Memories - Larry Mahan

from Bridle & Bit June 2023 Edition - Horse Magazine

Connection between the Horse and Human Heart

By Tracy Wager

Larry Mahan became a good friend when I wrote the life story tribute about his father Ray. Ray was still alive and wanted his story told his way. He had a ranch here near Laveen, that Larry had bought him. Ray invited me over to ride at his place after Larry and he had attended a party that featured Waylon Jennings performing at WestWorld in Scottsdale. Howard Keim former WestWorld managing partner(formerly known as HorseWorld), the late Scottsdale Mayor Herb Drinkwater, Tanya Tucker, Gilbert Ortega(the original one), and other notables were in attendance. I went several times to the Mahan Ranch to ride, and learned that Ray Mahan was a real horseman. At about the third trip, I realized that Ray was a huge part of why Larry became who he was and I wanted to write his story, his way…………early 1990’s.

**Larry & Ray Mahan taken at Waylon Jennings concert held at “Monterra”, at WestWorld of Scottsdale 1993**
Photo Credit: Tracy Wager

The first time I met Larry, was when I was 7 years old and won tickets to go to the PRCA Rodeo in Detroit, Michigan. The Detroit Free Press had a coloring contest and I won 2 tickets, I went with my dad. My dad would never pay for parking, and we drove his big car hauler truck to the event. We drove around the back of the Pontiac Silverdome arena and parked with the competitors. We walked by them all looking for Larry and I introduced myself. He was kinda nice, but not too much, because he had to get ready. But he did sign my autograph book and joined the ranks of Tiny Lund (NASCAR Driver), other race car drivers, the Banana Splits and Dan Haggerty(Grizzly Adams) both from television and others I had met by that age.

Years later he oddly recalled that meeting because I was a young girl with an autograph book. Usually 7 year old girls were not walking behind the chutes back then.

Back in 1988 Larry started a TV show names “Horse World” that later became “Equestrian Nation” that ran until 2009. On a side note: Rex produced the very first equestrian show on a cable station called “Rural America Network” (now call RFD TV) for the Scottsdale Arabian Show. Larry jumped in with his show shortly thereafter.

In 1994 the Scottsdale Arabian Show held a Celebrity Team Penning event in the Wendell area at WestWorld. Charles Barkley’s(Phoenix Suns)wife, Larry Mahan (whom was there filming for his TV show), and several other notables made up the 20 teams. Patrick Swayze was entered and showing his great stallion Tammen in halter and the daily and weekly news published a rumor that Princess Diana was planning on attending as well. Swayze had just launched the movie “Ghost” after his huge success with “Dirty Dancing”. Between the truth and the rumors here was literally no room to even walk around the 386 acres at the Scottsdale show grounds.

**LARRY AND TRACY TEAM PENNING CHAMPIONS AT SCOTTSDALE ARABIAN SHOW 1994**

**The Championship Buckle at the Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show Team Penning Event**

When the three-man teams were drawn for the Penning event, I was on the team with Larry and Patrick(heart attack). Patrick had to bow out on the last minute. His security team said that it was too many people in too large an area to ensure his safety. The third rider was secured 30 minutes before the event and his Arabian had never seen cattle. Larry was in the warm-up and told me the plan. It was that we would put the other guy into a holding position, I would run and cut out the cattle with our number on them, and he and I would work together and push them back and into into the pen. The other guys horse ran out the gate backwards but the ring stewards managed to get the horse back in the arena with just enough time to close the arena gate………On a side note, during this time in history, Team Penning had exploded, it was truly THE most popular horse event!

Now it is “go time” and I followed Larry’s plan. It was packed at the Wendell Arena, standing room only about 20 rows of people deep. My horse “Checkers” was really “cowy” and we got all 3 steers quickly, ran them into the pen and after all was said and done, we had the fastest time! It was one of the memories that would last forever and when you look back, Larry was a professional memory maker……Later that day, Larry commented that I took orders well and that we should ride more together more often.

Larry told me that Ray’s story was framed and hanging on his wall and he was always kind and grateful. We always were friends from then on. My sister Heather Gilbert and I went to a cow-horse/cutting clinic he did in Patagonia, AZ. I fell off, but my sister did not.....in a bareback cutting demonstration. I got a hard time about that from that day on. Larry made sure I never forgot it.

Larry was a lot of things in his life - to me he was a pioneer........ First guy to fly from rodeo to rodeo(saved time and he was less tired when he got there) and he owned/flew his own plane, he created his name into a brand that grew into something larger than life that even eclipsed his amazing Rodeo career. Larry paved the way for the future generations to prosper outside of the arena. He revolutionized the pathway to new ideas and introduced the industry to things that had never had been utilized. Like sponsorships, streamlining travel to be able to stay healthy and fit while attending more Rodeo competitions, to becoming a stand-alone brand known World Wide and so much more......

Larry was a horseman, he learned how to understand animals from a young age and it started with Ray. That was the story angle with Ray, because he taught Larry from the beginning so many things. Like running a ranch, raising cattle, training horses and more....

“Cow sense - horse sense - non sense”, is what Ray would say……

Larry had a few more tools in his box when he became a Rodeo Champion. Of course talent, drive, incredible timing and more, but he never stopped being a horseman and he never stopped working. His name is recognized across the globe today even if it’s because you wear a “Mahan” hat.