left to right - Open 1D Champion Candace Mallette Reserve McKenna Abercrmbie,

2D Champion tie Rosalee Hopkins and Niki Yonkers (Rosalee attended more races and receives the saddle)

3D Champion Karen Densmore - Reserve  Sarah Gibson

4D Champion Sarah Gibson Reserve Champion - Rosalee Hopkins

1D McKenna Abercrombie, 2D Niki Younkers, 3D Sarah Gibson, 4D Rosalee Hopkins

OPEN 1D CHAMPION - McKenna Abercrombie RESERVE Candace Mallette

OPEN 2D CHAMPION - Dixie Pring  RESERVE Rosalee Hopkins

OPEN 3D CHAMPION Karen Densmore RESERVE Robin Melton

OPEN 4D CHAMPION - Barbara Campbell RESERVE Taran Pring

"God Jumps"  or I added  (runs barrels)

By Lauren Davis Baker

God gives us horses and compels some of us to love them. Yet why does the horse, an animal with such a big heart, live such a short life? Perhaps it's because if our horses lived any longer, we wouldn't be able to bear losing them. Or, perhaps it's because God wants to jump (run barrels). Perhaps God looks down on the fine horses we raise and decides when it's His turn to ride. He gives us a few good years to care for and learn from them, but when the time is right, it's up to us to see them off gracefully. O.K., perhaps not gracefully. Blowing into a Kleenex is rarely graceful. But we can be grateful. To have a horse in your life is a gift. In the matter of a few short years, a horse can teach a girl courage, if she chooses to grab mane and hang on for dear life. Even the smallest of ponies is mightier than the tallest of girls. To conquer the fear of falling off, having one's toes crushed, or being publicly humiliated at a horse show is an admirable feat for any child. For that, we can be grateful.

Horses teach us responsibility. Unlike a bicycle-or a computer-a horse needs regular care and most of it requires that you get dirty and smelly and up off the couch. Choosing to leave your cozy kitchen to break the crust of ice off the water buckets is to choose responsibility. When our horses dip their noses and drink heartily, we know we've made the right choice. Learning to care for a horse is both an art and a science. Some are easy keepers, requiring little more than regular turn-out, a flake of hay, and a trough of clean water. Others will test you-you'll struggle to keep them from being too fat or too thin. You'll have their feet shod regularly only to find shoes gone missing. Some are so accident-prone you'll swear they're intentionally finding new ways to injure themselves.

If you weren't raised with horses, you can't know that they have unique personalities. You'd expect this from dogs, but horses? Indeed, there are clever horses, grumpy horses, and even horses with a sense of humor. Those prone to humor will test you by finding new ways to escape from the barn when you least expect it. I found one of ours on the front porch one morning, eating the cornstalks I'd carefully arranged as Halloween decorations. Horses can be timid or brave, lazy or athletic, obstinate or willing. You will hit it off with some horses and others will elude you altogether. There are as many "types" of horses as there are people-which makes the whole partnership thing all the more interesting.

If you've never ridden a horse, you probably assume it's a simple thing you can learn in a weekend. You can, in fact, learn the basics on a Sunday-but to truly ride well takes a lifetime. Working with a living being is far more complex than turning a key in the ignition and putting the car in "drive." In addition to listening to your instructor, your horse will have a few things to say to you as well. On a good day, he'll be happy to go along with the program and tolerate your mistakes; on a bad day, you'll swear he's trying to kill you. Perhaps he's naughty or perhaps he's fed up with how slowly you're learning his language. Regardless, the horse will have an opinion. He may choose to challenge you (which can ultimately make you a better rider) or he may carefully carry you over fences, or fly around barrels...if it suits him. It all depends on the partnership – and partnership is what it's all about.

If you face your fears, swallow your pride, and are willing to work at it, you'll learn lessons in courage, commitment, and compassion in addition to basic survival skills. You'll discover just how hard you're willing to work toward a goal, how little you know, and how much you have to learn. And, while some people think the horse "does all the work", you'll be challenged physically as well as mentally. Your horse may humble you completely. Or, you may find that sitting on his back is the closest you'll get to heaven.

