2008
Apr - May - Jun
Magazine

 

Boomers on Horse Back
by Wendy Simons

When we think of middle aged ladies, we think of mothers, grandmothers, retirees and socialites. Who would ever think a group of ladies would become known for horsing around.

Let me introduce you to some ladies who have discovered the joy of working with horses and a mounted drill team - the Reno Rodeo Flag Girls Drill Team.

These ladies have to love getting down and dirty, yet be able to spruce up and sparkle. They lift weights (saddles, bags of grain and bales of hay), shower with their furry friends who need constant grooming and bathing (horses), and spend countless hours in practice to represent their team in championship competitions - as well as running “hell bent for leather” during the rodeo performances presenting the flags of the sponsors.

Who are some of the ladies we are talking about? Sherry Davis, Sherrie Baker, Claudia Watkins, and Debbie Hansen, ages not revealed, but trust me they are boomers.

Sherry Davis, decided after raising her kids, seeing them through T-ball, minor and major baseball, Junior rodeos and local gymkhana clubs, it was her turn to relax and have fun. She found an adrenaline rush when carrying the flags at break neck speed in the rodeo arena, and has been involved as a member of the Flag Girls for 13 years. It's hard to believe she worked in an office for 27 years. She notes her work with horses helped clear her mind.

Sherry found if she didn't focus on becoming one with the animal, she risked getting her butt dumped off as she chose to work with young horses. Her 25 years of riding and her gift of being able to communicate well with the horses has lead her to be one of the top riders on the drill team. She has found the precision required in drill performances truly facilitates a team spirit with her fellow riders. The camaraderie of the group has been very rewarding. Sherry has also put her computer talent to work crafting the drill patterns for the team the past two years.

Sherrie Baker, a teacher for the Washoe County school district, has had a love for horses since she was a young girl, and was a candidate for Miss Reno Rodeo in her younger years. She finds horses to be amazingly intuitive animals, and so responsive to human attention. Devoting her life to riding horses since she was 3-yearsold, she has become quite accomplished as a rider. During her college years she rode on the dressage team, and found the discipline required carries over to her work on the drill team.

Precision, practice and perseverance as well as a true team spirit has kept Sherrie devoted to her teammates and her horses.

Claudia Watkins developed a love of riding horses years ago. While working full time, raising 3 children, she found time for her horses. She discovered the Flag Girls through friend, Mary Fenton, and shared the fact that originally the Flag Girls had to be under 22-yearsold. Thanks to the efforts of Mary and Claudia the age limit was lifted, and she was able to join. The benefit of allowing older riders allowed for an expanded commitment that was not evident in the more youthful riders. Seventeen years later, Claudia still rides with the Flag Team! Her love of horses stems from her belief that they are the most elegant, majestic creatures to ever walk the earth. She can be having a bad day, and even the shortest ride seems like a three week vacation. Lifelong friendships have been cultivated by her affiliation with the Flag Team and the Reno Rodeo. Claudia finds a “team gratification” when a drill maneuver is worked on until it is perfect. The “yea's, heehaws, and high 5's” are almost as awesome as the day she bought her first horse.

Debbie Hansen is a 3 year member of the Flag Team, and a mainstay as ground crew for the Drill Team of which she will soon become a member. Debbie sports a picture of herself at the age of 3 riding a pony with fear on her face. Later that very pony inspired her to continue riding. It took her a while to discover the rodeo and the Flag Team, but she has found a family and a home. In the past, Debbie had field riding experience, but it is considerably different in an arena racing with a heavy flag. In fact, the Flag Team changed her attitude about riding. Learning how to hook a horse trailer, wash and groom a horse, hoist a heavy saddle onto the horses back, pick the debris out of the hoofs, polish and brush, change leads (when you lope the horse), change gaits (speeds) and ride faster are skills she expands on daily. Bonding her heart and mind with her horses', and developing the ability to ride as one has nurtured a love for the teams. She gives not 100 but 500 percent. She loves the teams' passion, but truly brings her own passion to the event. She warms the crowd at the Rodeo with her beautiful smile, as she cranks up the speed during the sponsor flag runs.

These ladies have personified an age old statement made by Theodore Roosevelt, “The outside of a horse is good for the inside of a man.” This statement is even more certain for women, and certainly the women who choose to “horse around” with the Flag Girl Drill Team of the Reno Rodeo. The team coaches, Wendy Simons (yours truly) and Lynn Jasmine also share the Boomer generation honors, and are lifelong horsewomen. On a final note, the team is the Western States Championship Mixed Division drill team for the past 3 years. So let's hear it for the “Boomers on Horse Back”!