Liberty horse act featured in Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo

SIKESTON -- Rain clouds loomed over the Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo grounds, but a bright spot remained on horse trainer Jerry Wayne Olson of Auburn, Neb., and his golden palomino, "Justin Boots."

"Let's go. Come on. Come on. Whoa," Olson said softly as Justin Boots followed his every command.

Free of a halter or bridle, Justin Boots continued to listen as his trainer spoke.

"Get around. Attaboy. Attaboy," Olson said. "Bow."

And Justin Boots bowed.

"All the way," Olson said.

Justin Boots bowed down to to the ground even further.

"Attaboy. Attaboy," Olson said as he hugged his palomino.

For Olson, the explanation of his 20-year-old horse following the commands at liberty is a simple one.

"You talk to him, and he listens," Olson said. "We walk him and tell him to walk, and then he walks."

Using only voice and visual commands, Olson said Justin Boots can also trot, canter, switch directions, bow, blow a kiss and jump in the back of a truck.

"It's not a process of doing the routine all day; it's a process of really getting them to listen to you all the time, and that's what makes them work," Olson said. "They get to the point where they like to work instead of having to work."

Plus, when the horses do what they're supposed to do, they receive praise and affection, Olson said.

"They work a lot better when you love on them," Olson said. "As soon as they do it right, then you better go to loving on them and be good to them."

In addition to Justin Boots, Olson's act features a 6-year-old miniature horse named "Lickety Split."

"The little horse does tricks. The big horse works with voice and hand command," Olson said.

Olson and his horses are the specialty act featured in this year's 61st Annual Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo, which begins at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

For the complete story, see Thursday's Standard Democrat.