Extreme Cowboy Racing is a Charlotte area hit

March 9, 11:14 AMCharlotte Equine ExaminerLori Roets

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You couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day for the first Extreme Cowboy Race in the greater Charlotte area.  Held at Why Not An American Ark in Monroe, North Carolina,  this two-day event drew a first time field of 23 competitiors in two divisions. 

The Pro division - for individuals who earn money training or working with horses - saw 6 local area horseman compete.  The Non-Pro division is where the real draw was for this first time event with 17 entries. 

Saturday's competition narrowed the Non-Pro field to 8 competitors while all Pro riders were able to advance by successfully completing the challenging 13 obstacle course set up on one of Why Not An American Ark's picturesque cross-country courses.  A healthy crowd of spectators cheered on their favorites.

Melissa Hausman rides bareback, ponying a second horse in one of the Extreme Cowboy Race challenges, while host Joyce Lewis looks on. Photo:  Lori Roets

Sunday morning's competition further reduced the field to the top 4.  Obstacles included moguls, sidepass, mailbox, shooting, reaching a suspended object while mounted, free ride, ponying another horse and a water crossing. As it was a breezy day, one particularly interesting challenge was backing thru a narrow chute with plastic bags tied on everywhere flapping in the wind and a large large snapping back and forth at the entrance.  All the finalists made it through, but there were a couple tense moments for competitors as the winds picked up during that phase of their ride. Another interesting twist was requiring the top 4 to drop their saddle midway thru the ride and complete the course bareback. 
   

The fourth non-pro competitor, Reese McGuigan, was disqualified when she suffered a fall on the reach for the overhead object obstacle.  Had Reese been able to catch her horse herself and remount she could have continued, but because circumstances dictated others intervene to stop the horse, she was unable to finish.  A strong competitor, there is no doubt Reese will be back next race.

Aaron Townly covers some ground on his free ride.  Photo:  Lori Roets

The Extreme Cowboy Association (EXCA) promotes Extreme Cowboy Racing as a family activity.  Nowhere was this more evident than the Hausman family.   Dad, Mark Hausman, won the Non-Pro division.  Mom, Melissa, and daughter, Koti, both competed in Non-Pro finishing 2nd and 3rd respectively with a mere 1/2 point separating their scores!  This was truly an exciting day for the Hausman family.

This weekend's Extreme Cowboy Race winners split a pot of over $2000 cash. 

 The next race is May 2-3 at Gamblers Ridge in Gold Hill, North Carolina.  Based on this weekend's reception at Why Not An American Ark, its a sure thing Extreme Cowboy Racing is here to stay in the Mid-Atlantic Region.

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