The dust has barely settled at John Justin Arena and already, hooves are thundering in the anticipation of the famed Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo. Before the main event takes center stage, the Chisholm Challenge has begun, marking its 20th year showcasing equestrians with disabilities. "It's sort of a calm before anything gets started," Tyler Valenciano, who's riding in his fifth Chisholm Challenge, told NBCDFW.
As excited onlookers filled the stands on Monday, the Chisholm Challenge kicked off with American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) events that ran through many an equine discipline. The public attendance was welcomed by a competition open, where competitors like Valenciano showcased not just talent but tenacity as well. Via a Chisholm Challenge press release, the event highlights everything from Showmanship to the intricate canter/lope Hunt, accented by the grace of Western and Trail Class.
Dr. Tannetje Crocker, a Chisholm Challenge Board of Directors member, emphasized the importance of this event: "So this event is one of the few opportunities that these equestrians with disabilities have to actually showcase what they've been working on all year long," she told NBCDFW. In a sentiment echoed by all, they highlighted the event is less about the accolades and more about the personal hurdles overcome.
The Chisholm Challenge continued with events on the 9th and 10th, operated solely by volunteers – a group numbering over 550 strong, as per information revealed in a Chisholm Challenge statement. Representing North Texas Area Therapeutic Riding Centers, these PATH (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship, International) member centers assured all the involved athletes had access to certified instruction and safety-centered horseback experiences. These centers imbued their riders not just with the skills for competition but with life lessons, as Tammi Wilson, of Living Hope Equine Therapy Center, put it, "They understand that hard work and dedication, and you know, sometimes the rides don't go well," she mentioned to NBCDFW. "But you get back up and you do it again, and they take that into their life."
Gratitude is a recurring theme throughout the Chisholm Challenge narrative, and this year's event was no different. A special shout-out was given to event sponsors, who according to a Chisholm Challenge thank you note, were instrumental in crafting what has become an annual highlight for EWD athletes. This showcase of determination, skill, and the human-equine bond serves as a heartwarming prelude to the rodeo season and a reminder of the power of community and perseverance.
