EIGHT-YEAR-OLD LEANNE Hale and her sister, Gina, dreamed of owning horses. Little did Leanne know that this dream would win her championships as a horsewoman and ignite a philanthropic journey. She lives according to this John Wayne quote: “Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway.”
Her love of the sport and the animal it honors are deep-seated in fond childhood memories.
“To my parents’ surprise, my sister and I were both born loving horses. I remember my father saying he would have to feed the horse after we grew tired of him. But that day never came. We taught ourselves how to ride and used to spend the night in our barn that our father built for us. I started competing in 2011 and found out I had a lot to learn. Since then, I’ve attended many riding clinics and have watched countless learning videos,” shared Leanne, highlighting that learning and evolving are constants in sportsmanship.
Born and raised in Tullahoma, Leanne’s roots run deep. Currently, she and her husband, Brent, own a small farm. Recently, they purchased a larger piece of property in Normandy so she could continue to train horses and help her beloved mustangs, a type of free-roaming horse, find forever homes.
“My husband and I both graduated from Tullahoma High School. He played on the football team and, in 1987, went to the state semifinals. On the baseball team, he was state runner-up in 1986. My father, Les Croswy, worked at the [Arnold] Air Force Base for over 30 years, and my mother, Kay, was president of the Women’s Club. I’m a pharmacist by trade with a degree from Auburn University. I especially enjoy working with untouched mustangs, but I love all animals. We have cats, dogs, and six horses.”
Whether in the arena or out, Leanne has always loved to compete. At Tullahoma High School, she set records in the long jump category in 1984 and the high jump category in 1986. Leanne ran track and cross-country and was an avid basketball player for four years. She earned the Bob Hammers Award for Girl Athlete of the Year in 1985 and 1986.
In 2016, Leanne and her quarter horse, Jigsaw, were invited to compete in the prestigious Calgary Stampede in Alberta, Canada, which attracts millions of visitors each July. For the last 100 years, the Calgary Stampede has been known as the “greatest outdoor show on Earth.”
Thrill seekers and rough riders enjoy 10 full days of the world’s largest outdoor rodeo, with a delightful festival and an assortment of exhibitions.
“The Calgary Stampede Cowboy Up Challenge is by invitation only for the top 10 riders from all over the world. So far, I’ve placed third twice, and we’ll see how I do when I return this year,” she speculated.
Leanne faced challenges during her first journey across the country. The water pump on her truck gave out in South Dakota, and on the way home to Tennessee, the transmission did the same in Wyoming. Even this couldn’t squelch her determination and the genuine love she holds for mustangs.
In 2023, Leanne competed in the Extreme Cowboy Race World Show in Glen Rose, Texas, and won first place. Countries from all over the globe attended, including Canada, Belgium, Israel, Australia, France, Italy, and Sweden. Incredibly, she’s also won several national titles, including the Reserve World Champion, which she has won five times.
“This is a timed obstacle course in which time is very important. There are 13 obstacles that are judged, and they factor time into the total score. Every course is different, and you don’t know what the obstacles will be until just before the race. They could be jumping, crossing raised bridges, roping, working cows, pole bending, crossing narrow bridges, turns, stops, reining maneuvers, lunging, riding bareback, and even water obstacles. Almost anything goes. We’ve even had a fire jump at one of our world shows!”
To help find homes for the free-roaming horses, Leanne has also competed in the 100-Day Mustang Challenge. Participants in this competition choose an untouched wild mustang and have 100 days to train the horse before competing. Leanne placed fourth and took first place in the Lead Line Trail Challenge. The newly-trained horses are auctioned off to pre-approved bidders, guaranteeing each mustang will move on to greener pastures.
“I always want to share my knowledge about how I put a particular emphasis on the groundwork aspect of training a horse. I believe it’s the most important part, as it keeps the rider and the horse safer.” GN
