National O-Mok-See champion an ambassador for equine sport
From left, Witt, Ember, Lane and Stephanie McLean play a game of "cowboy tag" as they ride Mitch, Beni, Indy and Daisy around Ranch 'M near Kalispell on Tuesday, Aug. 10, 2021. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Brothers Lane, left, and Witt McLean ride Indy and Mitch around a training ring at Ranch 'M near Kalispell on Tuesday, Aug. 10, 2021. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Ember McLean, 3, makes an adjustment to the saddle of her horse Beni before a ride at Ranch 'M near Kalispell on Tuesday, Aug. 10, 2021. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Ember McLean, 3, rides her horse Beni at Ranch 'M near Kalispell on Tuesday, Aug. 10, 2021. Beni is the mother of Daisy, the horse belonging to Ember's mother Stephanie. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
In addition to teaching math and parenting her three young children, Stephanie McLean makes time for a more unusual hobby: the horse-riding sport of O-Mok-See.
And she's added a new title to her busy life; she's the 2021 National Saddle Club O-Mok-See champion.
O-Mok-See originated with the Blackfeet tribe and roughly translates to "riding big dance." Traditionally, it was a ceremony that took place upon horseback to prepare for upcoming battles.
Today, O-Mok-See describes the sport of pattern horse racing. McLean was born into the O-Mok-See community, and just as her parents taught her, she now teaches her children how to ride the "big dance."
O-Mok-See is not a traditional horse race. McLean described it as a bit chaotic. There are typically four lanes per race, each 30 feet wide by 185 feet long. Within each lane is an assortment of barrels, poles or other obstacles that vary based on the event.
When the race begins, riders take off to maneuver their horses through the course. Riders often participate in several events, taking their horses through a variety of patterns before the competition comes to a close.
In addition to the variety of courses, O-Mok-See is inclusive of almost all ages. Both McLean's 3-year-old daughter and her mother compete in the sport.
This year, McLean and her family traveled to Blackfoot, Idaho, for the national championship, where she became the 2021 National Saddle Club O-Mok-See champion. But beyond the thrill and competition, McLean said, there's much more to O-Mok-See. It isn't an audience-driven sport, nor is it about winning medals or titles.
"It's more for the individual," she said. "It's about the relationship between you and your horse."
McLean said the sport teaches her children how to persevere. After a poor race, they often want to give up or resort to blaming their horses.
"If a horse isn't behaving right, it's what you do to them. It's never the animal's fault," McLean said.
That's not an easy lesson for her 7- and 9-year-old sons, but she said the sport teaches them self-control and self-awareness beginning at a very young age. It's those lessons that allow them to push through difficult days and improve for the next ride.
But perhaps the biggest character trait she sees her children develop through riding is confidence. When they ride on animals three to four times their size, they can't help but feel a bit more self-assured.
While McLean loves sharing her passion for O-Mok-See with her children, she also hopes to expand the community around the sport and spread awareness of the little-known tradition.
The Flathead Valley has two O-Mok-See clubs: the Flathead River Riders based in Kalispell and the Rocky Mountain Riders in Columbia Falls.
"The valley has a very active and talented O-Mok-See community," McLean said. "And we are always willing to teach and share this amazing family sport."
Reporter Katie Lessmeier may be reached at klessmeier@dailyinterlake.com.
