Ranch Sorting Jackpot
Cave Creek Memorial Arena
February 8th & 9th
By Wendy McLaughlin
A
nother great two day jackpot put on
by 3P Performance and RSNC, held
at Cave Creek Memorial Arena. The
big news at this jackpot was the number
of new competitors entered. There were
lots of new faces with new friendships
being formed and all present enjoyed our
awesome AZ weather. It’s so great to see
this sport grow. The beginners rode and
worked hard, taking advice and guidance
from seasoned sorters while being cheered
on by family and friends in the stands.
There was a beginner sorter there (his first
sorting jackpot ever) that you all should
meet. His name is Adam Rowland and this
cowboy is really something. You couldn’t
help but feel and be part of “Rowland’s”
experience on that Saturday. He sat the
saddle well, maintained control of his
horse, kept his focus, sorted clean and
had everyone there cheering for him like
I’ve never heard before at any sorting.
Rowland retired from the United States
Army after 7+ years, which includes two
combat deployments, over three tours
of engagement. It was during his second
deployment that Rowland received injuries
which left him blind. Rowland’s horse
experience started with Horse Rhythm
(a non profit organization that uses
horses to heal those injured at war. Go
to horserhythm.org for more info on this
group). A few lessons with Brandi Lyons,
which led Rowland to meet Kent and
Janice Story, who provided a horse and
sorting practice opportunities, which led
him to RSNC Jackpot. With verbal cues
from Kent and awesome gate partners,
Rowland sorted cattle in correct order,
stayed clean and came back to the second
go several times. Amazing!!!
Rowland retired from the
United States Army... It was
during his second deployment
that Rowland received
injuries which left him blind.
With verbal cues from Kent
and awesome gate partners,
Rowland sorted cattle in
correct order, stayed clean
and came back to the second
go several times.
Rowland lives in Phoenix with his wife,
Arcelia and their children, Adrian, Liliana
and Briana. He’s originally from Oklahoma
where he grew up surrounded by family
and friends, spending his summers
camping, playing soccer and even planting
crops with his “Grandpa Rowland”.
36
March 2014
These days he spends his time fishing,
volunteering for Horse Rhythm, or his new
sport, ranch sorting with RSNC. Horses
have in a relatively short time, had an
impact on Rowland’s life. Rowland stated
in an email, “Horses are probably the only
things that when I’m on them I forget
about everything else that’s happened in
my life and I’m able to just have fun and
enjoy it and it just feels great..!!!”. “There’s
something about the outside of a horse
that is good for the inside of a man”, not
positive who first said it but pretty sure we
can all agree it’s true.
Thanks to all those who made Rowland’s
sorting experience possible: Wayne and
Doretta Pacheco, Kent and Janice Story,
his gate partners, Walgreens (27th Ave. &
Carefree Hwy) and we can’t forget Shooter
(what an awesome horse). There is no
doubt we will see this cowboy back in the
sorting pen soon wearing a great big smile.
Remember, sort em in the back, keep it
clean at the gate!
AZintheSaddle.com