“Winter Blues” Returns To Stanley

By Julie Woodbury
White Earth Valley Saddle Club hosted another Winter Blues Draft Horse Challenge at the Mountrail County Fair Building in Stanley on Saturday, Jan. 25. Fifteen drivers brought large and small horses to practice the art of driving horses in a friendly competition.
The Obstacle Challenge begins each competition. The obstacles are reminiscent of objects that might be in the way, when a team is delivering freight in a city or on the docks. The maneuvers are all completed with a wagon. They must be completed in a specific pattern, and each error becomes a “penalty”. Lowest penalty wins, with ties broken by time. Obstacles this weekend included a tarp the horses had to walk over, poles that couldn’t be stepped on, and cones and barrels that must be maneuvered through. Teams have to back into a “loading dock”, just as truckers must do today.
Closest to the Pin combines elements of the Obstacles Challenge and Barrels, with accuracy and speed factored in. Each team completes a loop around three barrels. Teamsters must stop their teams as close as possible to a flag at each barrel. Each inch away from the flag results in a second added to their time. This event tests the driver’s skill to both stop and start their team quickly and accurately.
Cloverleaf Barrels is much like regular Barrel Racing, with horses racing the clock around three barrels in a cloverleaf pattern. Each barrel that is tipped over results in a 5-second penalty. Both Closest to the Pin and Cloverleaf Barrels are completed with the driver atop a stone boat; a flat bottomed wooden skid that can be used to haul stones, hay, and other objects.
One of the most fun parts of the event is watching your young teamsters learn to drive. Ty Nichols won the Youth portion of the event driving Thelma and Louise of Woodbury Farm. Ty won each of the 3 events. He’s made great gains in confidence and skill since starting to drive two years ago. At only eight years old, Tuff Newman held his own, driving Dawn and Duke, earning respectable times in the Obstacle Challenge and Closest to the Pin. Tylada Nichols rounded out the Youth division driving Arrow and Angus, competing in the Cloverleaf Barrels.
Winners of each challenge receive extra points, which will go towards the final 2025 season prizes. Winners of this round include: Obstacle Course: 1st Whitt Bagley with Eric and Bill, 2nd Phil Newman with Dawn and Duke, 3rd Wyatt Bagley with Bubba and Brady. Closest to the Pin: 1st Phil Newman with Dawn and Duke, 2nd Julie Woodbury with Thelma and Louise, 3rd John Woodbury with Jenna and T. Cloverleaf Barrels: 1st Whitt Bagley with Eric and Bill, 2nd John Woodbury with Jenny and T, 3rd Phil Newman with Dawn and Duke. Overall the event had Whitt Bagley and Phil Newman tied for 1st, and John Woodbury coming in third.