The River Valley Saddle Club (RVSC) held their end-of-the-year awards potluck in Superior on January 10. This is where Alberton resident, Amanda Hansen, and her mother Tammy Stedman, received the RVSC High Points award for 2015;  Hansen for her age group which was 16 to 30 and Stedman age 42 plus.

The competitions are the sport of “pattern horse racing” referred to as O-Mok-See. This sport allows families to compete and enjoy horses together. The age groups are 8 and under, 8 to 11, 12 to 15, 16 to 30, 31 to 41 and 42 plus. Hansen’s three children, Landon, Bailey, and Ryder, also compete. 

Other saddle clubs in the area include the Many Valley Saddle Club in Frenchtown, the Bitterroot Rough Riders in Darby, and the Alberton Ridge Runners. At O-Mok-See competitions, spectators may see riders pick up a stake and race to another barrel to deposit it, or witness the Pole Bending event, where riders weave through a series of poles. There’s also Speed Barrels, the Scurry Race, Polo Turn and more events that test competitors riding, balancing, and throwing skills. 

The sport of O-Mok-See originated with the Blackfoot Indian Tribe and now boasts national competitions through The National Saddle Clubs Association. Hansen and her family participated in the 2015 National Competition held in Buffalo, Wyoming in July. This was a ten day competition, featuring 20 events, with competitors from all over the United States. Hanson’s daughter, Bailey, placed second, Landon, tenth place, and son Ryder placed eighth. The season starts in May and runs through September. Hansen and her family plan on saddling up and competing once again.