First day of school jitters took a back seat this morning in Bismarck at St. Mary’s Academy.

Principal Mike Bichler welcomed students back to school while on top of Frenchman’s By Design (aka Slick) in the school parking lot.

No stranger to the game of riding horses, Bichler grew up on a family farm in Linton, ND. Suit coat and tie by day, but cowboy at heart, the St. Mary’s Principal set the pavement on fire with his usual smile and morning greeting aboard a trustworthy gelding.

Slick was a favor brought onto the school parking lot by his owner’s family, Ron and Kerry Mosset. Ron said Mr. Bichler called Monday morning and asked if they had a horse he could borrow.

“The enthusiasm and surprised faces and emotions of the students was a sight,” exclaimed Mosset. “Mr. Bichler just wanted to be on a relatable level with his students, as he always does. He needed an ice breaker, and Slick was the horse for the job.”

Mosset said he chose Slick from the family’s herd of horses, because he knew he could handle the crowd. Slick is a young barrel racing and roping horse and is known for his good temperament and disposition. The horse is sired by Slick by Design and embryo transplant of Famous Silk Panties and is a speed demon in the arena, but he didn’t show that side of himself in the parking lot.

Mr. Bichler explained that he uses the phrase, “get back in the saddle” from time to time and thought it would be funny to add to it. “Putting a smile on the kids’ faces and doing something fun was all we had planned. Some of the parents and students from the elementary [school] ended up coming over to greet Slick as well. It was a great start to the first day,” added Bichler

St. Mary’s Academy students came in galloping this 2022-2023 school year, and the only reins getting pulled back are those of the horses.