Cowboy Lopes Across Nebraska Border On Mission For Western Wishes

Cowboy Tye Sturgeon loped across the Nebraska border on horseback Tuesday to fulfill a vow he made to himself as a boy in Batesville, Ark.

Actually, he watched for traffic in front of a Fremont County sheriff’s deputy escort as his 12-year-old paint, named Edward, loped across the state line on the four-lane Missouri River bridge.

Nebraska is number six on his journey to 48 states to benefit Western Wishes, a non-profit organization that grants wishes to terminally ill and other children.

He said the inspiration for the ride belongs to a childhood trip to the rodeo.

Sturgeon: “I went behind the chutes and a lot of the cowboys wouldn’t have anything to do with me. You know? Ever since then, I said, you know what, if I ever get to the point where kids are starting to look up to me, everyone one of them I’m going to talk to. I’m going to say hi to. If they want to ride a horse, I’ll throw them on the back of my horse.”

“That’s the reason why I’m doing this for Western Wishes because I believe in what they’re doing.”

His trek began March 15 in Batesville and has included Missouri, Illinois, Wisconsin and Iowa. He is currently heading in the direction of Western Wishes ‘headquarters in Weatherford, Texas.

He said Andrew is spunky, energetic horse that appears to be enjoying the trip.

Sturgeon: “He actually likes seeing the new things. He always has his ears perked up. You can read a horse pretty good if you’re on one everyday. He’s enjoying himself, I think.”
Sturgeon rides about 20 miles per day and usually rests on the third day.

After stopping in Nebraska City Tuesday, his first jobs were to introduce Edward to a pasture and mending a fence there. He asked host Cailyn Heye is there is more work to do. “You’ve got me for just one day,” he said.