Rodeo Is Not an Event - It is a Lifestyle

We were practicing roping on Sunday. During the winter in Utah, we have to ride indoors. So we have to haul the horses, the cows and all of our equipment to the indoor arena.

We spent over 4 hours between practicing and hauling horses, kids and cattle back and forth. This is what our life consists of constant practice, chores and traveling to the next rodeo.

We were having dinner on Sunday night with my brother and sister in law who came down to help. As we discussed the days events, my daughter says hey mom when are we going to get a new dishwasher? (Ours broke about a week ago.) My reply was well we have 2 rodeos to enter in March and several more in April. So probably not until next fall.

That is when my sister in law and I both laughed. Rodeo is not an event. It is even more than a sport. It is a lifestyle. You have to live it to understand it. I really had no idea how involved it is until my kids started living it. You sacrifice the nicer things in life to make it to the next rodeo.

Some may think we are crazy and we probably are. We love what we do. We are very close as a family. My kids have learned some amazing lessons about life, sacrifice, competition, and hard work through rodeo. I wouldn't change a thing. (Except to have lots more money to rodeo full time.)

Junior High Rodeo

Brent and his partner are getting ready to Team Rope. We spent another weekend in St George for the Wrangler Junior High Rodeo. Although, the weather was not near as nice as a couple of weeks ago. We spent Friday all huddled together in the stands sharing as many Mr Heaters as we could.

This was not such a great weekend for Brent. His roping was par to poor. Now, I always like people to be accountable for their performance but sometimes there are circumstances. In rodeo, we call it the draw. The draw determines what stock or cow you are going to try to rope, ride or tie. Sometimes the draw is just not in your favor. This was one of those weekends. A lot of times, you will just get one bad draw in a rodeo. It may only be one day and for one event.

This weekend, I think Brent just had no luck at all. He drew 2 really fast calves in the breakaway roping. He roped one at the end of the arena in 8 seconds and took 9th. The other one just out ran his horse and he never got a shot.

So we had a good time seeing everyone but not a very productive weekend. Brent was really disappointed. His practice has been so good. He was sure he was going to do well.

As you can see from this picture, I need a new camera. My really nice had been to one too many rodeos. It finally just stopped working at the Dixie 6 in November. So I need to do some research for one that is rodeo proof.

Little Britches Rodeo Recap

So last weekend, we went to sunny St George for a Little Britches Rodeo. We had a good weekend. The weather was good until Sunday. We hung out with all of our friends and watched the kids compete. It is why we love to rodeo.

We did get off to a rough start on Friday. We all missed in the breakaway and team roping. Racheal hit poles and missed her first barrel.

However, the kids readjusted their focus and Saturday was a much better day. Brent won the breakaway roping with a time of 2.87 seconds. That is smoking fast. Racheal took second in the breakaway with a time of 4.17 seconds.

On Sunday Racheal and Parker placed 6th in the Team Roping. Racheal also placed 6th in Poles and 7th in Barrels.

Although I love to watch my kids compete, I also love to watch the kids that travel with us. Cole my nephew placed for the first time in Barrels on Sunday. He also placed in the Poles.

We have been helping Racheal's Team Roping Partner Parker learn to tie calves. This was his first weekend at a rodeo in Tie Down Roping. On Friday, he had no luck. He was just too nervous to throw his rope. On Saturday, he did a little better. He caught his calf but missed his slack. So the he only had the back legs. It is hard to tie 3 legs when 2 of them are stuck in your rope. On Sunday, he made it look easy. He roped the calf around the neck right out of the chute. Then he got off like he had been doing it forever. He got all three legs tied and it stayed down the full 6 seconds. His time was 15.6 seconds. That is a good time for seasoned ropers. We were so excited. I am sure you could hear all of us yelling.

Yes I Am Moving

I hate the cold. Really I do. I only live in Utah because my husband lives here.

It is so hard to get motivated to go ride or practice when it is cold. We have spent a lot of nights at the indoor arena riding, roping and practicing this winter but it is hard. We have to get all bundled up with our warm clothes in layers. Then we freeze while we are saddling and getting horses ready.

This weekend we were in St George for the Little Britches Rodeo. The weather was really beautiful especially since we came from freezing weather. It was about 60 degrees and sunny. I just sat out in it all day Saturday. I even got a sunburn! Yes I was excited about the sunburn.

Perhaps I have seasonal depression. I know I would rather cuddle up with a blanket and watch TV all winter than go out in the cold. I like to hibernate!

Anyway, I have made my decision. I am definitely moving to a warmer climate. I am not sure when it will be feasible but it is going to be sooner than later.