It's Not Just Your Dad's Sport Anymore

While other kids grow up focusing on fashion, music, or movies, the Harper children of Sparks, Georgia, are clearly focused on a love of horses and junior rodeo competitions.
Terry and Paula Harper have purposely raised their four children, Cassie, Bree, Whit, and Maddie, around horses. But, as each of them grows up, their individual attractions to riding and competing are beginning to reveal themselves.

"I’d always hoped at least one of my children would share my passion for riding," said Harper. "Now I have a whole stable of rodeo athletes and horses. Paula and I couldn’t be more proud. Of course, keeping our horses (not to mention the family) in competitive condition is hard work. But the whole family pitches in with those chores."

The love for horses in the Harper family was cultivated by Terry, who is not only a rancher and farmer - with over 600 head of cattle and 13 Quarter Horses - but a successful amateur team roper in his own right. With his children’s competitive careers flourishing, Terry’s own rodeo habit has happily switched from header to chauffeur of his own team.

At age 13, Cassie is the oldest daughter and has already built an impressive rodeo resume in only five years of competition. During the 2006-‘07 season alone, she captured the Senior Girls Pole Pending Championship and the Southern Junior Rodeo Association (SJRA) Girls All-Around Title. "In rodeo, you’re only as good as your partner. I owe most of my success to my great horses," said Cassie. "Just like any other athlete, their overall health, including a good diet, is important in order to get your best performance. I have to keep all my horses, Bonzo, Sue and Buford, in tiptop shape."

Cassie is certainly an all-around rider, but she excels at roping, earning the 2006-’07 SJRA Reserve Championship in Senior Goat Tying and finishing 7th in Breakaway Roping. More recently she qualified to compete in at the Wrangler Division Finals in Gallup, New Mexico, in the goat tying, breakaway roping and ribbon roping. Cassie finished 55th in the nation out of nearly 200 competitors in the girls goat tying competition.

At age 11, Bree Harper is already following in the success of her older sister, being named SJRA Princess in 2005 and earning a Junior Barrel Racing Championship last season. "Since I got my horse, Hank, I’ve been scoring much better in the barrel racing," said Bree. "He is a pretty easy keeper, but we ride or practice our events every day." At ages 7 and 9, Whit and Maddie Harper are both chomping at the bit for their time in the junior rodeo spotlight.

Preparing for junior rodeo competitions is important to the Harper family, but Terry wants his children to learn the value of care and maintenance of the horses as well. That sense of responsibility may be part of the reason Cassie and Bree are Headmaster Honor Students at Tift Area Academy where they attend school. Both girls have also recently won public speaking awards in the 4-H District Project Achievement program.

"We try to involve the children, especially the two oldest, in all aspects of their horses’ maintenance," said Terry. "They know what their horses eat, how often they get shod, wormed, immunized, and they accompany their horses to the vet when possible. It’s important for them to know how and why to completely care for horses. They are responsible for them. Paula and I help, but they do a really good job keeping up with their rodeo responsibilities and school."

The Harper family buys their farm supplies and beef feed from the local Southern States store in Nashville, Georgia. The Harpers feed Legends® 10 to their entire equine family.

"Barry Danforth, our Southern States Sales Manager, has been a great help in keeping all of our stock, both cattle and horses, on the right feed program for the best results," said Terry. "We have some horses that are prone to colic and after consulting with J.R. Brykailo, Southern States Feed Sales & Technical Rep, I’ll be switching them to Legends® Maturity Feed. It offers a great balance of protein and fat, and it is easier to digest which will hopefully cut down on our colic episodes."

Love for horses and competing in rodeos runs deep in the Harper family tree. And with continued support and encouragement from their parents, the children are sure to remain focused on a bright future ahead.