Granny’s Final Adventure
Written by Cathy Ceci, as told to her by Anna Arnold
Born in a little two-room shack in Cameron, Okla., on March 25, 1938, Anna Louise McCarson came a long way from those humble beginnings to living a life any adventurer would love. It wasn’t an easy life, but she made it one worth living. It was full of adventure, journeys, love, family, friendships, hard work, life lessons, and laughter. Like all of us, her life was full of highs and lows, good and bad, but she’d say, it’s all in how you look at it, that’s just life.
Anna's love affair with mules began very early and lasted her entire life. Her mother joked that she carried that from birth, being born on the farm right at the same time a Suffolk mare was having a mule colt. As a toddler, Anna 'Lou' spent much of her time in the field, playing under the wagons in the shade, waiting all day just to ride back to the barn on the backs of the horses and mules. She clearly remembered hanging onto their manes with the biggest smile on her face.
Her love for horses and mules never changed, even when the family moved to Pomona in southern California in 1943. In the fifth grade, Anna got her first horse, competing in her first horse show and winning third place in the boot race. After that, she never stopped riding, whether it was bringing groceries home or riding much further than she should have with friends. Sometimes the groceries made it home, other times she had a lot of explaining to do.
But one thing was for sure, Anna never stopped competing. And as it turned out, she was pretty darn good at it. As an active young horsewoman, while becoming known among the barrel racers and rodeo world, she joined the Women’s Pro Rodeo Association in 1957. While she was racing all over California, Anna met and married John Arnold. They had two daughters, Tonya (Bevers) and Julie (Martindale), and managed a very busy, growing family. Life took a few off-course turns and Anna divorced, later marrying Jim Gwaltney. Rodeo and barrel racing continued to be front and center in all of their lives but it seemed some of the men in Anna’s life thought they were single, so she arranged it for them. Underneath the smiling, gray-braided granny we came to know, there was a red-headed temper simmering under the surface for a few who she felt deserved it. Anna remained single, and agreeably so, for the rest of her life.
In the 1980s, Anna found herself the owner of a nice little trail mule from the TV show "Little House On The Prairie", which she claimed was the beginning of her amazing adventure with mules. She owned several wonderful mules along the way, enjoying every minute with them, but she said there was still always just a little something missing. Then, at the age of 61, Anna was lucky enough to be able to buy the famous gymkhana mule "Ciera." This beautiful mule captured her heart and changed her life forever.
By that time, Anna’s girls were grown and busy with their own families, and her new truck and living quarters trailer were all ready to go. So, she opened the gate and left on a new adventure. Anna and Ciera traveled, visited, and competed successfully all over the United States for more than a decade - anytime, anywhere. They made new friends and met new competitors, making memories and friends that lasted a lifetime and beyond. It was in the days before cell phones. Her family was getting postcards from places she’d been the week before, never knowing exactly where she was for months at a time. She had the time of her life and her family learned a lesson in patience.
Anna particularly loved this time in her life. It was a true adventure! Directions to the next location were written on paper plates on the dash, something Anna’s always been known for. Paper maps were folded out the night before and the route was figured out. There was nothing to Google, no cell phone to check in with anybody. Heck, there was no telling where the next pay phone would even be. There wasn’t much warning for bad weather either. No telling where the next feed store was or where the next stop might be. But it fit well with her adventuresome spirit and Ciera was along for the ride. So, Anna learned she’d better be prepared for anything. And to the very end, her living quarters always had “little extras” tucked away (Don’t ask. You know, just in case!)
Just before her time traveling with Ciera, she found her start writing articles for the magazine Mules and More. Sue Cole became a great friend and encouraged her in every way possible; she was more than instrumental in getting Anna started. Anna loved talking and listening to people, sharing their stories, wit, and wisdom, and “Granny’s Adventures” became a monthly article. Whether Anna was sharing her latest adventures, her travels, show results, stories of mule people, information about our long ears, or an opinion she just couldn’t keep to herself, she was happy and so excited to pass that along.
