Horse Lovers Will Be in Heaven at the National Western Stock Show

The very first day of the National Western Stock Show was a Quarter Horse and Paint Horse Sale. About a hundred horses - mares, stallions and geldings, were auctioned off to new homes, many for very big prices. They were described in the program with genealogy, horse and offspring winnings (some over a half million dollars) and future eligibility. They're also just amazing, sweet, unique animals. While the National Western Stock Show is many things, it is definitely a place to go if you love horses, or if you'd like to learn more about them.

Walking around the show ring facility, I got an education in the past, present and future of the equine world. High-tech horse care equipment, old-fashioned hats, bits and saddles, and lots of horse lovers representing their trade and their passion were all waiting in their booths for visitors to talk with.

My first encounter in the building was a beautiful display of Western Art, paintings and sculpture. The energy, earth tones and feel of the old and new West was powerful. The sculptures of R. Clay (Bob) Booth were, as his motto says, "Emotions in Motion." Many priced in the thousands of dollars, they each held a strong energy and were very dynamic, whether a cowboy in the process of roping a calf, or a ranch hand full of feeling. It drew me out of the distractions of the city, and put me in a frame of mind that was perfect for what I found as I continued around the ring.

As a high-tech professional, I was drawn to a gadget with an LCD display, hoses and a complex encasement, which turned out to be both a benefit to horses and their trainers, a new-style icepack and then some. Peggy Sue Clarke of Innovative Equine Solutions, who represents the manufacturer in this area, gets to live her life's passion helping horses, she told me. The Game Ready system is a device to circulate ice water in a controlled and dry fashion to help horse legs heal from surgery or other traumas, cutting healing time by 50% she says. Microprocessor-controlled technology provides tender loving care to these majestic creatures.

I met a couple of groups, representing the two organizations behind the horse sale at the beginning of the show, the Rocky Mountain Paint Horse Association and the Rocky Mountain Quarter Horse Association. Both are passionate about their breeds and horsemanship in general. I found myself drawn in and asking about where I could both photograph competitions and get an introduction to riding.

Though many exhibitors came from nearby states or far from the city, it turns out that there are plenty of opportunities for basic and advanced horsemanship in the Denver area, including the Colorado Horse Park in Parker which is said to be quite a spectacle as training and competition continue through the summer, and Gerrie Barnes' ranch in Larkspur. Gerrie is a professional educator with a Master's degree in Counseling, and it shows.

She explained to me many of the ways in which horse riding benefits a person, and also noted that guided trail riding is often just a "horse taxi" where the horse is trained to be insensitive to the rider for the protection of both. Actual, committed horsemanship develops a connection, and is beneficial to both horse and rider. It sounds wonderful, and while I was listening to Gerrie, I was watching examples of that connection at the Paint Horse trials in the ring below.

As I thought about trying riding as the spring approached, I walked by JB Saddlery from Fort Lupton, Colorado and Weather Hat Company from Dakota Territory (South Dakota), and I had to stop and ask about hats. Living in a state where our U.S. Senator wears a trademark hat, and having felt Colorado rains on hikes in the foothills, I thought I'd find out about them. They're expensive! They cost hundreds of dollars, but I now realize they are a perhaps a lifetime investment. Wool felt, I learned, isn't the best material since it shrinks. European rabbit fur and beaver fur were the better offerings they had, and beaver in particular was said to be incredibly durable over the long term.

I left the building, and went across to where the young folks had their displays, the Future Farmers of America, Colorado State University's program in Fort Collins, and others. A generation of Americans growing up with animals were displaying their knowledge and enthusiasm, and other kids were wandering around with their parents, touching, feeding and learning about the animals. Even as an adult, I could spend the whole day there, and there were plenty of people in the booths, glad to tell more about their interests.

If you have enthusiasm for agriculture and animals, the Stock Show is a wonderful place to visit. January is a perfect time for it, as they bring the ranches and farms and great outdoors, indoors.