North Fort Myers: Paradise for horse lovers

Story & Photography

by Chuck Ballaro

Saturdays are usually very busy at the Lee County Posse Arena Dozens of horse owners come with their trailers, hauling their animals to the arena for a day of galloping (and often competing) on the fast sandy track that has been home to horse lovers for more than 50 years.

For these people, young and old, they wouldn’t want it any other way. Though owning and caring for a horse is hard work, the horse lifestyle, being one with your equine and taking it for a trail ride at Pop Ash Creek or Prairie Pines or speeding down the alley at a jackpot barrel race on a Friday night is the life for them

But it’s one of those things you have to be born with. There could be four generations of horse enthusiasts in your family. That doesn’t mean your son or daughter is going to follow. It’s either there or it isn’t

For those who came to the arena on a hot Saturday in March for the Lee County Junior Posse Speed Show, that love for horses was evident, even at the youngest ages

Riders competed in speed events such as keyhole, barrels, poles and hairpin. Mostly, it was for the kids, some as young as 3 years old, who were helped in their events by friends and family as the little ones tried to figure out how to handle the animal, whether it be a full-sized horse or a smaller pony

Bobbi Harrison, who has worked as a volunteer for the arena for years getting events together, said the people at the area are law-abiding, God-loving Americans, who love the horse lifestyle

“People who come here to compete acknowledge American values. People have become a little disillusioned and they have come to find rodeo is an original ranching sport that never left and it’s based on family,” Harrison said “These animals are so well treated They get brushed and manicured and everything else ”

The Lee County Posse Arena has helped young horse lovers fall in love with the lifestyle for more than 60 years and is the only non-profit horse arena in Southwest Florida.

The original board was founded by Sheriff Snag Thompson in 1960. A group of volunteers wanted kids to go out and learn to ride horses instead of other things that could get them in trouble

The organization originated at Terry Park in Fort Myers when it had a horse arena It then moved to Page Feld for a brief time, but found itself homeless when Page Field wouldn’t let them stay, having to set up behind the airport at Sue Parker ’s place.

“They came looking for property and ended up buying this in the early '70s and this is where we have been ever since,” said Bobbi Harrison, who has

Lee County Posse Arena

Address: 17401 Palm Creek Dr., North Fort Myers

Info: www leecountyposse com worked as a volunteer for the arena for years getting events together “A group of people laid their money on the line to buy the property. Of all the people on the founding board, there’s only one member who’s still alive.”

The Lee County Posse Arena, at 17401 Palm Creek Drive, assists youth organizations such as Lee County Junior Posse, 4-H, Jr and High School Rodeos and other equestrian organizations

The Junior Posse helps its members develop a sense of responsibility and a respect for the rights of others and the ownership of a horse can help foster those objectives.

“The arena teaches them responsibility, gives them something to do, and one of the best things is that the parent has to be here with the child,” Harrison said “They’re on an animal and it’s a more family-oriented situation ”

Of course, adults are more than welcome You can even compete in divisions such as young adult, “Jack Benny” for those over 35, and novice, which is open to any age, Harrison said.

All this is important because the arena has in- stilled the love of horses to so many that their children have been instilled the same thing

Anne Peters has four generations of horse lovers in her family, from her father, herself, NFR qualifier daughter Margo Crowther, and now two granddaughters, Stella and Sailor

“We just have a lot of enthusiasts and the arena has been a mainstay for all of us. It’s been something going on continually, it’s the jackpots, the posse, everything you would want in an arena, Peters said

Peters, who started as a child riding at Kickapoo Ranch, where the Lee Civic Center now sits, now knows people who she competed with coming to the Posse with their kids and grandkids

“My father started me and Margo would come with me to the stables. It was a progression. You either love it and have the ability, or you don’t,” Peters said “You can’t push children to love horses ”

Jeanne Shadduck, from Buckingham, fell in love with horses at age 5 Sixty years later, she’s still riding and enjoying the horse “illness ”

“I was born insane You’re either born with the illness or you’re not I was born with the horse illness. I started running barrels at 10 when the arena was at Terry Park,” Shadduck said “I ride English, Western and have shown in everything you can imagine and I ride on the Lee County Mounted Patrol for the sheriff ”

Tara Fazio, from Punta Gorda brought her daughter to the arena Tara started when she was 5 and did mostly English riding while her daughter started roughly 15 minutes after leaving the womb.

“I had a friend taking riding lessons and she brought me along I asked my grandfather for $20 so I could go and fell in love with it,” Tara said, meaning grandpa had to have a lot of $20 bills handy “God created these amazing animals They can speak to and connect with people and bring them closer to God It’s what they’ve done for me ”

Ruby, 8, started as an English rider until she went to her first barrel race. She traded in her English saddle for a Western one and rides pretty much every day

“I like that horses like to be ridden and that they love people so much You have to work with your horse for a long time and know its speed and patience,” said Ruby, who owns three horses, a racer, a jumper and a hunter “He’s likes going fast so I have to get used to his speed. I love it and Chase loves it,

too ”

Horses are also something that can be enjoyed by people of all ages Tracey Green brought her two daughters, Kelia Thompson, 14, and Kasiya Green, 8, who caught the horse bug a couple years ago

“My oldest daughter saw something on Craig’s List and decided she wanted to ride. We got her lessons and then her own horse two months later and has been riding ever since,” said Green, who added that Kelia’s dream is to ride in the NFR “We’re animal lovers and horses were just added to our list ”

Some young riders aren’t just given horses Adreonna Rushlow, 15, from Labelle, has been riding for nine years However, she had to work on her own to get her own horse, a decision she does not regret.

“Horses are awesome animals. Barrel racing can be a dangerous sport, but it’s all worth it. Just being there and having a partner with you doing rodeo,” Rushlow said, who was working with a new barrel horse “The Posse Arena is where I started with my first horse, so I’ve been doing this arena for a long time and I know it ”