Something that she enjoyed so much was when a reader would come up and introduce themselves at an event. They’d usually see her famous big hat, then they’d come up and ask “Are you Granny?” And she’d always smile and make time to talk with them and take pictures. She loved their stories. Anna had met so, so many people over the years and somehow always had the uncanny ability to remember them, and most times their animals in detail, too. It was always great fun to be in the middle of nowhere, pull up to a gas station or restaurant, and run into yet another person she knew! Road trips with Anna always took much longer than planned, but then, anyone who traveled with her already knew that. She never liked traveling on straight, boring roads. The dusty roads on the way to a place with a funny name were always better. A beautiful view, an interesting stop, and a stranger’s story all made the adventure better. An open gate waiting at the end of a long drive made the trip complete. Coming home was the best part.
When she came home from her travels, she always enjoyed time with her daughters and their families, many times involving them in horse or mule activities. Tonya’s kids, Kyle and Leigh Anne, and Julie’s kids, Bailey and Tarah, were always a joy. Having them nearby when they could be, watching their football games, playing jokes back and forth, and supporting their interests made her one proud Grandma. She’d invite the family over, buy Kentucky Fried Chicken, hide the boxes, throw flour around the kitchen and all over herself, place a few obvious chicken feathers here and there, and then set a nice table for everyone to enjoy. Oh, they knew, but they loved the effort and the KFC wasn’t bad either.
She was also known for yelling out, “Who’s your Grandma?” at local football games - and everyone knew who she was! Recently, Bailey married Becca, adding another family member to her joy. Leigh Anne also added her first great-grandbaby, along with more Western children's sewing projects to get done. She was a talented seamstress and western attire and Homemade Halloween costumes were a fun specialty. She always had many projects going on!
Anna’s life wasn’t without difficulties, some were pretty serious but didn’t keep our girl down for long. A few mule wrecks were pretty bad, but she’d always say they could’ve been worse. One mule flipped over on a pile of rocks with Anna under her, leaving her with a serious leg injury. Another wreck broke her arm and peeled off a lot of skin, but a little cast, a little time, and she was right back on again. Working for the Forest Service, she was hit pretty hard with heavy bug sprays and ever after had very severe asthma, in fact, several times had been driven to the ER already passed out. And, like she’d say, it could’ve been worse. At 68, Anna got a devastating condition called Guillain-Barre, that left her paralyzed and on life support machines. As she slowly recovered, she always said the very best therapy was her daughter bringing her a horse to ride every morning. With an incredible amount of help, with every bit as much determination and grit, Anna was eventually back on the road, back out for Granny's Adventures, rides, and shows.
She was pretty tough and wasn’t ready to leave us quite yet. Anna had a system when she was feeling poorly and thought she might not make it through the night. She’d put on her nice, clean pajamas, write notes to the girls, then one to the paramedics saying how she felt, then fall asleep on the couch with the door unlocked. If she passed away, everything was in order. If she woke up in the morning, she’d rip up the notes and go feed the mules. It worked every time.
Just a few years back when Anna was 81, she had a tire blowout on a trip to judge a Backcountry Horsemen event in Bishop. When she went to the tire store to replace it, they tried to sell her one with a 10-year warranty. Of course, she joked with them, asking for the 2-year warranty instead, saying she wasn’t planning on living that long. They compromised on a tire with a 5-year warranty. Apparently, Anna knew something. That tire warranty expired just this year when she passed away at 86 years and 3 months.
Whatever Anna put her mind to, she did and her life was full of accomplishments and adventures. She was so proud of her Ciera, a Bishop Mule Days Champion and Hall of Famer, a talented, kind-hearted, and giving mule that Anna said, really made her look good — those competition years with Ciera brought her so much pride and happiness and so many friendships that she always said would never, ever be forgotten. She learned and taught so much during her years spent with the Women’s Pro Rodeo Association as the Director for the Western States that she said really gave her the foundation for her life’s work. Anna’s adventure to Australia for the “Man from Snowy River” ride was the trip of a lifetime, one she recounted many times. Every trip was an adventure, no matter how small, no matter how short or long. She always hoped people would take a risk, take the extra step out, just turn a corner, and try something new. You never know what you’ll find!
