is one of the most coveted awards at the Pageant, the competition itself...well... makes most contestants just a little bit nervous.

The horsemanship committee was up at the crack of dawn (literally, 4am) to get the horses ready for the competition - from brushing and polishing with Absorbine products, to hauling them to the arena to saddling them in the new Court's saddles provided for the competition, and then warming them up. Sixteen horses were brought over to the arena for the competition; 14 were used in the competition (each horse was ridden 4 times), with two spares in the event one needed to be pulled out. Horses were provided by PRCA Stock Contractors.

Kelli Jackson, Miss Rodeo America, presented the American Flag and the National Anthem was sang by Nashville recording artist Susie Dobbs. Kelli did a demonstration of the pattern and following that the contestants were "briefed" by the judges before the first group of contestants was taken down to their horses.

The contestants are taken down to their horses and assisted with stirrup length; they are not given a warm-up period and the first opportunity they get to "test" that horse is when the gate opens. Once the competition started it went like clockwork with all contestants doing a great job and all of the horses performing well. After each contestant went through the "pattern," there was a brief intermission before the second go-round started. During the second go-round, each contestant did a 1 and a half minute "freestyle" pattern. It was interesting to see the routines that they came up with, they were all different and unique. For clothing, the monochromatic look was the most popular; and embellishments adorned most of the horsemanship shirts.

At the conclusion of the competition, Kelli Jackson gave a farewell arena run and was presented with a bouquet of roses from her parents and the Mississippi National Director, Deshannon Davis.

While the contestants were being judged on their horsemanship ability, two judges were observing the horse's abilities. This year's Wrangler National Finals Rodeo Pickup Men, Gary Rempel and Chase Cervi, were judges for the "Top Horse" award. This award, sponsored by the American Quarter Horse Association & Absorbine/WF Young, includes a $200 cash award plus a bronze. The winner of this award is announced at the PRCA Luncheon on Thursday.

The winner of the Horsemanship category of the pageant receives a $1,500 Misss Rodeo America Memorial Scholarship honoring Marie Mass Gatlin, MRA 1960. $1,000 is sponsored by the American Quarter Horse Association and $500 sponsored by former Miss Rodeo America's and the Marie Mass Gatlin family. The winner also receives a beautiful Tex Tan saddle sponsored by the American Quarter Horse Association.

Immediately following the horsemanship competition, contestants enjoyed the South Point's Buffet with family & friends.