OklahomaHorses Magazine November 2023

November / December 2023 • OklahomaHorses 15 pasture. And with the help of good friends and a great horse, he has ridden miles of trails throughout Oklahoma, including the rugged ones in the Ouachita National Forest in southeastern Oklahoma. LaPorte wanted to demonstrate to oth- ers how his visual impairment did not stop him from participating in things he loved and learning to do new things. A Day at the Ranch In August 2006, members of the Okla- homa Quarter Horse Association joined LaPorte to host a ranch day for preschool and elementary students from the Okla- homa School for the Blind in Muskogee. The event was held at the Barefoot Ranch, owned by Lowell and Donna Hobbs near Haskell. The kids rode and petted horses, fished, and had a cookout in a country setting. The ranch day was held at the Hobbs ranch for the first two years, was affected by rain the third year, and was moved to Roy Webb’s Silver Spur Western Lodge in- door arena near Haskell the fourth year to avoid weather issues. Webb said the ranch day has become the most gratifying thing he does, and he looks forward to hosting the students every year. He added, “There wasn’t a way to let the kids fish the first year at the Silver Spur, so we built a bridge over the pond so we could offer fishing the next year. I really love being involved with this, and the kids are great.” Connors State College joined the fun in 2014. Now known as Western Heritage Day, the event has become a favorite for the team of volunteers from the Oklaho- ma Quarter Horse Association, Connors, and the Silver Spur. They combine efforts and put together the activities each year, including a catered meal for the students, attending OSB staff members, and volun- teers. They all agree it’s worth the effort and more. Jake Walker of the Connors State Col- lege Equine Program said Connors now has approximately 100 college students who volunteer by pairing up with OSB students to help them navigate the activ- ities of the day. Walker explained, “Each year seems to be a little better. We try to give them plenty of things to experience when they visit the Silver Spur.” Fun and Adventure Many of the OQHA volunteers have brought horses and helped with the event from the beginning. Juree Rezner of Dun- can has brought her horse for the kids to ride since the first time the event was held at the Silver Spur. Rezner and Donna Jan- sen trailered to the Silver Spur the night before the event. Rezner explained, “H.P.C. Peppy Fritz, aka Tea, is my cutting horse, but she’s laid back enough to work out great for the kids. It’s very heartwarming to see them ride and interact with the horses. The rest of us take so much for granted.” The 2023 event included horseback and pony riding, wagon and stagecoach rides, fishing, archery, a rock-climbing wall, a mechanical bull, bungee jumping, and a small petting zoo with farm animals provided by Connors students. LaPorte continues to make the trip to Haskell when he can and continues to inspire the kids to try new things. According to OSB principal Lynn Cragg, many of the students have attended the event since they were very young and claim it’s their favorite activity all year. The entire student body from the Oklaho- ma School for the Blind is transported to the ranch for a day of fun and adventure. She added, “The new ones are always so excited and really look forward to it because they hear so much from the others. They start talking about it at the very beginning of the school year. It’s an amazing opportunity for our kids to experience things they many never get to do otherwise. They love it!” RoyWebb (left), owner of Silver Spur Western Lodge, and volunteer Brent Forrester treat Oklahoma School for the Blind students to rides in a stagecoach onWestern Heritage Day.