Nicole Baggs of Cody and her McCullough Peaks’ mustang, Dallas, will compete in the National Barrel Horse Association’s World Championships next month. Horse and rider worked hard to get there, but Baggs credits all the hard work to Dallas. Tribune photo by Gib Mathers
In October, Nicole Baggs, 31, of Cody will ride her McCullough Peaks’ mustang, Dallas, at the National Barrel Horse Association’s World Championships.
Baggs calls it a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
“I think she (Dallas) will quite possibly be the first mustang to compete in this event,” said Patricia Hatle, range and wild horse specialist for the
Cody Bureau of Land Management, who manages the McCullough Peaks herd.
The competition, in Augusta, Ga., will require Baggs and Dallas to make two barrel race runs in opposite directions. If she qualifies for finals, Baggs will make a final run. At stake is $350,000 in prizes and cash for 10 places in each of the four divisions.
The mustang-and-rider team won the event last year at
district finals, Baggs said. By qualifying in her division in October,
Baggs earned her place in the championships.
The finals will be fierce — last year 169 riders competed in four divisions.
Dallas
stands a notch over 14 hands, but height isn’t all its cracked up to
be. And, at 15, Dallas may not be the most fleet-footed horse either,
but she’s got plenty of heart.
“She’s not the fastest horse out there, but she gives it her all,” Baggs said.
Horse and rider train at least five days a week.
“I have been practicing a lot at the Boot and Bottle Riding Club,” Baggs said.
Baggs
and Dallas have been partners since the horse was 2 years old. Dallas
was adopted from the McCullough Peaks wild horse herd. Baggs father,
Mark Wortham, bought Dallas from a previous owner.
At the time, Dallas was only halter-broken. Baggs took the reins, and the two became a team.
Since
then, the black-and-white paint has gone on trail rides, pack trains,
accompanied the Royal Riders in parades and cut barrels.
A Western-style ballet
Watching Baggs and Dallas’ lightning fluidity resembles a Western-style ballet.
At
the start, Dallas’ rear end sinks as she thrusts from the ground to
squeeze a little extra horsepower from her flank. Her hooves pound the
ground — thump, thump thump. Quick as a cat, she circles a barrel, then
hits the straightaway like a black-and-white rocket.
Baggs hugs the horse with her legs.
“Hup, hup,” she says.
Baggs
uses voice commands and her knees to guide her beautiful, speedy mount,
but after years together, each intuits what the other wants, thinks.
After the practice run, Dallas is panting, her neck slick with sweat.
Dallas
is fast, and there is no doubt she’s a swell horse, but Baggs is no
slouch either — she’s an accomplished rider, an obvious barrel-racing
requisite. Still, Baggs remains self-effacing, attributing her success
and spot in the championships to the horse she loves.
“She worked at it,” Baggs said. “She’s earned it.”
Getting ready for competition
At
the October championships, Baggs and Dallas will have at least two
family members in the cheering section — Baggs’ twin sister, Nannette
Wortham, who competed in the 2003 championships and her father, who
will take turns with Baggs driving to Georgia.
Baggs and her husband, Jason, have two sons, Taylor, 2-1/2 years old, and Lance, 4 months.
Baggs is trying to raise money for her trip with a drawing for a whole pig, cut, cured and wrapped.
Tickets cost $5, and the winning ticket will be drawn at Cody Meat Oct. 20.
Baggs
also is looking for more sponsors. She can be reached at 307-899-4254
or by writing to her at P.O. Box 1773, Cody, WY 82414.
More information on the National Barrel Horse Association competition can be found at www.nbha.com.
