Happy Trails with Dawni O’Bryan: Love is in the Air

Love is a feeling of strong affection and care for someone or something. That is a simple definition for a word that encompasses so much. I know we are approaching Valentine’s Day and love is in the air for all the romantics out there. Plans are made for a special meal, evening of dancing, and gift giving. Husbands and wives, girlfriends and boyfriends usually put forth some sort of effort to express romance for their loved one. Sometimes friends that don’t really have a “significant other” organize a gathering of fun activities for the singles.

We also carry deep love for our animals. We may even buy them something for Valentine’s Day, not that they understand the February holiday, but still a sign of affection. When PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) get after the ranchers and rodeo people with such criticism, I think to myself, you folks don’t have a stinking clue how we feel about the animals we deal with. Not only is there love and devotion for our animals, but there is also often a good deal of money wrapped up in them. Stock contractors take great care of their stock, as that is often their monetary lifeline, but they also acquire a sentimental feeling towards them. Cowboys and cowgirls possess a love for their horses and dogs, that at a time of loss, incredible sorrow sets in. My friend, Alvin Jones, shared a song with me by Randy Travis that is worth a listen, “Horses in Heaven.” God understands this love and it is often taught and acquired at a very young age. These little cowpunchers have learned to love and cherish their equine friends.

Results from the Young Guns Extravaganza held in Dodge City February 1-2 have several area youths placing in the two-day rodeos that range from 6 and under to 18 years of age. Colt Hainer of Eads and Rhett Bond of Wiley competed in the boys’ 6 and under division. Hainer was 4th and 8th in the barrel racing, 6th in the dummy roping, and 5th in the pole bending. Bond was 6th in the barrel racing, 4th and 5th in the dummy roping, and 4th in the pole bending. Fancy Seufer of Holly was 2nd and 5th in the dummy roping for girls, 2nd in the goat untying, and 5th in the pole bending. The 7-10 year olds saw Lamar cowboy, Kray Spitz, win 2nd in the breakaway roping and 4th in the team roping. In the 11-14 year olds, Slade Lord, of Lamar, placed 2nd in almost every event he was in on Saturday. He was 2nd in the breakaway (3.8 seconds), 2nd in the goat tying (11.89 seconds), 2nd in the steer breakaway (4.56 seconds), and 2nd in the team roping (6.78 seconds). He was first in the tie down roping with a 16.1 second-run and 3rd in the breakaway. Also in this division, Garrett Hainer of Eads was 7th in the breakaway and Rhody Bond of Wiley was 4th in the breakaway and 4th in the steer breakaway. Hudson Crane of Springfield was 6th in the goat tying. In the team roping, Preslee Seufer of Holly was 5th (9.16 seconds) with a draw partner and 8th (9.87 seconds) with her dad, Brandon Seufer. In the oldest division of 15-18 year olds, Madison Crane of Springfield, was 8th in the barrel race and 6th in the goat tying. Crane had her best day on Sunday with a 3rd place in the barrel race (16.23 seconds), 2nd in the breakaway roping (3.09 seconds), and 5th in the goat tying (9.1 seconds). Jaytyn Hash of Kendall was 1st and 3rd in the steer breakaway roping (4.1 seconds and 5.0 seconds), 4th and 2nd in the team roping (6.89 seconds and 6.07 seconds). The finals of the series will be February 14-16 in Dodge City.

“Love isn’t always perfect. It isn’t a fairytale or a storybook, and it doesn’t always come easy. Love is overcoming obstacles, facing challenges, fighting to be together, holding on and never letting go. It is a short word, easy to spell, difficult to define, and impossible to live without. Love is work, but most of all, love is realizing that every hour, every minute, and every second was worth it because you did it together.”

Happy Trails.