Blue Heeler and Corgi Lover
Mansfield, Arkansas
text 479-252-2241
thecowgirlsok@yahoo.com

Our Story
In 2022 Gary Walker became Bodie's race trainer. Gary was the first race trainer that really gave Bodie a chance. He took Bodie to his race win, the ApHC Champion Aged Race Stallion and Bodie's Bronze Race Medallion. That first Medallion being a Race Medallion set Bodie up for the opportunity to make this medallion run and make history... if he had the heart to do it and if we could get the right trainer to take him and guidance to make a plan and get it done. Without Steve Cruse this dream could have never happened. I knew nothing about showing. I poured my heart and dreams out to Steve and with the help of his wife Petra who was johnny on the stick all of the time and even showed Bodie in Ladies Heritage at the 2023 World Show with practically no warning to get prepared and his daughter Courtney helped show Bodie when Steve was hurt. They literally made my dreams come true. Not only did Steve give 200% to get Bodie qualified for his Silver Halter Medallion but his advice was and still is priceless. I could have never taken Bodie and qualified him for his Gold Medallion this year (2024) without Steve's advice and moral support. I've never done anything like this before and Steve told me you've gotta go and get this done and I just put him in my old 2 horse trailer and we went. I put a little over 7000 miles on my old Ford truck in about 7 weeks. We went everywhere and praise God we slept in parking lots, storms you name it. We traveled through 10 states in 7 weeks, sometimes we made 2 different shows in the same weekend and always states apart. Then we had a couple of weeks break to prepare for the National Show... my first time to ever take a horse to a big show... this whole year was the first time to do anything like this. The first show we went to in Indiana I was so overwhelmed I lost my truck key right before the class... our first show ever lol I was so mortified not only was I in a panic over my key but I totally blanked on the story about my regalia. I just sat on Bodie and looked at the judges lol I couldn't have told them my name. My key had been turned in to the office and we headed home with my rattled nerves settled and we were ready to show. We are currently High Point in the Nation and Bodie has qualified for his Gold Medallion and looks like he could get 2 Gold Medallions out of this year.
We finished the shows, went home to prepare for the National Show and I worked on my story about our regalia and added to my regalia. In my first National Show we won. Bodie is the 2024 National Champion Heritage horse and qualified for his Gold Medallion. I met so many people along our way this year. My trailer broke down in IL and people just jumped in and fixed and it was a major breakdown. The brought in welders and everything. What an awesome group of people that have cheered us on and helped me get Bodie to where we are. Margie Billau advised me about my regalia and encouraged me to make it my own and with her help to make it real to me and encouraged my creative nature and pointed me towards regalia pieces and Native traditions and the rich history of the Nez Perce and their influence with the Appaloosa. Thank you Margie...luv u :)
We are currently conditioning for distance and will start our distance rides this December. We will travel from South Texas to Florida and also be in Louisiana, Alabama and Kansas on rides with NATRC we'll do 7 50-60 mile rides totaling a minimum of 350 miles.
Bodie is going to make history. I'll be on his back went we complete that last ride and ride him into the history books myself as the only Diamond Studded Medallion earner in the history of the Appaloosa Horse Club.
It's totally a God thing. Without God making this possible and the help of so many people along the way this could never have happened.... and a horse that has the talent, beauty, speed and heart to try, to make this a reality.