Howdy Folks,

We’ve all got special friends from our youth. Friends who, as we fumbled our way through adolescence, were always there for us. Friends with whom we learned new and exciting things. Those with whom we shared a common bond, were devoted to, and swore we would never leave. That’s the kind of friends Melody (Sherer) Cox and Valerie (Bishop) Warnock were. Both of them grew up in Marion, Indiana, and horses were their common bond. They were 13 when they met in 4-H and instantly knew they would be best friends for life. For the next 6 years they were inseparable. “Valerie was so funny and sweet. We did everything together!” Melody said. “People got so used to seeing us together with our horses at the shows. We were the nucleus of our 4-H club.”

Then at 19, Melody fell in love and got married. As her family started growing and her father sold the farm she drifted away from horses. And Valerie. “We’d still see each other from time to time, and Valerie continued on with horses,” Remembered Melody. A few years later Melody moved to Texas.

After being without horses for nearly 20 years, Melody knew it was time to welcome horses back in her life. She found, Dollar, a wonderful Appaloosa on the internet in the summer of 2000. “I tell everyone it was my first experience with internet dating.” Melody laughed. She immediately got involved in “Natural Horsemanship,” attending many Parelli clinics. She started a little “Savvy Group” and even began hosting her own clinics. She often thought of Valerie and dreamed of running into her at a show or clinic. She even looked for Valerie on facebook a few times.

Melody continued on her path toward becoming the best horsewoman she could be. In 2006 she found “Jordan,” her foundation Quarter Horse (Poco Bueno/Zippo Pine Bars line), and moved to Central Hill Country in Texas, to pursue horse training and teaching horsemanship. At 48 Melody entered her first “All Cowgirl Extreme Race.” Melody and Jordan placed just shy of the top 8 in 2008! While she loved the excitement, thrills, people and horses in Extreme Cowboy Racing, she was beginning to desire something a bit more laid back. She’d heard of ACTHA and decided to check it out as a way to have fun with friends and compete in a more relaxed way.

She joined ACTHA in 2009, and placed 5^th in the overall ACTHA Championship that year. She and Jordan competed in more than a dozen ACTHA rides since joining. This year they entered and qualified in the top 100 out of over 1,000 contestants in ACTHA’s, America’s Favorite Trail Horse (AFTH) competition. They attended the finals and filming at Blanco Texas for the new ACTHA TV show airing on HR-TV. Melody and Jordan are extremely pleased to share in this journey with all the other excellent horse/rider teams.

In the midst of all the fun and excitement of competing in the AFTH finals and filming, Melody received word she would need surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff. It would keep her out of the saddle for a few months. She decided before she submitted to the knife she and Jordan would have a go at one last ACTHA ride, just for fun. “I chose to go to SF Ranch CTC in Comanche, Texas.” Melody said. “It was close to home, and more importantly, the Texas hospitality that Virginia Fleming displays makes her rides a, must-do!”

Rachel Richards chose the same ACTHA ride as her first ACTHA ride. Rachel and her husband had been showing for a number of years, and they too were looking for something different.

Melody and Jordan headed out in the morning sunshine, “I was enjoying my horse and the great weather and reflecting on the fact that this was to be our last ride for a while. I guess I was a little melancholy.” Melody said. “Normally I ride by myself, but this morning I came up on a small group of riders and for some reason I wanted to ride with them.” When she joined the group, Rachel struck up a conversation, admiring each other’s horses and told a few stories about her Appaloosas. Melody shared her “internet dating ”experience about finding Dollar, who was now semi-retired.

In the conversation as they rode along Rachel and Melody had a little chuckle when they realized they both had grown up in Indiana.

Rachel mentioned her parents had shown Appaloosas a long time ago in Indiana. “I’m from Marion Indiana, perhaps you knew my mom.” Rachel said.

Melody’s mind raced. First taking in the shock that they both hailed from the same town, then she saw Valerie Bishop’s face. Rachel turned in the saddle and said calmly, “My mom’s name is Valerie. It was Valerie Bishop.”

Melody lost her breath, and began to cry. Could it be that God and ACTHA directed their paths to cross on this last ride of the year to reunite best friends after 34 years? They finished the ride together with Melody sharing stories about her childhood with Rachel’s mom. She fought hard to hold onto her composure. Especially when Rachel told her Valerie and her family lived only 2 hours away!

Back at the ranch after the ride, Melody called Valerie. For the first time in over 3 decades the best friends laughed together again. “I believe this was definitely God’s hand at work bringing the lives of 2 best friends together again through their passion of horses.” Melody declared. “Without ACTHA who knows when, or if, Valerie and I would have found each other again!”

Melody’s recovery is going splendidly. She and Valerie are planning to hit the ACTHA trail as soon as she gets the okay to ride again.

Gitty Up - Dutch Henry

Dutch Henry is a staff writer for the American Competitive Trail Horse Association. He is also a freelance writer who tells the stories of “People and Horses Helping Horses and People” and novelist. He resides in Virginia with his wife of 35 years, horse, dogs, cats and chickens. You can reach Dutch at [email protected]. He would love to hear from you so he can tell your story too. His novel “We’ll Have the Summer” is available on Amazon and Dutch’s website www.dutchhenryauthor.com .