Rodeo Returns

Well, we've been to a few rodeos in the past month and I haven't posted about ANY of them. So... hold onto your cowboy hats, folk! Here's a look at our rodeoing family from early July until now!

This little calf eluded the roper, but I just thought it was such a cute one. And I rarely get a decent pic of the rodeo stock, since they move so quickly.

It was a hot dry day, and a water truck came through to wet down the rodeo arena so that we wouldn't have to sit and breathe in quite so much rodeo dust!

I believe that this was Bud's favorite part of the whole rodeo! He isn't too into the rodeo scene, but endures for his buckle-seeking sister!

Here Branch and Pop are, getting ready to mount her sheep for the mass chaos of group mutton bustin'!! Branch was a bit unhappy with her "draw" here and isn't happy with its size (it is too big!), its demeanor (While Pops was holding onto it, the sheep was hopping around - she claims it was a bucking sheep.), as well as her need for help getting on by someone she didn't know!

Things were just all going the wrong way for her...

and she decided that this was not her time. So, she opted for a no score and walked out of the arena. She was so mad and disappointed in herself all afternoon, though. We talked all about why those sheep seem like they are bucking and what she could do differently "next time."

She was ready for her turn the next go 'round at another local rodeo! She was excited and ready to show that she was tough enough to ride.

This time, that little bit, Blossom, thought she needed a try, too! We were a bit surprised that she wanted to try, but encourage them to try new things, sooooooooo...

Onto the sheep she went in the buckin' shoots! She wass getting pointers from Pops and the local cowboys!

She went a little ways before falling off into the soft dirt. I wasn't sure how she'd react, but with a stiff upper lip she came running back over to Geemah (who was here for a bit) and I. She passed by me without a tear, but was really wanting to get her sympathy from Geemah! She didn't like that the sheep stepped on her, but she was just fine with al the dirt caked all over her head!

Branch was last and got up on her sheep ready to hold on tight!

But, as she started to slide, her sheep took a stumble...

and it was all down to the ground from there. She made a great attempt and was happy to receive a patch that we can sew on to a jacket or vest. But, the prize of a western belt buckle was what she was working toward and so, on to the next rodeo we head!

Walking over to her shoot with her sheep... a big girl, all by herself! Pops joined her in the shoot to help her get all set up.

The gate was opened and she shot out of the shoot like a bullet! It wasn't long and she was sliding off the side and onto the ground.

But she didn't let go, and was being dragged! The bull fighter (running toward her on the left side of the picture below) and much of the rest of the crowd thought that she was "hung up" on the sheep. In the world of rough stock rodeo, being hung up is a pretty bad deal and can cause some really serious harm.

Anyway, the bull fighter took off after them and dove to catch them and pulled Branch off when the sheep got to the white sign hanging on the fence (bottom left of the picture by the guy with the orang shirt). Pops got over to her and as she got up, the rodeo announcer said, "Well, look at that! I don't think I've ever seen a bigger smile! You could sure teach those bull riders a thing or two, honey!"

The goofy rodeo clown and Pops got over to her and were asking if she was stuck and what happened and she let them know in her very indignant voice that she wasn't stuck. But, she WAS mad that the bull fighter guy had tackled her and pulled her off the sheep. She was hanging on for the longest - she wanted to win and even if she fell off... she could still hang on!

So, the clown took her hand and said, "Come on, we'll go get him!"

They ran over to the bull fighter where the clown told Branch to "kick him in the shins!!" She wasn't too sure at first and looked at Pops with those big questioning eyes and he gave her the nod and she gave him a big kick in the shins and the crowd ROARED with their approval! She received a great amount of applause even though she was not a local gal!

She was super disappointed that her ride wasn't counted as the longest and therefore did not get the coveted buckle. But, she did get a frozen lemonade slush and a big bag of cotton candy from Pops! And she did enjoy the recognition of the "people" who saw her walking about and would tell her that they thought she should have won. One little kid even gave her their balloon because they thought she deserved a prize!

She had fun and I suppose that is the best part. She is ready to try again...

Blossom had signed up at this rodeo, but after seeing big sis getting dragged across the arena, she was certain she'd rather not have a go at it!

Only a few more rodeos this year before rodeo season is over in our neck of the woods and her chance of earning a buckle for mutton bustin' is over. She will be past the age and weight limit next year...

Until the next rodeo, we'll practice on balance and maybe even waving to the crowd!!