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Goodbye Joe




















My horse Joe was an awesome horse. I got him in 1995 when he was 9. It took a few years for him and I to really click. We had our share of barrel runs that were pretty much a disaster. In time we figured each other out and started making some really good barrel runs. He also ran excellent poles, he would glide through them so smooth and fast, he was hard to beat. Because of Joe, I have gotten to enjoy many opportunities that I otherwise would not have been a part of. I was involved in the saddle clubs, team pennings, trail riding, the NBHA and other barrel associations, IRCA and IRA rodeos, along with college rodeo where I have some of the greatest memories. I met so many people because of Joe. As time went on , we got better and better and I thought I would give rodeo a try. Rodeo is some of the toughest competition out there. Joe was at his peak when I was a mom so I went with the flow. I had always wished he ran his best during my college years when I had time and could go anywhere and everywhere. As a mom, it sure made it a whole lot harder on everyone. We did it and ended up with a buckle for IRA in 2002 and again in 2005. It was an awesome feeling to win rodeos and make it to finals and then earn a buckle. I will cherish them forever. Joe was the kind of horse I could let a kid ride before I ran barrels and he was very quiet. Jayden got to enjoy Joe in her younger years. She learned to ride on him and was doing pee wee barrels at the age of 4 walking and trotting all by herself. She earned a lot of little pee wee trophies on him. I had always hoped Jayden would get to learn to barrel race fast on Joe. In 2009, we discovered Joe was going blind and by fall he had lost his sight. We retired him and let him live an easy life on pasture. Joe was a wonderful horse and I am so thankful God gave me the chance to enjoy him. Today I said goodbye to my old friend. We have a lot of great memories.

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