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| Veterinarian Stanton O'Neil and his mare, Colonels Sarah, won the 2007 Select heeling world championship. |
Proud Kansas State University graduate Stanton O’Neil, D.V.M., finally closed in tight enough to score a world championship August 31 at the Bayer Select World Championship Show.
Stan had been close several times, including last year, but it took an equipment change and a crabby mare to earn him the win.
“I’ve kinda resisted (tying-on), but I missed my dally two years ago, and I missed my dally down here last year, and I just said if I come back again, I’m going to be tied-on,” Stan said. “I showed at the Arizona Sun Circuit this year and tied-on out there, which was the first that I’d tied-on, so it’s treated me pretty well.”
Stan’s mare, Colonels Sarah, had carried him to the top-10 at the Bayer Select World four years ago.
“She’s a mare we raised and she’s 11 years old,” Stan said. “She’s by Colonel Hotrodder and she’s kind of a sourpuss, but she’s real cowy and runs to cattle real well, shows a lot of expression. She’s not as big as the horses I used to ride, but I can’t get on those very easy any more. My knees don’t work very well, and so she’s between 15 and 15.1. That’s a lot easier to get on than 15.3. She’s kind of a favorite, especially after tonight.”
Stan’s smooth run scored him a 218.5.
“Well, everything went right,” he said. “We drew a good steer and he moved out good. When he turned off, his legs were good and close and let me rope him. My header Brad Lund did a great job of turning him, and I felt real good about it.”
Stan won’t have much time to celebrate, but he has quite specific plans.
“I’ve called my friends,” he said. “My friends have called me. I’ve called the kids and so we’re going to go out and eat, and we’re going to take care of her and put everything away. We’re just going to enjoy. We’ve got to get out of here in the morning because we have to get back for the K-State-Auburn football game. We’re big K-State fans. You can probably tell by this big Power Cat on my shirt. So we’ve got to get home in time for the football game tomorrow night.”
