Rockwall County Sheriff's Posse trail ride continues tradition

Leslie Gibson
Herald-Banner Staff

ROCKWALL June 22, 2008 09:57 pm

— Horses and riders streamed through the gate of a grassy, flower-strewn pasture May 3 in the 17th Annual Rockwall Sheriff’s Posse Trail Ride, with the matched sorrels of the and white-shirted Posse members riding herd and checking for stragglers.
Riders set off after a barbecue lunch to traverse 50 acres of the Caruth and Johnson Ranches in northern Rockwall.
Twins from Winnsboro, a woman with multiple sclerosis on a Walker, Western Barbies, people healing from injuries or grief, and just family and friends who have grown up with horses were some of the participants.
Posse founder Roy Hance, gentleman rancher, rider and long-time Rockwall resident, expects to be back on the saddle this summer, after car accident injuries have kept him from being able to ride for a year. Concho, his posse horse, is “quiet, but likes to run,” he said.
The Rockwall Sheriff’s Posse was his dream; it was formed in 1991 during the tenure of the late Jacques Kiere, sheriff at the time; several deputies became members that time.
Bud Pierce, who joined Hance in the early recruiting efforts, kept his deputy license for 13 years, but no longer maintains it. Posse members do not carry guns. They work traffic and security at school events including football home games for both Rockwall high schools, and they search for missing civilians or prisoners or on other needs per dispatch of the Rockwall County Sheriff’s Office.
“Both of the sheriff’s have said it is the best public relations they have,” Jim Wardlaw, long-time member said. “It’s not just a riding club.”
Posse members have individually helped recover shuttle debris and recover animals separated from their owners after Hurricane Katrina.
Hance said, that “Being a horseman an in ranching business, it is a good outlet for extra riding.”
Many of those riding the trails that Saturday find the annual ride a great outlet for their riding and friendship.
“People get out and be around each other and have the same feeling,” said Sarah Decker, nine years in Rockwall.
The horse she bought six years ago was her first in a long time; her husband had died and that “big horse is my baby,” she said. “I enjoy horses,” she said. “My dad was a rancher, and our horses were not pleasure horses,” she said. The family lived in town, 30 miles from the ranch on the Mexico border. “After I proved to my dad I could stay on a horse, that’s when I started working,” she said.
D.L. Langley and Gloria Cortez, who grew up with horses as their home town of Mesquite grew around them, said the annual Rockwall ride is “awfully nice.”
June Boyd, posse member who has lived in Heath since 1968, grew up on a farm; “I’ve spent plenty of time in a cotton patch hoeing and picking,” she said. She worked the ride, hauling the portable restrooms on a trailer behind a truck, and taking care of other chores. She is called on to investigate animal cruelty cases in the county for the area law enforcement.
Kurt and Cheryl Kahle of Heath laughed about Cheryl’s involvement in the group “Western Barbies”. These women in their 50’s, sporting their red ball caps adorned with silver studs forming initials WB, said the name changes depending on the mood and the event.
“I keep my distance,” Kurt laughed. “They always have a wonderful time together. Occasionally there is a token male; I’m here today.”
“We’ve only had the hats about a year,” said Cheryl, “but we’ve been riding for 14 years.”
She got started as a youngster. “My father had an old plow horse he let me ride; I can still smell her,” she said. That day, she rode Spice, a Palomino, Paint and Quarter horse.
Mother and teenage daughter Carol and Georgia Byrd were sporting their red hats. Georgia may be the youngest, but the group literally looks to her for direction, they all said, recalling trips without her. “She has got a sense of direction,” said Carol. If there is ever a disagreement on which way is camp, the group follows Georgia. When asked by her mother if she would prefer to do something other than “hang out” with the older women, she said, “Mom, these are my friends.” Georgia rides a paint mare, Princess, and has been riding since she was five years old.
Western Barbies also riding that day were Judy McKinney, Donnna Matthews, Angie Brauner, and Gwen Reed were riding. Brauner’s husband, Frank, said he is proud of his wife; she had been afraid to ride horses, but took it up a year ago and is really enjoying it.
Saddling up after some of the riders had left was Wendy Williams. She and her 13-year-old Walker were taking their first trail ride together. “I have MS and I need a smooth ride,” she said. She has had her illness since 1996. She is weak on the left side. Getting back into riding is helping her, she said.
Gary Sinclair of Rockwall was readying Sophie, which he bought as a companion horse for another. “I saw her out in a field and I said they were going to give her to me or I would call the SPCA,” he said. Sophie was 600 pounds then. Now she is 1,100 pounds. She is a delicate boned horse of 141/2 hands. “She is more of a pet,” he said.
Congressman Ralph Hall spoke to the group before they left, it was Hall’s birthday.
For six years the posse has won at the Fort Worth Stock Show: four first places, one second place, and one honorable mention.
As of press time, they had extended the streak to seven years, having won first at the stock show in 2008.

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