Helen Hammack gets a nudge from her new quarterhorse, That’s My Mister, while holding the high-point buckle she won.(The Vicksburg Post/C. TODD SHERMAN)

[01/16/2002]Sixteen-year-old Helen Hammack and her 16-year-old Arabian mare, Morafic Bee, have proved themselves a powerful combination.

The two earned the 2001 Combined Overall High Point Buckle Award for joint members of the Vicksburg Riding Club and Madison Parish Riding Club.

To qualify for the award sponsored by Kerry and Deborah Southern, owners of Total Horse western store in Bovina, riders had to compete in 10 events in 10 shows, including running events, such as pole weaving and barrel racing, and five judged events, such as horsemanship and reining.

“Whoever got the most points at the end of the year got the buckle,” Hammack said. “I thought someone had me once, but at the last few shows, she (Morafic Bee) did really good and I had enough points.”

Kerry Southern said he and his wife created the award to recognize the efforts of riders in the area. “We realized how much hard work and dedication is put into winning high-point from one club. But for two clubs, that’s twice the responsibility. That’s a tremendous accomplishment,” Southern said.

Hammack, who has been riding since she was 8, said she takes care of a barn full of horses on her grandparents’ property off Redbone Road. She’s up at 5:30 each morning to feed before going to school and rides in the afternoon once she returns.

Although she’s sold her winning mare to her trainer, she has purchased a young quarterhorse called That’s My Mister, and is training for this year’s events. “I got him cause I wanted something faster,” she said, hoping to increase her time of 17 seconds in barrel racing, her favorite event.