The students attending summer school at the California School District received a special visit on Wednesday, June 22, from Warpaint, the long-time mascot of the Kansas City Chiefs. The original Warpaint and his rider Bob Johnson retired several years ago. For the 50th anniversary of the football team in 2009, a new Warpaint was introduced to a new generation of fans.
The new Warpaint is a 13-year-old Paint mare and is ridden on the field by Susie, one of the Kansas City Chief's Cheerleaders.
At a special school assembly, Susie presented the history of the football team to the students, starting with its beginning as the Dallas Texans, then the move to Kansas City, where the team was named in honor of Mayor H. Roe Bartle, whose nickname was "Chief."
She read a short story of a horse named Star, born April 24, 1998, who eventually became the new "Warpaint," mascot of the Chiefs.
After a question and answer competition, the students went outside to meet and pet Warpaint.
She was attended by Susie and show horse trainer Merle Arbo, who has been training Warpaint for two years.
Susie was a school counselor in Minnesota before moving to the Kansas City area. When she is not working with the football organization, she serves as a counselor for an organization in the Kansas City area.
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