You can choose to intimidate your horse, but do you really want to? The results may come more quickly but will your work ever be as graceful as that gained through trust? The best partners choose to listen, as well as to tell. When it works, we experience a sweet sense of accomplishment brought about by smarts, hard work, and mutual understanding between horse and rider. These are the days when you know with absolute certainty that your horse is enjoying his work.If we make it to adulthood with horses still in our lives, most of us have tohings equine with those of our households and emp. There is never enough time to ride, or to ride as well as we he barn are stolen pleasures.

If it is in your blood to love horses, you share your life with them. Our horses know our secrets; we braid our tears into their manes and whisper our hopes into their ears. A barn is a sanctuary in an unsettled world, a sheltered place where life's true priorities are clear: a warm place to sleep, someone who loves us, and the luxury of regular meals. Some of us need these reminders.

When you step back, it's not just about horses-it's about love, life, and learning. On any given day, a friend is celebrating the birth of a foal, a blue ribbon, or recovery from an illness. That same day, there is also loss: a broken limb, a case of colic, a decision to sustain a life or end it gently. As horse people, we share the life cycle of horses: the hurried rush of life, love, loss, and death that caring for these animals bring us. When our partners pass, it is more than a moment of sorrow. We mark our loss with words of gratitude for the ways our lives have been blessed. Our memories are of joy, awe, and wonder. Absolute union. We honor our horses for their brave hearts, courage, and willingness to give.

 To those outside our circle, it must seem strange. To see us in our muddy boots, who would guess such poetry lives in our hearts? We celebrate our companions with praise worthy of heroes. Indeed, horses have the hearts of warriors and often carry us into and out of fields of battle. Listen to stories of that once-in-a-lifetime horse; of journeys made and challenges met. The best of horses rise to the challenges we set before them, asking little in return.

Those who know them understand how fully a horse can hold a human heart. Together, we share the pain of sudden loss and the lingering taste of long-term illness. We shoulder the burden of deciding when or whether to end the life of a true companion.

In the end, we're not certain if God entrusts us to our horses or our horses to us. Does it matter? We're grateful God loaned us the horse in the first place. And so we pray:

"Dear God,

After You've enjoyed a bit of jumping, (running barrels) please give our fine horses the best of care. And, if it's not too much, might we have at least one more good gallop when we meet again? Amen"

back row senior champions left to right - 1d dixie pring 2d sally ann fosha 3d diane radacy  4d peggy yopp. 2nd row left to right open youth 4d annie moyer, youth 4d meaghan clifton, youth 3d allie pearson, open 4d barbara campbell, candace mallette standing in for sandra liar 75 up and back champion and 2d open champion. front row left to right tiana yocam youth 2d and open youth 2d champion. maria pearson open/youth 3d and open 3d champion, mchenna abercrombie open 1d , open / youth 1d , youth 1d and it  champion.

With over $83,000.00 paid out  in 2005 in added money, awards and payoffs; it was quite a year.

 Our district suffered the loss of Dennis Clifton.  He is greatly missed.  A big congratulations to Meaghan Clifton in filling her goal of winning the youth 4D championship in her fathers memory.

I have to say what a great job our office staff did this year not only in keeping the races going but in helping put the awards together a big thank you to Debra Abercrombie, Candace Mallette, Sandra Lair, Becky Moyer, Rosalee Hopkins, and Raina Chandler.  To my husband Jack Pring who makes the races possible and the guys that pitched in and helped when they could—Thank you!  Needless to say, our sponsors are the greatest for donating over $50,000.00 in saddles, added money and products. Our four top sponsors this year were: Industrial Technologies—Randy Barhite gave cash and $10,000,00 in barrel racer medal art.  Each barrel racer that qualified for the world race received one a large cut out.  He also gave over 30 small ones for awards. WOW!!  David Meek of Rhinestone Ranch was again a great sponsor giving the four open division saddles for the second year in a row as well as over $4000.00in added money  and use of his arena.   Randy Jessop— Jessop Trucking and Randy Parker—Range View Equine associates both donated over $2000.00 in awards.  Frank and Malinda McKnight gave two saddles and added money thru the year for $1500.00 in awards. A big thank you to them and all of our other sponsors that made this year so great.

