Friendly competition is the O-Mok-See way

O-Mok-See is in the Kohr family’s blood.

Shawn Kohr and his wife, Tonya, met at an O-Mok-See competition in Helena when they were 12 years old. He was from Great Falls; she was from Garden City, Kan., Tonya said.

By the time they were 16, they were dating. And when the national competition was held in Garden City, they got married at the show.

“We celebrate our anniversary every year at nationals,” Tonya said.

They’re celebrating this year at the Flathead County Fairgrounds, where the 45th Annual National O-Mok-See competition has been in full swing since Sunday. At least 384 riders of all ages are competing in pattern horse racing events that last through Friday.

The riders come from all over the country.

The Kohrs loaded up their four boys, four horses, three-wheelers and camping gear and drove three days from Wichita, Kan., to Kalispell.

All six of them are competing in just about every event this week.

Between them, they compete in nearly every age group. The youngest, 7-year-old Cameron, listed pole bending and the keg, key and flag races among his favorite events.

All four events call for speed — which is what Cameron said he likes best about riding.

His older brother, 17-year-old Chance, said he entered every event. He, Cameron, and brothers Casey, 12, and Cooper, 9, started riding in O-Mok-See shows when they were 3 years old.

“That’s what draws a lot of us to it,” Shawn Kohr said. “It’s very family-oriented.”

While the competition is “exceptional,” especially at nationals, it’s rarely cutthroat, Kohr said. But that doesn’t stop some riders from keeping up a steady stream of banter with their competition.

Fred Burson and his daughter, Andrea, joked with Bob Blackman before competing in pole bending Wednesday morning. Blackman, of Columbia Falls, met Burson four years ago when he rode in his first O-Mok-See event; the two have been friends ever since.

“As long as we beat each other, it’s like we’re champions,” Burson said.

Burson has a home off Farm to Market Road and he rides with the Smith Valley Saddle Club — hosts of this year’s national competition — during the summer. He lives the rest of the year in LaBelle, Fla., and waits for his chance to compete again.

“I’d do it all the time if I could,” he said.

Like 7-year-old Cameron Kohr, Burson, 60, says he competes for the thrill of the race.

“Feeling the power of that big horse underneath you at the starting line — it’s an adrenaline rush,” he said.

The riders in the arena might be racing against the clock, but the horse usually is racing against the other horses, Burson said.

“They respond to the other horses more than your urging them to run,” he said. “It can be wild.”

Burson and his daughter, who flew to Kalispell from Florida just for nationals, signed up for every event this week — even the ones they weren’t familiar with.

“There were some I had to read up on in the rule book,” Andrea said.

Tonight Burson competes for the first time in Devil’s Cowhide. He will have to sit on a hide tied to a horse ridden by Blackman and hold on for dear life as he’s dragged through the arena.

Burson said he hopes skills he has picked up in Florida will transfer to the event.

“In Florida I inner-tube all the time,” he said. “Even though I’m 60 years old, I think I have a good idea what it takes to stay on the cowhide.”

Blackman said Burson will ride the hide because “they told us it was better if the lightest-weight guy was on the ground.”

“We aren’t slowing down for nothing,” he added, laughing.

Burson asked for visitors when the event lands him in the hospital.

“When I have that blue ribbon, we’ll hang it there on your cast,” Blackman told him.

The friendly competition and camaraderie are what keep Burson coming back to O-Mok-See.

“There’s no money in it,” he said. “Either you’re insane like we are or you really love it.”

The action continues today at noon, when the National Saddle Clubs Association royalty will be presented. The 7-and-under riders will kick off the competition after that with the two barrel flag race.

For further information about nationals, including a complete schedule of events, visit www.svscomoksee.com/2010-national-o-mok-see.html.

Reporter Kristi Albertson may be reached at 758-4438 or at kalbertson@dailyinterlake.com.