HSU Insider

HSU Six White Horses Rider Crowned 2008 West Texas Fair & Rodeo Queen

• By Dave Coffield
• Posted September 11, 2008 2:14 PM
• 0 Comments

One of the Six White Horses riders will take a special victory lap during each performance at this year's West Texas Fair & Rodeo. Lauren Willen, starting her second year as a rider with the team, was crowned the 2008 West Texas Fair and Rodeo Queen Tuesday night, Sep 9. When the iconic HSU riders line up in the arena, Lauren will be called out and introduced as this year's rodeo royalty.

Six White Horses program director Debbie Jones was pleased with the selection, "several of our riders have been chosen to be the Rodeo Queen over the years, and Lauren's selection brings honor to our team and to our university." If you haven't seen the Six White Horses go through their routine this year, you can still catch the show through Saturday, Sep 13, at 7:30 p.m. at the Expo Center.

Willen's selection shouldn't be a surprise; she's grown up in a saddle. The 10-time qualifier for the State 4-H Horse Show specializes in speed events and the halter class, and won points with the rodeo judges for personality and speech. The Albany native is a Sophomore history major who's been a fixture with the Six White Horses this year, often volunteering to travel to area schools with program director Debbie Jones to educate children about horses. Willen plans to continue to ride with the Six White Horses as reigning West Texas Fair & Rodeo Queen--if she passes the annual auditions for the storied riding group.

<

Speaking of auditions, Jones announced the date of try-outs for the 2008-2009 riding team. She needs to fill several vacancies this year, so cowgirls with visions of joining this elite equestrian team should start getting some quality-time in the saddle. Auditions will be at the Doc Beazley Six White Horses Center on the HSU campus, 16 Sep, at 5:00 p.m. The public is invited to the try-outs.

Prospective riders must be enrolled as full-time students at HSU, and must have strong riding skills. Each applicant will be interviewed to assess their ability to represent the University and to maintain poise under stressful conditions. To make sure only the best riders are chosen, even current riders must audition each year.

Typically, prospects will demonstrate the ability to properly saddle a horse as judges evaluate their confidence, strength, and interaction with the horses. The group rides out to the arena where each prospect will demonstrate the ability to control a horse through a predetermined course. The course ends at the judge's stand with the judges' interview.

Riders perform throughout the year and are expected to groom their horses, handle tack and riding gear, and practice riding routines 2 - 3 times per week. The selection team generally chooses 8 riders so that at least 6 will be available at any given time for the program's grueling schedule. Riders must have the stamina to guide a horse through complex routines while carrying one of the six flags that are associated with Texas history.

If weather is a factor, and with recent rains it may well be, riders will compete at an indoor location yet to be announced. Directions will be posted at the horse barn, but the venue will likely be the Roy Bozark Arena (Gate C) at the Taylor County Expo Center. Tryouts will begin a half-hour later if prospective riders and judges need to travel from the barn to an alternate location..