She really loved judging shows, the younger the competitors, the better. Whether it was at a fairground or a local arena, Anna gave it her all and expected and encouraged the best from her contestants as well. She tried to keep things interesting for them too, many times asking them questions to relax them or test their knowledge to break a tie. She was honest and kind, but truthful with them, and was always there for them afterward to help them improve and learn. She so loved watching the kids grow, especially when they became accomplished riders and parents on their own.
Anna’s last few years slowed down just a bit, but then she thought anything less than 60 mph was slow. Getting to travel was still a joy; it just didn’t happen as frequently so family and friends kept her life full. She lived close to her daughter Julie, an accomplished horse trainer, and her husband, Allen Martindale. She especially enjoyed every one of Julie’s barrel races she could get to, watching every move and mentally clocking the race as though she were racing with the wind in her face herself. She was pretty good at eying the times, too. Anna was so proud of her daughter and of her friend’s and client’s success in the arena, as well as in their lives. Their friendships and get-togethers over so many decades were always fun and heartwarming, a huge part of her life.
Tonya and her family lived across the country but they always found ways to stay close. Anna was so proud of them from afar. And as often as they tried to surprise her with a visit, Anna usually caught on and was ready for them, but acting like it was a great surprise! One time though, she was caught off guard and their late-night arrival brought Anna’s trusty side piece out from alongside the bed! You needed to think twice before surprising Anna!
Other family and friends came from all walks of life and were welcomed wherever she was. It was always a lively camp, promising great conversation and lots of fun, no matter where it was. Her extended family was small but they shared so much. Her sister, Judy, was always nearby with her family and Anna also enjoyed frequent visits with her nephew, Andy and his wife, Michelle.
Anna’s friends were incredibly special to her, lasting a lifetime. They came from every walk of life, every corner of our country, and a number beyond our borders. She recognized that each person had something special, even when they might not recognize it. She encouraged and supported her friends in whatever life put in their paths. Anna was an honest and faithful friend and it was to her credit that so many remained so close to her over the years. Social media and email helped her remain in touch when travel became difficult. Anna loved each and every one of her friends, just like they were family.
Her home was like a Western museum, an eclectic mix of buckles, personal art, and cleverly arranged antiques, with just the right amount of 'hominess' (and maybe just a little bit of dog hair). Mules just might join you on the porch as they were eating flowers on their way through. Coffee was always ready and you always, always felt welcome, never rushed. But it was farily likely she’d put you to work on something, too. She really did always have a project going!
Bishop Mule Days 2024 was Anna’s last big adventure and she enjoyed every second of that trip. Having the time this year to wander with friends and make new friends was her idea of time well spent. She just might have over-enjoyed the homemade ice cream shop that was just a little too close to camp. They were giving it to her for free, so she stopped there every day, but the smile on her face was worth it! She did, however, get to meet the handsome Bishop paramedics and ride around the fairgrounds on their cart, not such a bad day in her book!
At Mule Days this year, Anna especially loved being able to actually visit and spend a little time with her many friends of so, so many years. She talked about them a lot and was grateful to see and spend time with so many. They, and so many others that weren’t able to be there, all meant the world to her, as fierce competitors, as respected colleagues, as tough as nails, as fun-loving, as hard-working, as steady as the day is long type of friends. The very best kind of friends. Mule people, remember, you all carry a part of her along every time you ride or drive. And she might just tell you what to do or where to go. So ride far and wide and fast for her. But above all, just remember to enjoy the ride.
Anna “Granny Mule” McCarson Arnold was truly ready for her next adventure. She passed peacefully on July 3, 2024, with her daughter Julie, and Julie’s husband Allen, right at her side.
There was a celebration of Anna’s life at Riverside Rancheros in Riverside, Calif., on October 19, 2024. Riverside Rancheros was one of Anna’s favorite barrel racing venues, going back decades to the 1960’s, and is the perfect place to remember her. Another Celebration of Life will be held at the next Bishop Mule Days 2025. For details on both celebrations, see Anna's Facebook page.
Revist some of Granny’s Adventures: