Special needs cowboys show off talents
Scot Allerdings teaches Oliver the basics of steer roping during the Rascal Rodeo held on July 9.
Raechel races a unicorn around the barrels during the Rascal Rodeo.
Rascal Rodeo volunteers help Zach ride a horse around the arena on July 9.
CHENEY - The Rascal Rodeo, a non-profit out of Pasco, WA, held their free adaptive rodeo event on Sunday July 9, and the group brought smiles and opportunity to those with specific needs.
Ann-Erica Whitemarsh is the founder and executive director of the Rascal Rodeo, and she said the turnout was great this year.
She said being a non-profit means all the funding is donated, and that's how they keep the event free to the public.
"We are able to provide these events free of charge because we have some great partnerships with businesses down in the Tri-Cities," Whitemarsh said. "Some help pay for gas, and others help pay for vehicle and trailer maintenance, and we rely on the local folks in each area to bring out the animals and help with labor."
She said the group also relies on volunteers and donations in every area they travel too.
She said there were 40 participants that pre-registered this year for the Cheney rodeo, which is about average since COVID.
The group established in 2010 travels all over Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and have now become involved with rodeos in Utah, Wyoming and Colorado according to Whitemarsh.
Whitemarsh also said the volunteer numbers were a bit lower than previous years, and the group relies heavily on volunteers to help set up and clean up for each event.
She said some of the volunteers get so involved they end up changing their careers.
"We've had volunteers come that have never worked with a special needs community before," Whitemarsh said. "And when they do they go and change their profession."
"We had one girl who changed from being a beautician and hairdresser to becoming a special education teacher," she added.
The Rascal Rodeo allows people with physical or developmental disabilities the chance to be part of a rodeo and interact with horses, ponies and other animals.
Michelle Hembach from Davenport volunteered to bring one of her horses down to the event.
Her horse Cobra is an eight-year-old Clydesdale that was bred and raised as a Budweiser Clydesdale.
"It is my pleasure and honor to be a part of such a unique experience volunteering with Rascal Rodeo," Hembach said. "The bond between equine and the public is heartfelt in many ways."
Hembach said seeing the connection between the people and horses is the most fulfilling part.
Hembach said her Clydesdale, Cobra enjoyed the children and adults wanting to touch "a one-of-a-kind gentle giant."
The connection is what many of the parents enjoy seeing as well.
Sam and Beth Connelly brought their daughter Evelynn out from Spokane to see the animals. According to Beth, their daughter is diagnosed with autism and struggles with being in crowds.
"Evelynn has a tough time with certain social situations," Beth Connelly said. "But once you get her with some animals, she completely refocuses her energy and gets so happy."
"I definitely think we will be participating every chance we get," Connelly added.
Whitemarsh said seeing the smiles on the participants faces, and the tears of joy from the parents make it all worthwhile each time they go out.
After all the main goal is to help these people find abilities they might not even know they have according to Whitemarsh.
"When these people are given the opportunity to do something," Whitemarsh said. "Their abilities are endless."
Matthew graduated from West Virginia University-Parkersburg in 2011 with a journalism degree. He's an award-winning photographer and enjoys writing stories about people.
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