The Silver Spurs Riding Club has a long-standing place in helping and providing for the community through nearly 80 years of bi-annual rodeos.
On Sunday, the Club announced it has awarded $3,500 each to the Boys & Girls Club of Central Florida, toward building a new club in St. Cloud, and to The Russell Home for Atypical Children, the first non-profit home for special needs children in the state of Florida.
But Sunday morning also marked a special day in the Silver Spurs Rodeo weekend for all the area’s special cowboys and cowgirls – the annual Special Needs Rodeo.
This event came from the inspiration of Spurs’ Women’s Lifetime Achievement Award honoree Frances McLaughlin. She attended the Exceptional Rodeo at the National Finals Rodeo in 1987, and saw how having one here could be such an asset to her own special needs son along with other children like him in Osceola County.
It’s not easy to put on, and it stopped for the couple years when the old outdoor arena was torn down and the new Silver Spurs Arena was built. But Spurs’ members Sara Berlinsky and Bridget Coggins took over hosting – it’s weeks of work into this one event when the rest of the Rodeo and Fair are going on – and carry on this special tradition.
“It takes on a life of its own now, and we get reminded every year why we do it,” Berlinsky said. “We love it.”
First, the special guests are greeted with their goody bag with an event shirt and bandana, and their own cowboy hat and back number just like their rodeo heroes. Not only do those children get to ride horses, learn to rope, ride a molded rocking bull and see animals up close, they get to work on their social skills. Each participant pairs up with a “buddy” – a rodeo cowboy or queen who volunteers their time to help them fully experience the rodeo stations. At the end, each child earns their rodeo trophy, as is proclaimed, “The big winner!”
2022 Miss Rodeo Florida Makayla Baker got involved with the Sunday morning event in 2020 and says she loves it every year, feeling privileged her position allows her to be a part of this, rather than having to do it.
“You can’t help but fall in love with these children. You see the look on their faces on the horses, riding a bull, seeing all these things they might not get to see,” she said. “I love the Sunday morning rodeo but it makes me sad a little because it’s a sign the rodeo weekend is ending.”
Baker and her special cowboy Ian, in his second Special Rodeo appearance, roped a plastic steer and got up close and personal with some goats. At his award ceremony, he exclaimed, “I had fun!”
Big sister Mckenzie Jackson came along and offered to ride with him on a horse or the mock bull, but it was still a bit much for seven-year-old Ian this year she said.
“He loves to watch other kids ride but he’s still a little scared, but I love watching him play and see the animals,” she said. “I’m really glad they do this for kids like him.”