McKenna Abercrombie had a awesome year.  Riding 4 IT horses, she made her presence known by winning four of the eighteen saddles awarded.  Sandra lair won two saddles on her IT mare and I won the senior 1D making the total of seven of the eighteen saddles awarded going to IT horses.  McKenna is the first youth member to win the Open 1D, She also claimed the Youth 1D, Open / Youth 1D and the IT saddles, and the high point paint horse on Lady Rum sponsored by Pring Ranch. She and Lady beat out last years winner Raina Chandler and Toby by one point.   Youth member Maria Pearson took home the Open 3D saddle as well as the Open / Youth 3D saddle. Tiana Yocam also took home two saddles winning the youth 2D and the Open / Youth 2D.  The only other person to win double saddles was  one of our secretaries Sandra Lair and her IT mare Yummie Rum.  They won the Open 2D saddle and the 75 up and back race saddle.  Sandra has been in the running for the passed to years to win a saddle only to loose it in the end.  This year was kinder as  she walked away with two saddles.  Our Purina finals Buckle winners were Open 1D Candace Mallette (Candace also won the open 1D fast time stirrups).  Open 2D Raina Chandler, 3D Sally Ann Fosha and 4D Michele Pring. The Purina Senior  winners were 1D Jeanne Ragains, 2D Michelle Lazor, 3D Janet Cropper, 4D Lynn Smith. Youth 1D McKenna Abercrombie (McKenna also won the fast time youth stirrups.) 2D Kate Bachmaier, 3D Kalli Palen, 4D Annie Moyer.

Our Oldest Barrel Racer was again  Florence Barhite at 85 yrs old.  Her horse Pleasin was horse of the year for 2005. Pleasin is 26 and still taking care of Mom.  We had two youngest barrel racers both five years old Laramie Jo Moyer and Taran Pring.  Taran Pring’s pony Pistol Pete was Pony of the Year.  He was retired at the finals race and Taran is working on getting with her new horse Snowball.  Snowball is a giant step up from Pete standing close to 16 hands tall. 

The division champions and runners up were: Open 1D McKenna Abercrombie 56 points, Raina Chandler 33. Open 2D Sandra Lair 42 points , Dawn Lazor 24pts . Open 3D Maria Pearson 33pts  ,Diane Radacy  31pts, Open 4D Barbara Campbell 51pts, Annie Moyer 39pts   .  Senior 1D Dixie Pring  47pts , Janet Cropper 39pts. Senior 2D Sally Ann Fosha  28pts , Michelle Lazor 20pts.  Senior 3D Diane Radacy  27pts , Michelle Lazor 24 pts.  Senior 4D Peggy Yopp 67pts  , Florence Barhite 50pts  . Youth 1D McKenna Abercrombie 81pts , Tiana Yocam 22pts.  Youth 2D Tiana Yocam 37pts, Christine Leahy 31pts.  Youth 3D Allie Pearson 48pts, Megan Clifton 29pts,   Youth 4D  Megan Clifton 66pts, Annie Moyer 46pts.  Open Youth 1D McKenna Abercrombie 2D Tiana Yocam, 3D Maria Pearson, 4D Annie Moyer.  Pole Bending  - Tiana Yocam.  75 up and  Back - Sandra Lair.

Congratulations to all of you and thank you to all who made this the most successful year to date for the Colorado NBHA 03.

  Annie Moyer.

