Even though it turned cold last weekend, Barton Productions didn't let that deter them from having a great kickoff to spring break.
At Hilltop Arena on Friday night, Muskogee’s Steve Kelley was the high money winner. On Saturday night, that envied position was split. Hulus Dugger and Steven Ivy had highest honors at the Double D Arena in Poteau and there were many other winners as well.
Expectations are high for this weekend at Hilltop Arena, where team roping drawpots are scheduled both Friday and Saturday nights. Spectators are always welcome and the admission is free. For information, contact Bart Barton at 616-9269 or 463-3269 or e-mail at letsrope@crosstel.net.
With spring approaching, we will all be hitting the road again.
It’s time to think about immunizations to protect our horses against infectious diseases.
Immunizations are one of the easiest and most effective ways to protect your horse. The vaccines administered by your veterinarian to your horse place a protective barrier between the horse and a whole list of problems, such as tetanus, encephalomyelitis (sleeping sickness), influenza, rhinopneumonitis, rabies, strangles and West Nile virus —just to name a few.
While a good immunization program is important to horse ownership, vaccination does not guarantee 100 percent protection. In some situations, immunization may decrease the severity of disease, but not prevent it completely. This is due to many reasons, one of which is the differences in the severity of some diseases.
The usual method of vaccination involves the injection of bacteria or viruses that are inactivated or modified to avoid causing actual disease in the horse. Recently, intranasal vaccinations have been developed for immunization against influenza and strangles. Two or more doses are usually needed to initiate an adequate immune response. Once the immunization process is completed, the protective antibodies stand guard. However, over time these antibodies gradually decline. Protection against some diseases, such as tetanus and rabies, can be accomplished by booster injections once a year. Other diseases require more frequent intervals to provide adequate protection.
The specific immunizations needed by a particular horse depend upon several factors: environment, age, use, exposure risk, geographic location and general management. Your local veterinarian can help you determine the vaccination program best suited to your horse's individual needs.
Right now, the first Sooner Barrel Racing Association jackpot for 2010 is scheduled for Saturday at the Coweta Round-Up Club arena. Exhibitions will begin at noon and the jackpot at 2 p.m. There will be $200 added money in the open barrels. If the predicted bad weather moves in Friday night, be sure and call before you haul. The officers are listed on their website at www.soonerbarrels.com.
The Muskogee Round-Up Club has plans for a timed event rodeo, an eight-week Thursday night barrel series (giving magnetic sheets as awards), and the playday series. The playdays begin on April 3, the barrel series on May 6, and the timed event rodeo is May 22. There are handbills for each of these on the club’s website www.muskogeeroundupclub.com. Go the website and browse and see what all is going on out there. Call an officer if you have any questions regarding events or membership.
The arena is up and plans are forming for events at the Three Rivers Cowboy Church. Attendance has been increasing each week. You will be surprised how comfortable it is inside the white, Quonset hut style structure. Be sure and bring your lawn chair and be prepared to enjoy the service. Singing starts about 11 a.m., then the sermon, food, and Bible study for those that want to stay. For information, contact Pastor Tom Gragg at 577-5190.
Farmers almanac dates to trim manes and tails to promote growth: March 19-20 and 24-25.
Reach Rhonda Stewart with rodeo news and comments at 869-1498 or rayandrhon@netzero.net.
