Kate Lanting Chosen for HSU's Six White Horses Team

2012 Sep 24

Kate Lanting of Dublin has been chosen as a new member of the Hardin-Simmons University Six White Horses Team.

The world-famous horses and their riders have been performing in parades and shows since the early 1930s. They have marched in inaugural parades for six U.S. presidents. This year, thousands of people will see the horses at public functions throughout the year, including hundreds of elementary school children across Abilene and the Big Country.

Riders are chosen each year, with even the current riders having to prove they are among the best in the tryouts. Skills include handling quick acceleration, stopping, and quick turns while maintaining balance in the saddle. Riders have to control the horse with one hand, because the other hand is busy holding a flagpole. University students competing for the coveted spots are also judged on showmanship, personality, and appearance.

Horses on the team include Powder, Cotton, Shine, Goose, Harley, Spirit, Oscar, Casper, Napoleon, Jake Sandino, Pistol, Brady, and Ace. Plus, there's the show-stealer, Vanilla Fever, who is known better for his nicknames. The 33-inch-tall tiny horse doesn't seem to mind which name he is called. HSU's older horse, Apache, has been retired and has a new home.

The team is gearing up for another busy season of rodeos, parades, homecomings, and fat stock shows across the Big Country and the nation. Riders and horses will even perform in a nine-day rodeo in Cheyenne, Wyoming, next summer.

The team practices three nights a week to get ready for the busy season. Riders are required to be available, have good grades, and prep the horses with haircuts, scrubbing and manicuring. They also have to prepare their riding gear and outfits for the upcoming shows.