Mini-clinics prepare for new Plains Day event

TROUT CREEK – The ultimate display of teamwork and horsemanship was on exhibit on Saturday, May 17, and soon that display will be filling the weekend of Plains Day celebrations.

In the second mini-clinic of its kind, 20 participants gathered at Havens Stable to try their luck at a quick sport called Super Sort. 

The objective of the game is simple; or seems to be anyway. A team of two on horseback is responsible for corralling 10 cows numbered 0-9 in numerical order. Located in a large 60-foot pen with a 12-foot gate in the middle, a random number is called and the horseback riders set out to find their first randomly selected cow. 

Now fast forward to the real deal and this has to happen within 60 seconds, while making sure the blank cow in the herd does not get through the gate. 

If the cows are brought out in an incorrect order, the participants are automatically disqualified. 

The clinic aimed at giving the participants a taste of the sport in a much slower fashion. As organizer Patti Waldoch watched overhead, she guided the riders through the sport giving them tips and tricks of the trade.

Waldoch has been riding competitively since 2002 and is thrilled to bring the event to Sanders County. Not only has she begun hosting the mini-clinics, but Plains Day will also be filled with ample opportunity to take part in the event. 

After gaining a massive amount of community support, Waldoch is hosting two Super Sort events. 

The Saturday event is a three-man ranch sort and will most likely bring in more people from out of town. Since there is a high entry fee, Waldoch said the participants would most likely be competitive riders of the sport. 

The “Sunday Funday” event is more catered to inexperienced riders who want to learn the sport. The day will feature numerous classes and each participant can enter up to four times. All levels of players will be kept in mind. 

Many of the participants in the mini clinic are looking to enter into the Sunday Funday activities. 

Buckles will be awarded to the winners of all classes and this is where the community pitched in to make the event possible. Local businesses in Plains sponsored the prizes.

“I’m very thankful for that. I felt I had great support,” Waldoch said. 

The sponsorships not only came from area businesses but also from two of the clubs Waldoch belongs to and some family friends pitched in as well.

The idea for the Plains Day event started during the Sanders County Fair. 

Waldoch brought some fellow team penners to the demolition derby and when they got to the grounds, her friends were astonished.

“They were so taken back by how beautiful our fairgrounds was. They said Patti, you have to do an event here,” Waldoch explained. 

Since then the event has picked up steam. After the fairboard gave approval to host the event back in November, the rest was up to Waldoch.

So far she has seen success. Although entries have not been accepted yet, 17 of the RV spots at the fairgrounds are already reserved and close to 50 pens and stalls are also reserved.  

“One of the things is that people can do it on any horse,” Waldoch explained. “I started off just like they did with a little trail horse. That’s where everyone starts.” 

The event will be hosted on June 7-8 at the Sanders County Fairgrounds.  

Anyone looking for more information is welcome to call Patti Waldoch at 826-3992 or Rae Herman at 849-5752.