The 28th Annual National Cowboy Symposium & Celebration announces a new lineup of activities for the horseman. New this year is the farrier demonstration by Frank J. Schweighart, and returning is renowned horse trainer, Chance O’Neal.
Frank Schweighart was raised on a large ranch in the rugged mountains of Northwest Wyoming where he participated in rodeos and FFA. Frank began shoeing horses at the age of fourteen, learning from his dad and the cowboys around the ranch. Frank Schweighart proudly served a 5 year duty in the U.S. Army, and afterward he spent many years day-working for ranches and riding colts, until he eventually became a full time farrier in East Texas. Frank is a member of the American Farriers Association and a Certified Journeyman Farrier. He also currently serves as President of the Texas Professional Farriers Association.
Frank is also a cowboy poet and can be seen in scheduled poetry performances throughout the event. Like any other cowboy poet, he draws from his experiences of ranching, roping, and working with horses for writing inspiration. Frank says “Most of my writing has been for my amusement, but I’m thinking the time has come to share some of it.”
Award-winning horse trainer Chance O’Neal will present horse training presentations at 11:00 am and 3:00 pm on Friday, September 9th and 11:00 am Saturday, September 10th in the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center Exhibit Hall.
Chance O’Neal was the 2008 Fort Dodge Versatility World Champion and brought home the title on a 6666 Ranch raised stallion named “Sixes Pick.” Chance attended the 2009 AQHA Versatility World Show on mare, “Stylish Future,” to win the Reserve Champion honor. Recent championships include back-to-back wins at the AQHA BATTLE IN THE SADDLE with a 2011 win riding a mare, ROYALTY RETURN, sired by ROYAL FLETCH and in 2012 riding a gelding by sire SIXES PICK. In the past 3 years, Chance has represented the 6666 Ranch at ROAD TO THE HORSE as well as AQHA horsemanship clinics in South America countries of Argentina, Uruguay, and Panama. Chance is also currently the Texas Tech Ranch Horse Team Coach.
All events are open to the public Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, September 9-10-11th at the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center, 1501 Mac Davis Lane (6th Street). Additional information on exhibiting, or tickets may be obtained from the show office at (806)798-7825, or the web site www.cowboy.org .
(Press release from National Cowboy Symposium)