Pole bender wins world championship
Brody Marshall returned from the National Pole Bending Association championships last month a champion.
In pole bending, a rodeo competition of speed and agility, horses and riders weave through a series of six poles spaced 21 feet apart at high speed. Horses run to the far end of the series of poles, turn and weave in and out as they work their way back to the front.
Marshall and his quarter horse Pay Me With Pie won the trophy for World’s Fastest Pole Bending Horse having finished the course in 19.473 seconds.
The Sept. 1 win in Ohio comes almost one year after Marshall was critically injured in a car crash that claimed the life of his wife Katie and their dogs Ry and Sage.
Katie’s mother Sherry Hubbert said the win is something Marshall would have loved to celebrate with Katie.
“We’ve been blessed with our community here in Clearview Township and our horse community, to support all of us with our loss,” said Hubbert.
She said Marshall has overcome a lot of adversity and to have recovered from his life threatening physical injuries to come out a champion is no small feat.
“Katie and Brody travelled all over Ontario, Quebec and the USA to run and compete with their quarter horses,” said Hubbert. “Brody bravely recovered from his injuries and continued their passion and love of barrel racing and pole bending. Our family and his friends and horse community are incredibly proud of his accomplishments and dedication to the sport.”
Marshall faced another devastating loss last week when his horse Pay Me With Pie, nicknamed Gracie, died unexpectedly. He is currently in Ohio at the All American Quarter Horse Congress, the largest single breed show in the world, riding Katie’s horse Packing for Pay Day, a sister to Pay Me with Pie.
“Brody is a talented jockey and trainer and we are proud of his resiliency and dedication to the sport both he and Katie loved and excelled at,” said Hubbert.
Puhl’s Photography: Brody Marshall competing in the National Pole Bending Association championships in Ohio on Sept. 1.
