Page 98 - May 2017

MARY ELLEN HICKMAN
by John Moorehouse
“Helping someone develop and grow is priceless.”
Mary Ellen Hickman has been around horses for her entire life, but she came to bar-
rel racing at the age of 30. Since then, she
hasn’t looked back, maintaining deep ties in that realm whether it be as a trainer, owner, breeder, or administrator.
“I was there when Fort Smith held their first futurity,” Hickman recalled. “I can remember being at the Red Gate Futurity in Tennessee when the Barrel Futurities of America was being formed.”
Hickman also has served in a variety of other lead- ership roles in the barrel racing world. She was a state and regional director for the National Barrel Horse Association when the organization was just getting off the ground. After 12 years on the Barrel Futurities of America board, she stepped down to help develop Future Fortunes—a stallion incentive program for barrel racing that, to date, has paid out more than $4.5 million. All that while continuing to work as a school teacher for several decades!
Currently living in Oklahoma, Hickman continues to run futurity horses, and every year, goes to Heritage Place to buy yearlings to start on barrels. She took a break from her busy schedule to be the subject of this month’s Lighter Side feature.
Q: Where were you born?
A: Ashland, Ohio. I was raised on a horse farm. Some of my best memories were coming to Oklahoma with my dad to buy horses.
Q: What are your hobbies outside of the horse industry?
A: Who has time?
Q: What is your favorite movie, and why?
A: “Secretariat”... The movie was not only about a legendary horse, the owner was just as amazing. Penny Chenery is an inspiration for all. She was unstoppable.
Q: Give an interesting fact about your family.
A: Horses are in my blood! My grandfather, dad, uncle, and cousins were all involved with making champions. From six Pony Hitch Championships, to Champion Halter Horses, and leading Thoroughbred trainers, the list goes on.
Q: What is the strangest personality quirk you have ever seen in a horse?
A: There was a horse that loved the TheraPlate. If she wasn’t the first one on it when it was turned on, she would throw a fit.
Q: If you were not in the horse racing business, what job would you like to have? A: I loved teaching! Helping someone develop and grow is priceless.
Q: What is your favorite thing about living where you live?
A: EVERYTHING! Really, I am in the center of the horse industry!
Q: If you could vacation anywhere on the planet, where would it be & what would you do there?
A: When [late husband] Mike retired, he asked me where I wanted to live. I said Oklahoma. I have been on “vacation” ever since!
Q: Do you have a favorite quote and, if so, what is it?
A: “It is not what he has, nor even what he does, which directly expresses the worth of a man, but what he is.” Henri Amiel
Q: If you could sit down and visit with anyone, past or present, who would it be? A: Mike Hickman – He brought out the best in me.
Q: What drink would your friends describe you as, and why?
A: Tequila – They say I am a fireball!
Q: Who’s your favorite athlete of all time, and why?
A: For me, a great athlete is more than talent. It is a per- son who takes their God given talent and uses it to help others. Jack Nicklaus was such a man. He started from very little, achieved fame, yet always remained humble.
Q: If you were making a movie about yourself, who would you cast to play you, and why?
A: Reece Witherspoon. You have to be able to see the humor in all situations. She does that with style.
Q: What’s one thing you don’t like about Barrel racing?
A: Drama queens.
Q: What’s one thing you like about Barrel racing?
A: Starting a colt on barrels and watching it develop is the best reward of all.
John Moorehouse
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SPEEDHORSE, May 2017
THE LIGHTER SIDE