By Jerry W. Kram
With rodeo season approaching in a matter of weeks on the Fort Berthold Reservation,
the Healing Horse Ranch is busy with events to help cowboys and cowgirls and their horses
hone their skills and maybe win a little money heading into the spring and summer.
Some of the series began this winter and are getting close to winding up, while others
are just getting started. There are three events left in the Healing Horse Ranch Winter Team
Roping Series. Jim Baker said the Parshall Series has partnered with Wrangler Team Roping
Championships so winners in Parshall get points towards the national series.
“I’ve got some good prizes lined up for the end of the series,” Baker said. “This winter
was really cold so we didn’t rope as much as we usually do. It’s tough on the animals if you
rope them and put them back out in that stuff. So, we canceled a couple of dates but we are
back at it.”
The remaining dates for the Team Roping Series are March 30, April 13 and April 27.
Entry is at 1:30 p.m. For more information contact Baker at 701-421-0296,
Baker said there are also a couple Bronc Riding Schools planned for the Ranch in the
next few months. The Bucking Horse School will be held March 15-16 and will cover both
bareback and saddle bronc events. The Women’s Only Ranch Bronc Riding School will be
held March 21-23.
Preston Billadeau said he planned a breakaway roping Jackpot Series to give youth an
opportunity to work on their roping skills. However, along with the youth (12 and under) and
junior (16 and under) events there will women’s, open, and senior (50+) events. The first
event was held March 8 and the next two are scheduled for March 29 and April 5. For more
information contact Billadeau at 701-898-8977.
“The Healing Horse Ranch is great to work with,” Billadeau said. “They give everybody
a lot of opportunities to plan and do their events. Everyone sure appreciates everything they
do.”
Sidney Sanderson is organizing a Barrel Racing Series for the spring and summer. The
first races were held March 9 and following events are planned for March 29, April 12, April
26, June 9, June 23, August 4 and August 18. Sanderson said each event will have a special
there for a side pot to add some fun for the events. Some of the themes area Redneck Party,
Neon Night, Fringe Fun and Tutu.
“We have done a lot of series where racers get points for all their races,” Sanderson
said. “I wanted to do something different. The racers don’t have to do the themes, they can
just come and run. Or they can participate in the theme and throw in a little extra and hope to
get some extra money.”
Sanderson originally planned the series to start in January but many of the dates were
canceled due to the weather. The demand for the Jackpot Series remained.
“These jackpots are good for people who are getting ready to rodeo,” Sanderson said.
“If their horse isn’t quite running at its top caliber or if you have an older horse who can’t
compete with the young guns but you aren’t ready to retire them, it’s a good exposure for
both.”
Sanderson said the Healing Horse Ranch was a great asset for both the rodeo and the
wider community.

“It is constantly busy,” she said. “I love it out there. These series are fun events for
people to do. We try to always have something going on out there. We will get a little busier
during the summer. But not everyone wants to rodeo and we offer something that’s a little
simpler. It’s a good option for people.”
Baker lauded all the volunteer workers who show up for the dozens of events held at
the Healing Horse Ranch. Without their participation, far fewer opportunities for rodeo
participants would be available.
“We have a lot of good workers and they do a really good job of keeping things
moving,” Baker said. “All of our secretaries and all of our chute help do really well. It takes a
lot of organizing. We get lots of support from the community too. Whenever we go to town for
lunch people want to know what we are doing and they call to find out what our next event is.”