Tammy Smith and her granddaughter Savannah Burris expect to win first-place buckles this year in the Southwest division of the National Barrel Horse Association.
Smith’s daughter, Jerri Burris, overcame her fear of horses this year and will earn a second-place ribbon. But the trio say Paco, their competition horse, deserves all the glory.
Paco was a 20-year-old horse when Tammy Smith bought him from Boyd’s Ranch in Pricedale in 2006.
“He was a fine-looking animal retired from the Mounted Patrol in St. Tammany Parish,” said Smith, of Amite County.
Paco’s gentle nature made him a great horse for children to ride. But for a few years, Paco’s talent for speed competitions was hidden, as was his talent for healing emotional wounds.
Savannah, 9, was once a victim of abuse, her mother Jerri said. She was retreating from the world and her family was concerned. Then Smith had an idea to help her granddaughter.
“I wanted to teach Savannah how to ride horses. I knew it was going to take some convincing because my daughter was afraid of horses.”
“When I was young I had a horse buck me and two more run away with me. So I was terrified of letting my daughter ride them,” Burris said.
But Paco was different.
“Paco has a relaxing personality, and I knew he would be fine with (Savannah),” Smith said.
“Working with these large animals gives you confidence. Being with them affects how you feel about everything.”
Burris gave in because she was willing to do anything to help Savannah. It paid off. The light began to come back into Savannah’s eyes.
“Before, Savannah was so shut off. But watching her and Mama and Paco training in the field, I could see her coming out of it,” Burris said. “We saw very quickly that the more she trained with Paco, the faster Paco ran.”
Smith entered Savannah in barrel racing and speed competitions, and the horse began a winning streak.
“Savannah’s confidence level went way up,” Jerri said. “She really started to come out. She started seeing that the world is not all bad.”
Paco’s affectionate nature has turned Savannah’s tears into smiles. And Jerri and her mother have seen Paco have a calming effect on animals in the field and at competitions.
Paco put Jerri at ease, too, and she took a chance and rode him.
“He has shown me that I could trust horses again. As a matter of fact, I’ve started back riding this season. I’m loving it,” Jerri said.
Jerri said her mother’s first-place belt buckle for barrel racing was unexpected.
“(Smith) had given up barrel racing in 2005, and after seeing what Paco could do she decided to get back into it this year with Savannah,” Jerri said.
Smith gives Paco all the credit.
“Paco is an old horse and he might even look old walking around the pasture. But when it’s time to compete, he’s ready. I’ve never seen a horse like him. You can run him a hundred times and he’s still going to give you 110 percent every time,” Smith said.
