AMATEUR HEELING

DOING IT ON HIS OWN

BY KIMBERLY FRENCH, JOURNAL INTERN

They have captured three of the last four amateur world championships in heeling and last year they collected a reserve world championship. Even with all this success, Mike Row of Tishomingo, Oklahoma, is only along for the ride when he's aboard Apache Blue Boy or "Blue Boy."

“God blessed us with this horse,” Mike said. “If he could rope, I wouldn’t even have to be on him, he’s that good. I wouldn’t trade that horse for anything. He does everything himself. I just have to throw the rope, basically.”

For FedEx Open Week, Blue Boy is entered in heading, heeling, tie-down roping and working cow horse. It’s also his first year in working cow horse.

“We’re pretty excited about that (Superhorse),” Mike said.

Before they owned Blue Boy, the Rows never showed. They purchased Blue Boy as a 4-year-old and broke him on their ranch. Mike was hooked on showing the gray stallion after Blue Boy carried him to the Justin Rookie of the Year award.

“He let me win Rookie of the Year,” Mike said. “After that I was like, Lord, this horse showing thing is pretty good. We started doing a bit more of it.”

Mike Row and Apache Blue Boy in the arena during amateur heeling.

Blue Boy has blossomed in the capable hands of AQHA Professional Horseman Steve Orth of Guthrie, Oklahoma.

“Steve Orth is our trainer, and he has done an awesome job on him,” Mike said. “We are fortunate that he’s rode him for us. Steve does everything. I give all the credit to Steve and the good Lord. I leave it all up to Steve.

Since Blue Boy is 11, many people inquire when he will commence his second career. Expectations for his stud career are high. One of his foals placed in heading here this evening. While Mike fully expects him to excel as a stud, he is reluctant to hang up his rope just yet.

“We’re excited about his babies,” Mike said. “He has potential, but I love to come here and I’ll be sad when we have to retire him. Then I won’t get to ride him.”

When asked if Blue Boy would be returning in 2007 to defend his crown, Mike was quick to respond.

“I’ll be back,” Mike said. “He’ll do at least one more year and after that we just might have to retire him”