Sparky Dent
Sparky Dent started trick riding in 1946. She went to work for Colonel Jim Eskew in the late 40's. They went and performed in Havana, Cuba in 1951 along with Rex Rossi, Joan Sporin, Beryl Jackson and others. She met Chuck Dent in 1951 and they were married in 1952. She trick rode for stock contractors, JC Troup, Duke Gibbs, Bob Barnes, Erv Korkow, Foy Reynolds, Casey Tibbs, Tommy Steiner, plus many more. Some of the bigger rodeos where Sparky trick rode were Fort Worth, San Antonio, Houston and Salinas. Along with trick riding, Sparky also was a roman rider and served as a PRCA rodeo secretary for many years. She helped teach Donita Barnes, Mildred Klingemann and Lee Hansel to become PRCA rodeo secretaries. She trained all the horses seen in the photos and was one of the very few female trick riders who did ground work instead of strap work. She was known for her hard running black horses. She retired from trick riding and rodeo in 1976. Outside the rodeo world she is known by her real name of Naomi Dent.
Sparky performing at Spencer, Iowa in the 1960's.
Roman riding in the 1970's.
Trick riding in the 1950's.
Sparky Dent Roman Riding
Sparky Dent Trick Riding
Sparky and Rex Rossi at the Colonel Eskews rodeo in Philidelphia in 1948.
Trick riding at Spencer, Iowa in the 1960's.
Sparky as rodeo secretary with the Orlando rodeo steer wrestling champion Duwayn Martin.
Trick riding as a teenager.
Roman riding.
Trick riding in the 1950's
Trick riders at Camdenton, Missouri in 57' or 58'. Included is Sparky on far right, Janet Plunkett and J.W. Stoker. Karen Vold second from left.
Chuck and Sparky
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