Neighing and braying

By CINDY HALEY ODLE

This time of year, generally brings new animals to barnyards in the south. Cannon County has fields dotted with new horse and mule colts. Theses new colts in Cannon County, as well as surrounding counties, brings extra income to equine owners to help cover these 'expensive habits' that neigh and bray.

One local family that is well known in both the horse and mule industry for their 'spotted' stock is Jerry and Janice Higgins. The Higgins name always recalls spots in the equine world. They stand spotted horses as well as a spotted jack.

Many recognize Jerry and Janice Higgins as the 'official flag carriers' in most of the local parades. This position has been held by them for decades, as well as part of the four-rider mounted team that leads the Columbia Mule Day for approximately the past 30 years. Jerry and Janice alternates between their spotted saddle horses and their spotted gaited mules.

This year's Good Ole Days produced a 'changing of the guard' one might say. Jerry and Janice cannot be everywhere so as Callie Haley (future Buchanan) put it 'we are being trained by the masters' to help out when needed. As she and Kenny Buchanan prepared for the sendoff of the Good Ole Days parade, Jerry and Janice were both on hand to ensure everything was perfect.

Mule lovers .... mark your calendars! May 30th Rural Heritage, featured on RFD-TV, features riding mules and Reese Bros Mule Company. The thirty minute show will show on May 30th and again the following Saturday. Rural Heritage will also be presenting a show in July featuring the recent MTMS wagon train and mule show.

The Woodbury Lions Club Walking Horse Show Committee met to finalize details for their upcoming whow on July 1st. Lois Larimer confirmed there are still box seats available for the show and to contact her directly to secure one. Members are currently contacting sponsors for the show. The legendary show will begin about 5:30PM on the 1st with the traditional out-standing food, beautiful horses and adorned riders. Expect comradery at its best as the Woodbury Lions Club Show kicks off on July 1st.

Before you head to the barn to feed, enjoy this compliment given often by visitors to Cannon County. Visitors of the CCWHA Ride-a-Thons, MTMS wagon trains and equine shows are amazed at the hospitality given visitors and local equine owners in our county. Vehicles, for the most part, are respectful of the equine on the roads; store and restaurant owners are over accommodating to visitors; and the county and city officials are always eager to help, encouraging safety to animals and their riders. Makes one appreciate their hometown.

References: CCWHA-Cannon County Walking Horse Assoc., MTMS-Middle Tennessee Mule Skinners, AGMA-