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East Texas Thoroughbred 'un-sung' hero in cross-crountry journey |
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By KRISTY HEMMINGSEN | East Texas Edition |
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August 15, 2002 -- When Texas cowboy Les Nichols ended his horseback journey from San Antonio to New York City on the Fourth of July, another Texas horse was also in the spotlight. Country World published several stories of Nichols' 1,800-mile journey - each highlighting Nichols, his horse J.J.'s Cowboy, and his dog Posse. Nichols, of Celeste, dedicated his journey to the site of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, and raise money for the victims' families along the way. But one un-sung hero in the journey was a 10-year-old registered Thoroughbred named Sandtrack, owned by George and Stacey McVay of Mount Vernon. The McVays lent Sandtrack to Nichols after J.J. sustained an injury from a fall. Nichols and the McVays met around the beginning of the holiday season, just a few months into the journey, when Nichols stopped in Mount Vernon for a rest. Nichols was greeted by many local residents, including members of the McVay's church - Prairie Station (Cowboy) Church. About a month after Nichols, J.J., and Posse left Mount Vernon, J.J. fell and injured his hind hock. Nichols (still in Texas) telephoned McVay asking if J.J. could be cared for at the McVays' Mount Vernon ranch. McVay recalled he happily took in J.J. and had his veterinarian (Bill Gilbert of Winnsboro) treat the horse for its injuries. Since Nichols needed another horse to continue on the mission, McVay offered one of his best ranch horses - Sandtrack. Nichols rode the 10-year-old horse all the way to Kentucky before J.J. was ready to continue the journey a few months later. "When Les said he needed a horse, I knew this horse could do it," McVay said. "I'm proud of Sandtrack. He experienced many harsh conditions, such as riding through all kinds of weather, crossing creeks, traveling across various types of terrain, and not reacting to things that might run at him, such as dogs, or animals in the wild." Although J.J. was sent to Nichols in Kentucky, McVay said Nichols had become impressed with Sandtrack and continued to use the horse, along with J.J. George is also impressed with Sandtrack. He purchased the Thoroughbred out of Louisiana where he had been ridden on the racetrack. A shoulder injury ended Sandtrack's racing career, but he was enjoying a new career of "standing at stud," when McVay purchased him. "When I first saw him, I could see his heart, and I knew I could make the inside fit the outside," McVay said. "He was a horse that most people would have passed on, or one that some would have tried to beat into submission." Since Sandtrack was originally trained for the track, he was "hyper and anxious" when he came to McVay's East Texas ranch. "He had an attitude of 'go,'" McVay explained. "But with time, patience, and a steady ranch workload, he learned to focus that energy and use it well. "Time can be the biggest training tool," he added. Within a period of seven or eight months, Sandtrack started calming down. McVay said it also helped that Sandtrack was pastured with some "good, older horses" which helped the horse learn a few things about "being in big, open spaces" and how to behave in a quiet manner. McVay began working Sandtrack on the ranch - roping and sorting cattle - and the horse learned how to just go about his business and not be "explosive." When Nichols, along with J.J., Posse, and Sandtrack, came into New York City's "ground zero," they were in time for a grand Fourth of July celebration. A small "celebration" was also felt when Sandtrack returned to Mount Vernon earlier this month. "It's been seven months since Sandtrack had first began to carry Nichols to New York; and he's finally got to come home via Equine Express," McVay concluded. |
