...and on the eighth day God created the horse in perfect image, to romp, graze, gallop, play and make manure wherever it darn well pleases, in divine grace.
Folks, our friend, Rick Brown, has had a serious horse-related accident. Apparently a horse came down on top of him and he has a punctured lung and a broken back. He can push with his toes and has sensation in his lower legs, but there is nerve pressure and a rod has been placed in his back for stabilization. He has been flown to Ohio for back surgery.
When you say your prayers tonight, save a few for Rick, he’s going to need them all.
Rick Brown and daughter, Shauna Brown, are seen every summer at the Crawford County Fair, their stalls adorned with the many ribbons they win with their beautiful Quarter horses. Their specialty is reining and it sure is fun watching them train.
Shauna’s riding students are always winning first place in Equitation, garnering special prizes along with blue ribbons.
And the Fair isn’t Rick’s only stop during show season, he also takes his horses out on the big-time reining circuit.
What’s interesting is that I lined Rick up for one of Weatherman Tom Atkins’ annual shoots at the Fair, for Channel 24 in Erie. I had always seen Rick around the Fair working his horses and such but didn’t really know him.
So I asked if he would be interested in an interview featuring his horses and he said yes. Of course the two of us have mutual horse friends at the Fair, and one night before the TV interview I found everybody out in front of Wayne and Shauna Bogardus’ tent with guitars playing and people singing.
Whoda-thunk-it?
Shauna Bogardus has beautiful, spot-on vocals that should never be stuck just in church, and they matched up perfectly with Rick Brown’s 12-string guitar.
Now, a 12-string guitar is very pretty to look at, but if you’re going to play a 12-string, then you better play it!
Rick Brown did not disappoint, and that evening was one of the most enjoyable I’ve had in the last 10 years. My kind of past time, I tell you, it makes you wish the night would go on till the moon got sleepy.
Rick was a natural in front of the tv camera and the Channel 24 Crew fell in love with his beautiful horse. He and Tom Atkins hit it off great and the interview flowed like a river. - See Rick page 12
Rick - from page 11
Afterwards, Rick’s horse-turned-tv-star performed reining maneuvers for the rail crowd and viewers out in tv land.
Me and Tom Atkins agreed it was one of the more smooth and enjoyable shoots we’ve done over the years.
Then, it turns out that my dear cousin, Grand Michelle, knows Rick Brown, too, as she also competes on the reining horse circuit. What a small world, indeed.
I sure hope our cowboy friend is going to be all right.
Leaving you, as always, with the immortal words of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, “Happy Trails to You.”
