Jan 5, 2021, 11:01 AM by MaryBeth Gokee

Charlene McManus rode into the pen in 2020 and rode out in 2021

In One Year; Out the Other

  

Florida cutter, Charlene McManus, piloted her horse Peptos Hickory (by Peptos Stylish Oak/Peptoboonsmal,out of Pop N Hickory Cutter) into the pen in 2020. As she worked, the new year rang in, thus not only changing years but decades. McManus, nearing 71, said it was really fun that she walked in during 2020 and walked out in 2021.  

“I hollered Happy New Year to everybody as I walked out,” McManus added. “As I rode, Tracy [Barton] made the announcement. So, it was neat.”

The Loxahatchee Groves resident has been cutting since 1972 and has been cutting with Hickory for four years. A Ted Sokol client, McManus has a younger horse in training with Sokol and is looking forward to watching its show career.

McManus has been quite successful recently with ‘Hickory’, ending this past season winning the 50 Am Senior World Tour through the Florida Cutting Horse Association, FCHA. In another Florida NCHA Affiliate, the Florida Ranch and Cutting Club FRCC, McManus was Top 15 in the 50AM and Reserve in 50Am in the Senior World Tour.

 

The FCHA has been hosting their Winter Circuit at the Florida Horse Park for the last two years. Entries topped 900 for this show, filling stalls at the large facility, and had to utilize other local Ocala facilities to house all of the horses. The weather was picture perfect all week, as the classes ran sometimes into the wee hours of the morning.