A minor accident during the show won’t deter one Select competitor.

Roger Olson and Seven S Docs Sierra in their pole bending finals go at the 2010 Adequan Select World. (Scroll down for more Journal photos below.)

Roger Olson of Scottsdale, Arizona, has been to every Adequan Select World since the show began in 2003.

In 2005 and 2007, he won the Select reserve world championship in breakaway roping with Top Notch Jack, but it was the 2007 win that was particularly memorable for Roger. His good friend and then AQHA President Frank Merrill presented him with his trophy. He said that was one of the highlights of his career.

The 2010 Adequan Select World show will also be memorable – just for a different reason.

While competing in the heading prelims, Roger and his horse, Seven S Docs Sierra aka “Candy Man,” had a bit of an accident.

Roger recounted what happened:

“We got out fine, and the steer went to the left. Usually that is not a problem for me or (Candy Man). I roped the steer, and I either missed getting my dally around the horn or the horse made a strange move – somehow or other I missed my dally – some people said he stumbled, I just flat missed it. I thought I had it so I let him go left like he’s supposed to go.

“We were getting over close to the fence, so he went left and the steer was going right. Then I realized I missed it, and it was too late. Somehow or other a coil of my rope got around my wrist, and it jerked me off my horse, and we did a little crash.”

Fortunately, other than losing a little skin on his wrist and dinging up his glasses, Roger’s injuries were very minor and Candy Man was only spooked.

Their “crash,” as he calls it, has made him quite popular at the showgrounds, though.

“If I would’ve known my accident would’ve been such a big hit, I would’ve sold tickets,” Roger joked.

Roger has been roping since 1967, and he said he’s very fortunate to not have had too many serious accidents.

Despite his injury, he decided to go ahead and compete in the pole bending finals. He competed in poles throughout high school, but he just started showing in barrels and poles at the Adequan Select World three years ago.

“(Candy Man) does not need much barrel racing training, he just usually likes to do it,” Roger said.

Roger’s goal is to win the Farnam All-Around Amateur award at the Adequan Select World one day, and he believes Candy Man is the horse to do it, too.

“I looked at the all-around situation here and thought it’d be fun to try that,” Roger said. “This horse has the capability, if we could just put it all together.”

The palomino gelding is by Genuine Doc and out of the Zans Diamond Joker mare Zans Diamond Sugar. He has proven himself in events such as breakaway roping, heading, heeling, barrel racing, pole bending and working cow horse.

Roger joked and said, “We keep saying, ‘The Candy Man Can.’”

Roger and Candy Man are out of the all-around race this year, but the pair will be back for another shot at the title next year.

“We will be here,” Roger said. “This is the greatest thing that AQHA has come up with.”

In fact, Roger and wife, Susan, are leaving tomorrow to go to another horse show, where he’ll be roping with a bum hand. They’re going to start earning points now to qualify for the 2011 Adequan Select World.

Roger and Susan always enjoy coming back to this show where they can see the friends they’ve met over the years and compete on a level playing field with people in their age group.

For all the help he’s received throughout the years, Roger wanted to make sure to thank AQHA Professional Horseman Jason Hershberger, his friend, Claude Parker, and AQHA employee David Avery.

By Julie Preble, Web content manager

The American Quarter Horse Journal is onsite to bring you full coverage of the 2010 Adequan Select World, including daily slide shows like the one below. (Click on the photo to read the caption.)

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