Bishop Back Stories: Becki Sams & Shea Brown
Granny’s Adventure Continues….
by Anna Arnold
(From the August 2021 issue of Mules and More)
Becki Sams
Becki Sams on Sp Magic Man at the 2021 Bishop Mule Days in the mule race. Photo by David Calvert
My friends and I arrived at the world-famous Bishop Mule Days a few days early. We spent some time looking around at the animals and seeking out old friends. When I stopped for a spell under a nice shade tree, I began to watch a young lady practicing the poles on a fast, good looking Appaloosa mule that caught my eye. I told my friends, “This is a nice entry and it looks like she is going to give them a run for their money!”And she did just that.
I didn't get to watch a lot of my favorite classes because of the heat, but kept track of the finals in the gymkhana events. This pair placed in them all, and won many. How she placed and her experience at Bishop Mule Days will be better explained by her, but I got to watch the 200- and 300-yard track races, both of which she won. And I also saw her place in the costume class.
Asking around about her, I found out her name is Becki Sams and she is from my home state of Oklahoma, in Vinita. No wonder she has a fast mule and can ride it like the wind! Here is Becki’s story:
Becki Sams on Rooster at mule show in Oklahoma in 2010
“Growing up, my dad Joe Sams always made sure I had a pony or a horse. I always had sale barn horses, because that’s what we could afford. But I was just happy I had a horse.
In 1996, my mother-in-law at the time, Dorothy O’Brien, let me ride Jethro, the Bishop Mule Days 1989 Champion Fun Mule, at the Cerebral Palsy Mule Show in Carthage, Mo. Jethro and I won our first buckle in 1997 and several after that.
Then I got a little outlaw mule from the sale barn and called him Rooster. He was a handful. Once I got him going, he was a lot of fun - if you could put up with his attitude. Rooster and I won several all-arounds. All of 13.3 -hands of him was nothing but heart. I raced him on the flat track. Rooster always gave me everything he had, no matter what we were doing. I ended up Reserve Fun Mule at Bishop in 2014 with him.
I have a very close friend and adopted Nana, Patsy Summers, who gave me a shot at seeing what I could do with a couple of full brother Appaloosa mules, Sp. Comet and Sp. Black Magic. We registered him as Sp. Black Magic Man. We went with Magic Man, as in “now you see me, now you don’t.” In 2014, Sp. Comet was the Bishop Youth Gymkhana Champion.
I also had a mare given to me nine years ago that I bred to my Nana’s jack Crackers and got a little white mule that I call You’re a Daisy If You Do, the 2021 Bishop Youth Gymkhana Mule.
Becki with her father and daughter, all winning high point at a mule show. Becki’s dad Joe passed away in 2018. “I sure misses him, but I’m thankful for memories like this one,” said Becki
I had it in my head to take Magic back to Bishop in 2020, but they had to cancel for COVID-19. I had him ready, so it was upsetting. This year, my friend Heather said she sort of wanted to go, so we started making plans. We took Heather’s rig. She took her mule Kansas City Lights and my mule You’re A Daisy If You Do, which was ridden by Heather’s daughter, Jaden. And of course, we brought Magic Man.
Nana’s jack Crackers died while I was in Bishop this year. Three of his offspring that I got a chance to train all became champions at Bishop. I have never claimed in any way to be a trainer and I give all the credit where it should be given. God put some pretty awesome mules in my hands over the years.”
Shea Vick
Often times while attending mule shows, I see a mule, donkey or exhibitor who catches my eye, and think, wow, this would be a cool story for Mules and More.
Shea Brown winning at Bishop 2021
I was once at a show in Kernville, Calif., which is quite a way off the normal track. The closest area is Lake Isabella, located in the hills between Bakersfield and the desert. The Kern River runs right behind the show grounds and it’s a wonderful spot to cool off after a long day in the arena.
After the show, there was a BBQ and a dance at the arena, so we didn't have to go far for an evening of fun. I was sitting with my group, just listening to the music and watching the dancers, when a large man went out on the floor and did the western swing dance like a ballerina! I mean this man had rhythm and could dance. He was just under 7 foot tall, well-built, and boy, did he have all the moves!
Shea Brown with Huck pulling a custom made roller winning the Single Mule Farm Class at Bishop 2019
So the next day, as the show started with driving, I found out who this big man was. This was the champion driver from Bishop Mule Days, none other than Andy Richard, showing with his niece, Shea (Vick) Brown.
I have now become friends with them and this year, it was such a thrill to see them compete. Andy, with his great team Fonzie and Potsie, ended up winning Reserve Team Driver and Shea Brown won the Reserve Single Driver. This year was a wonderful one for Shea as she drove other owner’s mules and donkeys. She did an excellent job with both. We were all so proud of what she has accomplished. Here is Shea’s story:
Uncle Andy Richard with Fonzie and Potsie take Reserve Word Championships at Bishop 2021
“I have been driving mules for about nine years. The first time that I was introduced to the art of driving mules was by my uncle Andy Richard. Prior to his driving career, Andy packed for the Forest Service and for private pack outfits along the High Sierras. He had two retired Forest Service pack mules that he got, and they knew how to drive. At first this started out as just something fun to do on the weekend. They were older and could only go so far. My uncle soon began to look for a new, younger team and that is when he found Fonzie and Potsie in Iowa. He also found another team in Arkansas. He and my Aunt ventured off to pick them up in one trip and that is where my love for driving started.
When he brought the team back from Arkansas, they were supposed to be a team, but the one mule never really got quiet and calm and had to make his way to a new home. Andy taught the remaining mule from the Arkansas team to drive single. That was the first single mule that I ever was given to drive. Shrek was super athletic and was a log-skidding champion for the American Mule Association numerous times. He was retired in 2019 because he is almost completely blind in one eye and doesn’t see good out of the other.
In 2015 Andy purchased Huckleberry’s Smokin Dun aka “Huck,” from Bonnie Easley in Grass Valley, Calif. He was out of one of Bonnie’s mares that was bred to Jody Collins Double C Hat Tricks jack. We got Huck when he was a yearling, and he was such a doll with a huge personality. As a two-year-old, Andy took him to Mariah Peterson and she broke him to ride. She brought him back to us during Mule Days and he won the mule hand in trail there in 2017, there were 15 in the class. Andy taught Huck to drive and showed him in some classes in 2018 at Mule Days. I started showing Huck in 2019, and that is when I found my true teammate.
Months before Mule Days my uncle Andy came up with and researched a horse drawn roller for me to use in the farm class. After many nights down in his shop he made a replica of the original horse drawn roller. It was the winning piece during the Single Mule Farm Class. Andy is very skilled at making and refurbishing wagons and farm equipment and I am very lucky to have that man on my side.
Andy Richard is not only my uncle, but he is also the owner of Fonzie and Potsie, as well as Huckleberry. Fonzie and Potsie were World Champions in 2014 and 2016. They were the Reserve World Champions in 2017. The team have been the American Mule Association Driving Division Champions from 2015-2019. Both his team and his single mule were Reserve World Champions this year at Mule Days. I am so blessed to have such a great Aunt and Uncle and such a rockstar of a mule to drive.”