IN THE SPOT LIGHT
2005
Where did 2004 go? It has been pretty quiet here at the "Muddy Boggy" as far as
outside work with the horses goes. Rain, rain and more rain. Finally we have had a
few days of sunshine and hope it sticks around long enough to dry up the ground.
Check out Star's page. It now has a link for his get. I plan on doing the same for all
the stallions, as soon as I can get the information gathered together.
Bill received his 5,000 mile "Rider Mileage Award" from NATRC. Go Bill!
Merry is learning Paint Shop Pro so look forward to some neat graphics on the site in
the near future.
Bill and Pratts Toby IV (Toby) complete the requirements ( 7 CTR
rides and a total of 350 miles) for Toby's ApHC Bronze Medallion in
Distance Riding. Not bad for a 17 yr old foundation bred Appaloosa
carrying a heavyweight rider. This Medallion is especially special to
us as it is Bill's 25th and was completed at the Indian Cave CTR in
Nebraska, a ride that Bill co-founded 31 years ago.
presenting the ApHC Presidents Achievement Award
From the Ocer news:
"While attending the LBL (Land Between the Lakes) Express Ride in Kentucky over the weekend of
April 23,24 & 25, 2004 I learned that the Appaloosa Horse Club was filiming the endurance ride for
a monthly show they produce for their members. The ride is supposed to be on the July episode.
At the Saturday night awards dinner one of OCER's own members received a special recognition
from the President of the ApHC (Frank Larrabee). Bill Wicklund received the President's
Achievement Award. He received it for qualifying more Appaloosas for their Distance Riding
Medallion than anyone else in the world. The Distance Riding Medallion is achieved by completing
350 miles of open competition in endurance or competitive trail in one year. The ride year is the
same as AERC (Dec 1 - Nov 30) Bill has qualified 24 Appaloosa horses for this medallion since 1976.
Bill and his wife Merry, own the Hurricane Ranch in Oklahoma. Bill and Merry concentrate on
qualifying Appaloosas for their Distance Medallions and raise a few horses on the side. They stand
four Appaloosa stallions. Their stallions all have Appaloosa to Appaloosa breeding for several
generations. This spring they will have four babies on the ground.
Bill's belief is "You don't need a poor ol'solid color Arab to do this sport, when you can be "spotted"
on an Appaloosa". Please take the last statement in the 'tongue-in-cheek' mode I mean it, Bill
said."
(Thanks Monica for the great write up! Merry)
