Time to shine

Young, fast and powerful, but she's sweet as a kitten.

Lopin' Hope, or Hope for short, is a 3-year-old quarter horse mare ridden, raised and loved by Susan Bruner. Bruner will compete with Hope in the trail event during the SandHills Quarter Horse Show.

At home on the Doubletree Ranch just south of Interstate 20, Bruner trots Hope around, over and through the trail formation. Even though Hope is a young horse, she is completely at ease.

"Ya know it takes a long time. It takes three or four years" to get a horse competitive in trail, Bruner said.

Bruner said she has been participating in horse shows for more than a decade and said what brings her back every year to the Odessa show is how much fun she has.

"It's a fun show, and we enjoy it," she said. But being a regular participant in horse shows is costly and time consuming as both Bruner and Show Secretary Nancy Longoria will attest to.

"You have to love horses to do this. You gotta work at it," Bruner said.

"The cheapest part about owning a horse is buying the horse itself," Longoria said. Vet bills, transportation to and from events, saddles, show fees and many other expenses must all be taken into account.

Because horse show entrants come from many parts of Texas and other states, Bruner and Longoria both said they expect lower gas prices to have a positive result on the number of participants and number of horses entered in the show, which in turn means good things for the local economy.

The AQHA along with the Odessa Chamber of Commerce estimates last year the horse show had a $357,000 impact on the community.

"I want to say that our show continues to grow in numbers each year by word of mouth, local support and with the advertising done by AQHA," Longoria said.

People of all ages and abilities have a place in the show. The show features a variety of events including horseback riding styles and techniques and the halter, or show, category. Longoria said all ages and experience levels are encouraged to participate.

Horses are competing for points that can be earned at each AQHA show. Points are used to earn a spot to compete in the world championship. This year, Longoria said the show will be in Oklahoma.

Longoria said one of the most popular categories is the amateur select, which is a group for riders older than 50. Bruner agreed and said she has been preparing a 76-year-old woman, who has struggled with breast cancer and chemotherapy, to compete in the amateur select category at this year's show.

"It used to be that women didn't want to admit their age but now they can't wait to be 50," Bruner said.

ALL IN THE FAMILY

Bruner and her husband own the Doubletree Ranch, but the love for the family business doesn't stop with them. Bruner's daughter, Kelly Bruner, is competing in the barrel-racing category at the rodeo.

Bruner is also proud owner of a four-time AQHA world champion mare named Jackie Little Star, and she rode Jackie herself in two of the shows. Now she hopes 7-year-old grandson Ty Bruner will carry on the tradition.

For now though, Ty is playfully dragging around an old, but good-natured, rescued circus pony named Ramona.

"She's a great little pony, and I ride her all the time," Ty said.

Bruner said he is learning to be more confident around horses and hopes that someday he will be competing in the big shows.

"It's a good thing he likes horses," she said.

SandHills Rodeo schedule of events

Thursday

>> 1- 6 p.m.: Bulls, Blood and Heroes Blood Drive - Coliseum.

Friday

>> 8 a.m.: Lamb show - Barn E.

>> 8 a.m.: Steer/Heifer show - Arena.

>> 7:30 p.m.: First Rodeo Performance - Coliseum.

Saturday 

>> 7 a.m.: Horse Show - Coliseum.

>> 8 a.m.:  Goat Show - Barn E.

>> 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.:  Bulls, Blood and Heroes Blood Drive - Coliseum.

>> 11 a.m.:  Livestock Sale - Arena.

>> Noon:  Kids Rodeo - Mall.

>> 7:30 p.m.: Second Rodeo Performance - Coliseum.

Jan. 4

 >> 7 a.m.: Quarter Horse Show - Coliseum.

Jan. 5

>> 8 a.m.: Half Tie Down Slack and Girls Barrel Racing Slack first go - Coliseum (following Tie Down).

Jan. 6

>> 10:30 a.m.: Super Tuesday Roping - Coliseum.

>> 6:30 p.m.: Team & Match Roping - Coliseum.

Jan. 7

 >> 8 a.m.: Girls Barrel Racing Slack - Coliseum.

>> 1-6 p.m.: Bulls, Blood and Heroes Blood Drive - Coliseum.

>> 5:30 p.m.: Christian Youth Night program - Building G.

>> 7:30 p.m.: Third Rodeo Performance - Coliseum.

Jan. 8

 >> 9 a.m.: Steer Wrestling Slack - Coliseum.

>> Half Tie Down roping slack - Coliseum.

>> 7:30 p.m. Fourth Rodeo Performance - Coliseum.

Jan. 9 

>> 9 a.m.: Team Roping Slack and Steer Roping Slack - Arena (following TR Slack).

>> 7:30 p.m.: Fifth Rodeo Performance - Coliseum.

Jan. 10

 >> 9 a.m.: Special Kids Rodeo - Coliseum.

>> 9 a.m.: Steer Roping Slack - Outback.

>> 7:30 p.m.: Sixth Rodeo Performance - Coliseum.