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Pat's Blog
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Did you check out the rule change proposals on the NRHA Web site? I had to chuckle when I read the one submitted by Wayne Kiel. He proposed that if a person loses his hat during a pattern, the rider should not be penalized if the horse jumps over the hat to avoid smashing his owner’s favorite Stetson. This proposal brought back one of the funniest things I ever saw in an NRHA show pen.
I’m not clear on all the details, but the picture of this remains in my head – clear as a bell. I think it was in 1984. We were in Raleigh, N.C. – must have been for the Derby. Tommy Herring, Newton Grove, N.C., had a wonderful little mare by the name of Minnie Leo.
At the start of his pattern, Tommy had to run in past center, stop, back and spin both ways. He came in bookin’ – lost his hat – crown down – in the middle of the pen. When he asked Minnie Leo to back up, she did. One hind leg landed squarely in Tommy’s hat. Didn’t faze Minnie Leo. When Tommy asked her to spin, she did – with her pivot foot planted in the hat – she didn’t miss a beat. When Tommy asked her to go the other way, she did – and the hat went flying. The crowd cheered.
I checked Minnie Leo’s show record. She and Tommy were third out of 41 in the Non-Pro class at Raleigh that year. I’d like to think it was on that particular run and that the judges gave Minnie Leo credit for staying cool under fire. Maybe we should modify Wayne Kiel’s rule change proposal!
Do we ride neat horses or what? Hats off to Minnie Leo! |
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