A HUGE Thank You to all who made this a successful event.  We have the greatest sponsors.  So many of them pitched in with added money and products to be auctioned off.   We are grateful to each and every one of them.  Dennis Clifton was diagnosed with cancer in June and passed away three weeks later.  Dennis and Megan have made the trip from Cripple Creek to Calhan CO. since Megan became a member of NBHA CO-3 four years ago.  He was always very up beat and a nice person to be around.  The NBHA share’s with Brenda, Dennis Jr. and Megan the loss of a good man, He is greatly missed.   David Meek so generously donated his arena and tractor plus $1000.00 of the added money. Other added money sponsors were Jack & Dixie Pring,  Pring Ranch, Range View Equine Associates, Jessop Trucking, Carlin Dodge, Black Forest Electric, & McKnight Trucking.  A big thanks to Johnny Hopkins for donating  his time and talents that helped make the auction a big success. The highest selling item’s  in the auction were donated by Dr Randy Parker and Jack & Dixie Pring  bringing $275.00 ea.   Jack & Dixie donated  a saddle &  20 pair of pro choice boots for a total of  $875.00.  Randy Barhite donated 7 medal cut outs that brought in over $700.00. Dr Randy Parker’s donations brought $375.00. Mike & Cathy Hadley donated a picture that sold for $250.00. One of Shay-lee Hadley's beaded  headstalls brought $190.00.  Farmer Jim’s donated product and tack that brought $300.00 and Bareback’s donated items that brought $150.00.   Grand Meadows product brought $200.00.  For a total of $2940.00.  The balance of $2560.00 collected was from item’s donated by contestants.  

Unfortunately our pictures did not turn out as well as we expected.  We neglected to get a group picture of the saddle winners which was my fault as I forgot to tell every one that won a saddle to stay for a group picture. I apologize for that.  What a great year we had.  Unfortunately we did have some members loose horses again this year.  Some to injury and some from colic.  Pam Ferguson's good mare Knickers was just starting to show how tough a barrel horse she was when she injured her hind leg. We are hopeful she will be back in competition but understand it could take a year or two.  Our sympathy goes to Jodie Edmonds and McKenna Abercrombie on the loss of Jr.'s Solid Gold.  McKenna  had leased Solid from Jodie and were making quite a team to be reckoned with when Solid coliced. Littleton large animal performed colic sugary and she was recovering well until she had  another round of colic and couldn't be saved.  Patty McCullar loosed her IT mare Billie when she broke her hind leg just below the hip.  On the brighter side we have new members that made their mark this year as well as the old members improving.  The banquet was the biggest ever.  We expected around 130 people to attend and ended up with 160.  Wow.  Every one had a great time.  We had a unexpected new event added which will get next year started in the black.  Johnny Hopkins our official NBHA dist. 03 auctioneer auctioned off prizes and awards that were not picked up. Thus giving Michele Pring time to get pictures of the winners.  It was great fun and I think enjoyed by everyone.  My highlight of the banquet was the gift of the carousel horse from all of you.  What a awesome gift.    It has center stage in our living room.                                                    

Raina Chandler and Jet Deck Jones (Toby)  won the High point paint horse trophy given by Pring Ranch for the High point paint horse of the year. Also with her bracelet for photographer. She shared the photographer duties with Rosalee Hopkins and Jack Hadley.  Raina also won the "IT" saddle donated by Pring Ranch for the high point horse with the "IT" brand.

Shay-Lee Hadley and Rosalee Hopkins with their bracelets for Awards chairman and assistant awards chairman 

Office help with their bracelets left to right Debra Abercrombie, Candace Mallette, Sandra Lair (girlfriend)

The Lady that keeps things running smooth Becky Moyer our announcer.

The guys that gave life to the banquet Kevin Ferguson and Johnny Hopkins.

Our tractor cowboy and all around number one hand. Jack Pring receiving his new caps.

Florence Barhite (Oldest barrel racer)    Chantel Ledbetter and Taran Pring youngest contestants

McKnight's Family of the year.  Frank McKnight was are gateman, Smantha McKnight winner of the Youth/Open 3D and the Youth 3D saddle, Nicole McKnight the Youth/Open 1D saddle and Malinda McKnight the Open 3D saddle. Ardith Bruce the owner of Trux the horse Nicole rode is standing behind  Smantha &Nicole.

