Coach wasn't horsing around when it came time to make the save, prevent stampede
‘That's how you stymie a horse,' Blazers' coach says after biting runaway animal

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By Augie Frost
Published: September 25, 2007

When hockey Coach Doug Sauter saw a Belgian horse break free of its reins at the state fair and endanger a woman's life, he didn't hesitate to help.

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He corralled a spooked horse by biting its ear.

"That's how you stymie a horse,” he said. "You bite it as hard as you can, and it won't move.”

Sauter, head coach of Oklahoma City's Blazers hockey team, was going about his business at the time as part of another team that night: The Express Clydesdales, who were there competing in the Oklahoma State Fair Centennial Expo's Draft Horse Show along with seven other, eight-horse wagon teams.

‘A scary deal'
Initially, fair officials said a wagon pulled by one of the teams of six horses had fallen on the woman Saturday. Monday, they said the woman was caught underneath a horse and trampled. The woman was taken to an area hospital after the accident. Her identity was not released by fair officials.

"It was a scary deal,” said Sauter, who helps prepare the team of Clydesdales and its wagon for each competition. The coach also said he was just one of many people who came to the woman's aid.

"Everybody jumped in and helped out,” including men from other teams, cowboys from the street and even police, he said.

Sauter said biting a horse's ear to control the animal is a commonly used tactic in wild horse races like those at the Calgary Stampede, in Calgary, Alberta, although some competitions don't allow the practice. He said he has been working with the Express Clydesdales since 1998, and travels to numerous shows every year.

During draft horse shows, each team pulls a wagon inside of a competition arena, where it is judged on how well the horses work together. The horses' physical make-up and the appearance of the wagons and harnesses also are evaluated.

Upon entering the arena, the horses work the ring wall in both directions and the competition ends with the judges conducting a thorough inspection of the horses and wagons.

The Express Clydesdales team had participated in its heat and was waiting for another run about 7:30 p.m. as the final two teams were preparing to make their first entries when the mishap occurred.

Sauter said the driver of the spooked teamdid a good job of controlling his team.


 

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Good for Coach Sauter. Us cowboys actually bite ears during branding because it does make the animal lay perfectly still. In the movie "The Cowboys" with John Wayne, you actually get to see the "Duke" do this for real.
Mark, Mesa - Sep 26, 2007 at 2:48 pm
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Okay, I live in North Carolina, so pardon my ignorance as I am only a part-time cowgirl and mainly acquainted with Tennessee Walking horses...but if a horse is stampeding, how the heck do you get it to stand still long enough to reach up, grab it's ear and bite it?

If this Coach Sauter is able to pull of such a feat, perhaps he oughta be running for public office. At least he'd be able to get the jackasses' attention!
Nancy, Greensboro - Sep 25, 2007 at 5:50 pm
Maybe someone should have bit Gundy's ear.
kathy, norman - Sep 25, 2007 at 3:55 pm
We were at the Fair and went by the horse barn to see the Clydesdale horses and Doug Sauter came by and made sure that he talked to every group there and answered all questions. He is a class act.
jacob, katy - Sep 25, 2007 at 10:31 am
Great article.
Kevin, Jones - Sep 25, 2007 at 9:50 am
Maybe Doug Sauter could try that on Carlson. Might drive some balance into her head, oops, no, she works for the OUklahoman so that isn't going to happen. Her dislike for all things orange has been apparent for a long time. That’s why she works for that rag.
John, Oklahoma City - Sep 25, 2007 at 9:05 am
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Thank you Coach Sauter.
Margaret, Holdenville - Sep 25, 2007 at 8:43 am
I'm going to try that on my wife.
Danny, Vail - Sep 25, 2007 at 5:59 am
mmmm....sounds yummy ....horse ears !
mister, bogata - Sep 25, 2007 at 5:57 am

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