InspiringStories NEVADA JOE NARHA’s Official Horse Ambassador By Doreen Shumpert

ight-year-old Kaitlin, who has A Living Legend year gentling and teaching him the had the pleasure and honor of In 2002, the Federal Bureau of Land basics. After that, Diane Purcelli, a ® Esitting atop the former “wild Management rounded up a group of part of the Wahl Clipper Xtreme mustang” now known as Nevada Joe, mustangs from the Fox and Lake Team, turned him into a western com - summed it up best. After undergoing Range herd in Nevada. Among them petition horse. He was soon featured two heart transplants, she asked to was a typical mustang—a tough-look - at Dodge World's Toughest meet him because of the strong con - ing, stocky little bay, about 6 years events and began running barrels. nection they shared. Kaitlin felt she’d old and around 14.2 hands. Not so Goat tying at junior , most been given a second chance in life, typical were his huge, kind, soft events and are ® just like Nevada Joe. The Wahl eyes—windows to his incredible also among his talents. Clipper Corporation, who first adopt - trainability. In 2007, Nevada Joe’s accomplish - ed him, arranged the meeting. And Nevada Joe’s initial training for 12 ments earned him induction into the Nevada Joe filled yet another life months (which was chronicled in Western States Wild Horse and Burro with joy, motivation and promise. Horse Illustrated ) was with noted cli - Hall of Fame. He’s also been a ® ® As a symbol of the American West, nician Pat Parelli. Parelli spent the Breyer model horse, and Wahl has Nevada Joe’s ancestors, America’s wild mustangs, were battle mounts for Native Americans and working part - ners for cowboys packing six-shooters and rifles. True to his heritage, Nevada Joe is still fighting battles, just ones of a different nature, and toting and cowgirl “sharp- shooters.” At Diane and Ernie Purcelli’s Shooting Star Ranch Therapeutic Riding Program in Darby, MT, Nevada Joe helps children with numerous special needs confront the physical, emotional and/or mental challenges they face with courage, pride and hope. He also performs suc - cessfully in Association (CMSA) events, a timed sport similar to in which contestants shoot black-pow - der blank cartridges at balloons. For the past two years at WAHL Dare to Dream Shootouts, he has combined roles, giving students at NARHA cen - ters a chance to compete by popping Jessica Beers of Missoula, MT, riding Nevada Joe at Diane and Ernie Purcelli’s Shooting Star balloons with wooden dowels. Ranch Therapeutic Riding Program in Darby, MT.

12 Summer 2008, NARHA’s STRIDES created a limited edition Nevada Joe schedule includes cancer and muscu - and who he has aboard.” clipper. lar dystrophy camps. “No words can describe how many What matters most to Purcelli, “Recently at an open , a people he has touched, their expres - though, is Nevada Joe’s incredible boy that competed on him at an event sions, the joy in their faces when they disposition. two years ago remembered him and pop those balloons and their excite - “Nevada Joe has such a kind eye,” was so happy to see him,” Purcelli ment in meeting the cowboys and said Purcelli. “He's very trusting, said. cowgirls,” said Purcelli. “It’s over - extremely trainable, and smart, and he Nevada Joe also carried a young whelming.” retains what he learns so well. There lady with cerebral palsy to a placing “It’s just such a neat irony that an is nothing he won’t do. That’s the in a regular open gymkhana. A per - American living legend is giving back neatest thing about him. And he’s fun fect gentleman, the gelding remained so much to America,” Purcelli added. to try new things on because he’s so as calm and steady as ever. “He will continue to promote aware - good about everything." ness of the astonishing benefits of Equine Assisted equine assisted activities.” Nevada Joe Becomes a Mounted Shooting Doreen Shumpert, an award-winning equine NARHA Ambassador Meanwhile, Nevada Joe also became freelance writer with a degree in technical These days, being good at about a solid mounted shooting horse for journalism and a concentration in equine sci - “everything” encompasses a lot. anybody who needed to use him, ence, specializes in event coverage and how- Based on Diane and Ernie’s years of including Diane, Ernie and their to training articles. Doreen can be reached experience as NARHA Certified granddaughter. at [email protected]. For more infor - Registered Level Instructors, they Naturally, Nevada Joe's adaptability mation on Nevada Joe, or to contact Diane noticed early on that the gelding’s and consistency as a mounted shoot - Purcelli, go to www.nevadajoe.net. kindness and trainability would make ing and EAAT him a perfect EAAT candidate. To horse made him a qualify, a horse must pass a center’s superstar at the stringent testing. Not surprisingly, WAHL Dare to Nevada Joe passed these tests with Dream shootouts. flying colors, and soon became a In these competi - favorite among the students. tions, competitors “He gives back,” explained Purcelli. are assisted and led “No words can describe how much he by a ground crew gives. He was rescued and saved, and as they ride up to now he's doing the same.” pop balloons. Since then Nevada Joe has been on Nevada Joe has the road every month of the year carried several rid - serving as an ambassador for ers through the pat - NARHA. While Joe does his magic, tern at the CMSA Diane and Ernie educate the public national and world about the efficacy and diversity of finals. activities available through EAAT. “No horse han - They share the importance of seeking dles this as well as out a NARHA member center and let - he does,” Purcelli ting people know how they can locate said. “He just a center in their hometown. knows the kids Children and adults far and wide need him. call and ask to meet Nevada Joe, ride Instinctively, he's him and visit him at events. He's fea - so wonderful and tured at horse expos, schools, camps seems to know how and equine affairs, and his upcoming to care for them

Summer 2008, NARHA’s STRIDES 13