Horse herpes outbreak forces rodeo queens to ride stick ponies

ksl.com ^ | May 26th, 2011 | Nadine Wimmer and Wendy Leonard.

[sparklite2]

FARMINGTON -- While the state has yet to officially cancel any events involving horses that might have been exposed to a local recent equine herpes outbreak, owners and arenas are taking precautions.

Because of the outbreak, contestants at the Davis County Sheriff's Mounted Posse Junior Queen Contest had to cowgirl up Thursday night without their mares.

Instead of competing on horses, as is typically the case, contestants were asked to trot around the arena with stick horses as their show ponies.

[DIRTYSECRET]

I didn’t know the gave each other tongue. Must be queer.

[Talisker]

Instead of competing on horses, as is typically the case, contestants were asked to trot around the arena with stick horses as their show ponies.

How degrading. People have no shame anymore.

[lee martell]

They should just cancel the ‘trot around’ period, then. Having these grown women skipping around with a toy horsee looks foolish. Maybe just put them on a float and have them wave at the crowds.

[Donglalinger]

The one on the bottom appears to be riding a bull, maybe she will receive extra points for that

[Chode]

you gotta be kiddin me...

[elcid1970]

OK, where’s the Monty Python bit with the coconut shells?

Once again, truth is always stranger than fiction.

[DIRTYSECRET]

TAKE IT OFF!!

[elcid1970]

Words fail me....

[dfwgator]

[foundedonpurpose]

Stupid is, as stupid does.

[Rastus]

Gee, never thought I’d miss sinkspur’s take on a story.

[JBW1949]

Well, they aren’t grown women..They all looked (on the video) to be about 12-13 years old, but even at that young age, it is embarrassing....

[RegulatorCountry]

They were judging the girls riding the horses, so I suppose it made sense to them to continue on with the competition on stick horses. But, to outsiders it looks silly and more than a little demented, like a Monty Python spoof.

[Donglalinger]

"Well, they aren’t grown women.."

Better check again

[elcid1970]

“Maybe just put them on a float and have them wave at the crowds.”

Someone with just half a brain would have arranged that.

[Chode]

thank you...

[Yaelle]

Rofl!

[lee martell]

Oh, my mistake. I misjudged their appearance.
At that age, they could still be considered as good sports for going along with the last minute change. Some of their parents probably have “National Rodeo Queen” dreams for their daughters for the long term.

[elcid1970]

Wait a sec - the bleachers are empty, this was a rehearsal.

Not much audience to witness the foolishness.