Friday, July 2, 2004

Gimme Five

Michelle Bobbitt saddles up for her dreams

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By JODY ZARKOS
Express Staff Writer

Michelle Bobbitt has been through more spandex in her lifetime than a Latin pop group.

It is understandable considering in her earlier years, Bobbitt pursued rodeo royalty titles with the single mindedness of J.Lo adding to her husband collection.

Bobbitt has had a little more success with changing titles, however.

Michelle Bobbitt and her horse Mr. Glo Getter will compete in the Appaloosa Horse Club Nationals in Oklahoma City next week

The Queen of the Hailey Days of the Old West Rodeo in 1992, Bobbitt was also crowned Miss Appaloosa Idaho in 1991 and second runner-up to Miss Appaloosa America. Bobbitt also served as coordinator for the Queen contest for the Hailey rodeo from 1994-2003 and has led a local 4-H group for about nine years.

Sir Winston Churchill once said ‘The outside of a horse is good for the inside of a man,’ and the Bobbitt family of Bellevue, including Vivian and Bill, embraced that old adage wholeheartedly.

"My dad had us on horses before we (Michelle and her brother) could walk. I was showing horses when I was two," Bobbitt said.

That leads us to another Churchill quote, ‘No hour is wasted that is spent in the saddle.’

These days, the 35-year old Bobbitt, can still be found on the back of a horse, but she has traded her sequins and spandex for a more modest look appropriate for the horse shows she frequents.

Bobbitt is currently gearing up for the 57th annual Appaloosa Horse Club Nationals in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. She will show her three-year old gelding Mr. Glo Getter (also known as B.J.) in three classes, a Halter Class, Western Pleasure and Showmanship. The show, already underway runs through July 10. Bobbitt will compete on the 5, 7 and 8.

"It is a dream come true to get to go back," Bobbitt said.

An assistant at J.Neel Certified Public Accounting in Bellevue, Michelle is engaged to Brian Genskow of Wisconsin. No date has been set for the wedding, but they are building a house near Willow Creek in Fairfield. The land will come in handy for the couple’s four horse trailers and three trucks, not to mention all the livestock that goes along with the machinery.

I caught up with Michelle Tuesday her office in Bellevue.

JZ: What do you like about Appaloosas?

MB: We’ve just always had them. We just kept buying and breeding them. They seem to have a lot of stamina and versatility.

JZ: What is the worst accident you have ever had on a horse?

MB: I separated my shoulder once. I was trail riding and my horse spooked and dumped my. I have also been dragged a couple of times.

JZ: What is B.J. like?

MB: He’s a sweetheart. He’s a goof. He is always muzzling things like my belt or shoulder.

JZ: What do you hope to accomplish with him?

MB: I hope he will be an all-around horse, western, english, trail classes.

JZ: Does it take longer for you to get ready for a show or for you to get your horse ready for a show?

MB: It doesn’t take as much to get me ready as the horse. It takes a lot of time to get a horse to get a horse prepared.

JZ: What is you favorite belt buckle?

MB: Probably my Hailey Rodeo Queen buckle. It’s about four-and-a-half inches wide. It holds the beer gut in.

JZ: How many hats do you have?

MB: Not as many as I used to. I used to have a hat to match every outfit, white, purple, turquoise, blue. Now I am down to white, tan and black.

JZ: What did you like most about the queening contests?

MB: I think the competition. I get very competitive. I try not to teach that to my 4-H kids. About 20 years ago, I won a horse show up here and then I went to Burley to compete. A girl was there and she was kind of laughing like, ‘You won?’ I went out and beat her in the next class.

JZ: What is it about the horse lifestyle that you enjoy so much?

MB: After I ride I feel more relaxed. It releases tension and pressure. I like the people. They are really kind and supportive.

JZ: How often do you ride?

MB: Every night. I also have my 4-H class at the Hailey Arena once a week. The ages are from 8-18. I teach them the basic proper care of a horse, everything about horses from leading them and riding them to cleaning their feet. (Michelle noted the 4-H show is in Carey, August 9-10 and the District show is at Silver Springs Ranch on September 18.) I also train with Kurt Fuller down in Twin Falls.

JZ: What is your favorite trail ride?

MB: Probably Prairie Lake north of Ketchum. We do overnighters with the Sawtooth Rangers and can ride to two or three lakes. One time it snowed all night and the next day it was just beautiful. A winter wonderland.

JZ: How many Lorena Bobbitt jokes have you heard?

MB: Oh my…too many to count. My dad couldn’t let it go. He gave me a knife set for Christmas one year.

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