The 2011 Pinto World Championships are being held in Tulsa this year. It consists of over 450 events and has over 7000 entries. It is really a big deal for the Tulsa economy.
(Do you think this kid is an Okie?)
This year SuperPizzaBoy participated in the event called “Challenged Rider Lead Line” at the show. It is for riders who have special needs and participate in a Therapeutic Riding program. SPB has been riding with the Bit by Bit program based out of Rogers State University.
We were very proud and appreciative that SPB was selected to be one of the riders. We were there with our video camera.
The riders rode into the arena one by one. Each horse is led and in addition there are two sidewalkers. There is a big emphasis on safety. The lead and sidewalkers are all volunteers. They are very dedicated. They have to be as during a 30 minute therapy session they get a pretty good workout going around and around the arena with the riders.
We got a big thrill when SPB came around to our side of the arena.
We had moved from where we were sitting and you can tell that he was looking for us. When he saw Sweetie he broke into a huge grin.
The finished their circuit and lined up. The judges went from rider to rider chatting them up a little bit. The announcer gave a little bio for each rider.
The judges talked to every one of the 15 or 16 riders and then conferred.
Everybody was trying to figure out what they were conferring about.
They decided to award all the riders a World Championship Belt Buckle.
The horses that the kids rode and the belt buckles were provided by Ford Farms of Whitesboro, Texas.
The judges and one of the owners went to each of the riders and gave them their belt buckles.
And then the riders left out of the arena.
Many thanks to the staff and volunteers of Bit by Bit, the Pinto Horse Association of America, Ford Farms, and the Judges. We are very grateful for the experience they provided our son and the other kids who participated. We appreciate you very much.
WOW! This is So cool. SPB is beaming and rides like a longtime natural Oakie cowboy. The buckle is Awesome! Congrats to SPB!!!!
This is just fantastic! And the buckle is awesome indeed! SPB looks so great! I know how proud and happy all of you are and I’m so happy for you! Terrific post, photos and videos! What a great beginning for your weekend!
Sylvia
Hey, the boy looks like he is having a great time. Congratulations on the belt buckle. It is a beauty. really a nice thing.
Your words brought a tear to my eye but how wonderful for SPB, and all the other participants, to get such a wonderful prize. I guess he’s thrilled to bits. It’s nice to read there are still good things happening in this world.
Go SPB go:-)
That is awesome. Great films.
SPB looks so comfortable on that horse. What a very cool experience for him and for his Mom and Dad. Great photos and videos.
SPB did awesome! I wished I could ride as well. Congratulations on his award. You must be very proud! This sounds like a wonderful program.
Wow! SPB must now mean Super PINTO Boy!
Congratulations to him on a job well done 🙂
☼ Sunny
That’s so great! I love that he got to be in the horse show!
LOVE that final picture! He looks so happy! Congrats SPB! That’s what memories are made of!
The buckle is beautiful!
The video’s are simply the best.
Look at him in that last photo. He looks so happy! It says it all. I’m sure SPB will treasure that buckle for many years to come.
Have a great rest of the weekend!
What a great experience!
SPB looks quite handsome in his western shirt and hat, and he sits his horse like a pro. He’ll really look great wearing his new belt buckle.
Those judges did a great job. I wish we would have come to watch. Do those horses belong to the riding center or are they real show horses? They look great, fake tails and all. As well as they’re groomed and muscled, they look like show horses to me. SPB did a great job!
was that a photo when you were young? Same genes.
How fun! And, it is so terrific that you have all the images and videos so you can all relive it.
What a great event, I’m sure it is a boost to the self esteem of these kids.
I’m sure it’s not that big of a deal to ride horses in your area but it’s so exotic to me! Your kid did a good job, horses are big animals and I’m not sure i’d have the guts to ride 😀
This is so great!! I cried during all the videos. Love that they all got a buckle. I thought all horse events were cancelled because of the new virus. We will have to check it out next year.
I can’t wait to see the movie “Buck” but I don’t think it is coming to Oklahoma.
I tried to comment on this post the other day and Blogger was not letting me. Just wanted to say what a wonderful event this was and congrats to SPB! He looks so proud.