Purina Finals Division Buckle winners Left to right Megan Bryant Purina reprehensive, Open 1D Dixie Ping, Open 2D and Youth 1D Nicole McKnight, Open 3D Katie Faughman, Open 4D Autumn Winters, Front row youth 2D Kali Palen, 3D Maria Pearson, 4D Aimee Winters

Senior Finals Division Winners Buckles sponsored NBHA co-03  Sr. 1D Diane Taylor, 2D Janet Cropper, 3D Gerry Barnhart, 4D Peggy Yopp

open fast time stirrups

youth fast time stirrups

Senior fast time stirrups

Open high money winners

Youth high money winners

Senior high money winners

1. Dixie Pring

middle row left to right runner up Raina Chandler

3rd Candace Mallette 4. Shay-Lee Hadley

back row left to right 5th Nicole McKnight 6th Dawn Ewing 7th Heather Ratterree

8th Jill Kadrie 9th Pat Ann Drennen

1. SHAY-LEE HADLEY

CENTER ROW - RUNNER UP  AMY JO KNUTTER

 3RD AUTUMN WINTERS 4TH  JESSICA HADDOCK 5TH PAT ANN DRENNEN  BACK ROW LEFT TO RIGHT 6TH DIXIE PRING 7TH DAWN EWING 8TH MCKENNA ABERCRMBIE    9TH LESLIE NORVELL 10TH TIE JILL KADRIE AND PATTY MCCULLAR

CHAMPION MALINDA MCKNIGHT

CENTER ROW LEFT TO RIGHT - RUNNER UP SMANTHA MCKNIGHT

3RD MARANDA SANDNER 4TH BARBARA CAMPBELL 5TH LYNN SMITH  BACK ROW - 6TH SANDRA LAIR 7TH MCKENNA ABERCROMBIE 8TH TIANA YOCAM 9TH DAWN LAZOR 10TH KIM MYERS

1ST GERRY BARNHART

RUNNER UP ROSALEE HOPKINS

BACK ROW - SMANTHA MCKNIGHT, MICHELLE PRING, CANDACE MALLETTE, KIM MEYERS

CHAMPION DAWN EWING

RUNNER UP AMY JO KNUTTER

3RD CHRISTINE LEAHY 4TH SMANTHA MCKNIGHT 5TH MCKENNA ABERCROMBIE 6TH AUTUMN WINTERS 7TH MARIA PEARSON 8TH TIANA YOCAM 9TH HEATHER RATTEREE

CHAMPION  MCKENNA ABERCROMBIE

RUNNER UP CHRISTINE LEAHY

3RD TIANA YOCAM 4TH KALLIE PALEN                        

BACK ROW - 5TH MARIA PEARSON 6TH AUTUMN WINTERS 7TH    8TH ANY JO KNUTTER  9TH DAWN EWING

CHAMPION SMANTHA MCKNIGHT

RUNNER UP  KOTY ARNOLD

3RD ANNIE MOYER 4TH SHELBY LEWIS 5TH MEGAN CLIFTON  BACK ROW  - 6TH MARIA PEARSON 7TH NICOLE MCKNIGHT 8TH SHELBY LEWIS 9TH TIANA YOCAM 10TH  KALLIE PALEN

CHAMPION  AIMEE WINTERS

RUNNER UP MEGAN CLIFTION

3RD ANNIE MOYER 4TH  5H 6TH CHANTEL LEDBETTER 7TH SHELBY LEWIS 8TH KAYLEE MOYER 9TH TARAN PRING

TIANA YOCAM

MCKENNA ABERCROMBIE

OPEN/YOUTH 1D NICOLE MCKNIGHT  2D AMY JO KNUTTER  3D SMANTHA MCKNIGHT 4D AUTUMN WINTERS

DAVID MEEK PRESENTING THE OPEN CHAMPIONS

1D DIXIE PRING  2D SHAY-LEE HADLEY 3D MALINDA MCKNIGHT 4D GERRY BARNHART

SENIOR CHAMPIONS

1D DIANE TAYLOR FARMER JIMS FEED 

2D MICHELLE LAZOR  MCKNIGHT PROPERTIES

 NOT PICTURED 3D GERRY BARNHART THELMA'S DAY CARE

4D PEGGY YOPP CARLIN DODGE

YOUTH CHAMPIONS AND SPONSORS

1D DAWN LAZOR RANGE VIEW LARGE ANIMAL ASSOCIATES RANDY PARKER DVM

2D MCKENNA ABERCROMBIE AMERI MORTGAGE BOB AND RAINA CHANDLER

3D SMANTHA MCKNIGHT VITAL DESIGNS PAM AND KEVIN FERGUSON

4D AIMEE WINTERS INTEGRITY HARD WOOD FLOORS JEREMY MALLETTE