In the wake of heavy flooding, Chance Ward, a seasoned cowboy from Tarkington, Texas, and his eldest son, Rowdy Ward, have responded to the call for help, undertaking a daring mission to save stranded livestock. This latest endeavor adds another remarkable chapter to the Ward family’s ongoing commitment to aiding animals in need.
The most recent rescues come seven years after Chance Ward, alongside his two sons and a group of friends, garnered national attention for their heroic efforts in rescuing 1,300 head of livestock during Hurricane Harvey.
On Friday, May 3, Chance and Rowdy, riding quarter horses Cardi B and Corn Dog, successfully captured and moved a beautiful black Friesian stud horse to higher ground. The horse had been swept over the gates and fences of its pasture by the rising waters of the San Jacinto River. The horse’s plight was reported to authorities by Jacob Smith, the owner of Smith’s Diesel Repair, and his companions, who spotted the stranded equine seeking shelter under a US 59 highway overpass in Cleveland while riding around in their high-profile ATV buggies.
See video of the rescue here: https://www.facebook.com/100001386861557/videos/938096724458953/
“The horse was a little nervous. Once he realized we were there to help him, he was good to go,” said Chance. “We had to ride through a mile to reach him and then a mile to get back to higher ground where the horse’s owner was waiting for him. The owner was there the whole time and was very thankful that we got the horse back.”
It was all in a day’s work for the Wards, who moved roughly 50 head of livestock to higher ground during this most recent storm. Chance said this storm, which set historic records of its own, paled in comparison to Hurricane Harvey.
“Hurricane Harvey was worse for me than this flood. Hurricane Harvey just came in and sat on top of us, dumping rain. With this storm, a lot of the water is simply river water trying to get out of here and it has to run its course,” he said. “They are turning more water loose at the dams, but it’s leaving here as quickly as it can.”
Chance says that not every animal that is stranded is in need of rescue, believing that animals often have a better idea of how to get to higher ground and safety than humans.
“We might see some drowned animals from this storm, but nothing like in Harvey,” he said.
Chance shared that his upbringing around rivers equipped him with valuable knowledge and skills, shaping him into the person he is today. He proudly passes on these lessons to his sons, ensuring the tradition lives on.
“I was able to ride along with my uncles in the flood of 1994. I learned a lot about the backwaters that way. My great-grandfather, T.K. Stanfield, owned the ferry on FM 787 where the Trinity River bridge is today. That’s how people got across the river in the settlement days,” he said. “I learned so much about the river and its undertow. My Grandpa Stanfield would tell me that if the water is running north along the banks and the center of the river is running south, don’t get in the water because that means there is an undertow. It was just old-fashioned wisdom they shared with me.”
Chance has been approached by other cowboys to accompany them into the stormy waters. However, he prefers the company of his son, Rowdy, during these challenging rides.
“Rowdy was born into it. I took him with me into that backwater when he was just 5 or 6 years old. I would tell him the same things my grandfather told me. I depend on him because we know each other so well. We don’t even wear life jackets when we are rescuing animals. We never have. We place a lot of faith on the horses we ride on. We know they can do the job,” he said.
Occasionally they encounter snakes and some overly curious alligators, but Chance says they do not usually create any concern.
“The gators seem to be getting a little more nosy about people than in the past. I think that’s because there are so many of them these days,” he said.