HSU Insider

Six White Horses Team Set for 2008-2009

• By Dave Coffield
• Posted September 23, 2008 8:55 AM
• 0 Comments

The dust finally settled on the Six White Horses practice arena, the judges finished a particularly difficult winnowing session, and the 2008-2009 Six White Horses lineup was set as the annual tryouts for the storied riding team came to a close. The Rodeo Queens are safe, but two riders from last year's team didn't make the cut. If you'd seen the 13 ranch-grown, cattle-cutting, horse-showing, rodeo-riding cowgirls who came out to this year's auditions, you'd understand why. This was arguably the best crop of applicants to line up at the horse barn in many years. Even the horses, who looked decidedly sleepy during the saddling portion of the tryouts, took notice after being pushed hard by experienced and expert riders. More than one horse needed to catch its breath during the rider's interview with the judges.

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The session started at 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, and lasted late into the night. The riders were done by 7:30, but the judges debated over a dinner that lasted well into the evening. Pleased with the number of applicants, more than one judge was overheard saying, "This is going to be tough, we've got some great kids and they're all very, very good." Judges included Taylor County Judge George Newman and former HSU biology professor; Dr. Natalie Matthews, former Six White Horses rider and veterinarian at Brookhollow Animal Clinic; attorney Kelly Gill; former HSU rodeo team member and speech therapist Linda Boeshart; former rider and retired HSU faculty member Paula Windham; and Butch Boeshart, retired oilman.

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By 10:00 p.m., Debbie Jones, Six White Horses program director, finally had her team. They included the 2005 and 2008 West Texas Fair and Rodeo Queens, two theatre majors, a future nurse, a future therapist, several future teachers, a hopeful for law school, and the great granddaughter of former HSU president Dr. E. A. Reiff. Nine riders in all made the team. Although only six will ride during any given performance, nine riders give Jones flexibility with class schedules and illness--and she always needs extra help when the team goes on the road. All nine members will travel to parades at Trent and Newcastle this weekend, and were already practicing Wednesday night under the lights at the practice arena.

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Your HSU Six White Horses riders for this year are: Kristin Akins from Hawley, Lara Clapp from Iowa Park, Jamie Cooley from Eula, Becky Daniel from Truscott, Whitney Hicks (2005 WTF&R Queen) from Hamby, Rachel Newman from Roxton, Kristen Ringler from Alvaredo, Amy Turner from Rochester, and Lauren Willen (2008 WTF&R Queen) from Albany.