Thursday evening, February 11, 2010, there was a
gorgeous blanket of snow across North Texas. A record eighteen inches
in Wilmer. The arena that had protected us from sun, rain, hail and the
days of snow leading up to Thursday, could no longer. In the night, it
collapsed under the immense weight of the snow piled high on the
rooftop. Fortunately no horses, dogs or people were hurt.
After the initial shock Linda , Chris and the
BuckBranch crew began to devise the plan of action. The Spirit of
BuckBranch became evident, as boarders, family members, and friends
showed up for a weekend of dismantling and organizing the debris in the
muddy muck and chilly air. Chris was thinking "green" by recycling much
of the wreckage for future projects to enhance the facilities. As many
records have already been set this spring, the rebuilding of the arena
was no different. Eleven weeks to the "T" and BuckBranch hosted the
arena reopening in true Texas style with bar-b-que, a live band,
exhibition rides by the ladies' quadrille and Becky Brown riding
Dakota. A poetry contest was held to see who the lucky rider would be
to have the inaugural ride in the new arena. Many poems were entered
and the winning poem was submitted by Jane Cook.
Mrs. Becky
There once was a trainer in town,
Who had the last name of Brown.
She worked at a farm
With a really big barn,
And then the arena fell down.
by Jane Cook