TRIP TO AMARILLO PAYS OFF FOR SHARON ORSTAD AND MISTER BE A TWISTER.
BY LARRI JO STARKEY, COPY EDITOR
As names were called out for the barrel racing world championship, Sharon Orstad steadied Mister Be A Twister. The times had been called out during the runs, so Sharon knew she had won. As soon as her name was called, Sharon sent "Twister" on a fast circuit of the arena at the 2008 Bayer Select World Championship Show. When Executive Committee Member Dick Monahan placed the championship ribbon around Twister's neck, Sharon took a second lap to celebrate as her daughter cheered.
Q: Congratulations.
Sharon: Thank you. It was a real privilege to be here.
Q: Is this your first world championship?
Sharon: First time at Bayer Select.
Q:How does it feel?
Sharon: Just as exciting as it might have been 30 years ago.
Q: Could you tell us a little bit about your run?
Sharon: My horse made his usual consistent run. He’s really consistent pattern-wise.Just made his normal run. Didn’t feel like he was making a super effort today but just a good run.
Sharon Orstad snugs Mister Be A Twister around the barrel.
Q: He got really close to the barrels. Is that his usual style?
Sharon: He can cut them pretty close.
Q: You bred him, is that correct?
Sharon: I had his mama and his grandmother and he was bred and raised in Minnesota.
Q: Did you start him?
Sharon: I’m really the only person who has ever done any training on him at all.
Q: Could you tell us what little quirks he has?
Sharon: Well, I will say that when he was a youngster, when I was breaking him at 2-1/2 and 3 and 4, he was very laidback. He didn’t want to be a barrel horse.
Q: How did you convince him he wanted to go fast?
Sharon: Well, it wasn’t until he was about 7 that I tapped him with a whip a time or two and found another gear, and then tapped him again a month later and found another gear, and he’s been gearing up ever since.
Q: What do you call him at home? Sharon: Twister.
Q: He has a funny marking on his face.
Sharon: Yeah, when he was born and I saw that marking, I thought it looked like a tornado funnel cloud, so I had to put “Twister” in his name.
Q: What’s next for the two of you?
Sharon: Some big jackpots in Oklahoma. There’s one I need to go to tomorrow at the Lazy E.
Q: Are you going to be back next year to defend your title?
Sharon: If I’m invited, I just might do that.
Q: There was someone cheering for you. Who was that?
Sharon: My daughter. She was my driver this weekend. She persuaded me to do this. I didn’t know anything about this. She thought I should get into that little niche of the Quarter Horse world and do this, so I said, "Well, if you want to take me out there, we’ll do this. We can go."
Fun Fact: Sharon qualified for the Bayer Select World in three shows.
WINNER STATS
Horse name: Mister Be A Twister Pedigree: 1997 bay gelding by Docs Bixby Cash x Moontown Miss by Coaltown Prince Exhibitor: Sharon Orstad, Wayne, Oklahoma Owner: Sharon Orstad, Wayne, Oklahoma
Total class entries: 15
World Champion Prizes: Custom-designed gold-tone trophy, Montana Silversmiths buckle, neck wreath, gold medallion, Cripple Creek-logo jacket, world champion patch, Tex Tan product
