CARTHAGE, Mo. — Members of the Carthage Saddle Club challenge anyone to look around and come up with another saddle club that has been in continuous existence for more than 50 years.
Organized in 1953 by Melvin Abbiatti, the group’s goal was to promote horsemanship, and especially to encourage youths in the arenas of fair play and caring for an animal.
“It’s huge,” said Steve Hency, president of the club. “People really ought to come out and see what’s going on.”
The Saddle Club Arena was built inside Municipal Park in 1955, and improvements have been ongoing since.
Beginning in April and throughout the spring and summer, the club puts on a “Show-de-O” the second Saturday of the month. Admission is free, and a concession stand is on the grounds. Participation is open to anybody from the pee-wee class up to super seniors, Hency said.
“We’ve had them as young as 2 and up to some in their 70s,” he said.
Events include poles, barrels, ring-around-pole, flag, Texas barrel and keyhole timed events.
The Carthage Saddle Club is a not-for-profit organization that is funded through events and donations.
This past weekend, the club’s annual Youth Rodeo was held with CTEC, the Central Timed Events Circuit. Youth groups have to hold events a certain number of times a year to qualify as a rodeo organization, Hency said.
The next Show-de-O is scheduled for this Saturday, and another Youth Rodeo is coming up May 15-16.
The club has claimed another unique accomplishment for a city this size, putting Carthage on the professional rodeo circuit. On June 5-6, the group will host its second annual Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association rodeo in conjunction with Wild Card Rodeo (supplier of bucking horses and bulls) and Downstream Casino Resort. Events will begin at 8 p.m.
“That will be the big deal,” Hency said.
Reminders
A special event opening Thursday at Powers Museum features National History Day projects. Brother and sister Eric and Nicole Peer will present their projects. Nicole’s project is on Maria Tallchief, America’s premier ballerina of the 20th century. Eric’s project, which will be a contender in the national contest, features Julia Lathrop, America’s first woman to head a federal bureau, the U.S. Children’s Bureau.
Admission is free; the programs begin at 7 p.m.
There’s still time to make reservations for Carthage Historic Preservation’s savory supper and dessert buffet at the 1870 Spencer House, 1163 Grand Ave. On Thursday, Friday and Saturday (take your pick), an award-winning preservation documentary will be shown to mark National Preservation Week. Details: Judy Hill, (417) 358-9688.
