Partners

Team Roping can be a difficult sport. You have two kids, two horses, two ropes and one cow. There are a lot of places that it can go right or wrong.

One issue that we have struggled for Racheal is finding the right partner. We started off High School Rodeo with a really good partner. Then due to a family conflict, Racheal had to find a new partner. She has had several since then.

It is almost like dating, the partners have to get to know one another. They have to get used to the way the other one ropes and handles the cattle. They have to be able to support each other. They have to be able to agree on how hard they want to work and the amount of time they are going to spend at practice.

Racheal and Brent both have great partners this year for Little Britches Rodeos. Both of their partners want to practice. They seem to support each other at pratice and in competition. Racheal and her partner won the last go of the Little Britches Rodeo in Salina. Brent and his partner have placed in a couple of Little Britches Rodeos.

Could the Real Cowboy Stand Up

We went to our first Junior High Rodeo of the season in September. I am not really sure that we should have went. You will understand shortly.

Thursday Brent came home from school really sick to his stomach. He threw up a couple of times and had horrible cramps. He was still sick Friday morning. Friday we gave him the choice to go to the rodeo or stay in bed. He had entered the rodeo with a partner for Team Roping and Ribbon Roping. So he decide to cowboy up and rodeo anyway.

On the way there I picked him up some Gatorade, stomach medicine and bananas. He hardly ate anything. I did make sure he kept drinking. Racheal took good care of him too. She saddle all of his horses and got them warmed up for him. So all he had to do was go out and do each event.

On Friday he goat tied in 14 seconds even sick. He did miss in the Breakaway and Ribbon Roping.

He was sick all night Friday. So I really thought we should just go home for Saturday. But he stuck it out again. I am not sure how he could be living on just Gatorade and a couple bites of food let alone competing.

Saturday was a much better rodeo for him. He started team roping this year with Rhett. They are above. This was their first rodeo together and they won the Team Roping. Here is a picture of their winning run.
Here is Brent coming out of the box in Breakaway Roping. I really liked this picture. He should have caught but he rolled the rope right off.
So I was proud that he stuck it out. But as a mom I really wanted to just put him in bed and take extra care of him until he felt better.

Summertime Catch Up-July 18-19 Rodeo

We spent July 18 and 19th in Richfield at a rodeo. Amber, Troy, Cole and Ty also went. Ty just wanted to drive the tractor to rake the arena. So he was the tractor co-pilot for most of the day. We got the cutest picture of him and Racheal.

What a ham! He definitely keeps us entertained.
Racheal had a good rodeo she placed first in the Ribbon Roping with Lane and first in Breakaway. Above is a picture of her in the roping box getting ready to breakaway rope.

Brent tried Tie Down Roping again. I love these pictures. The highlight of his weekend was winning the Team Roping with Ashley. They did awesome.

Catch Up Again

I am not sure what has happened to me but I am having a hard time blogging this year. It is probably because I really dislike winter time. I am not very motivated to do anything when it is cold.

Rodeo season started early for us. We had our first rodeo February 22 and 23. Yes it was cold. It snowed the morning of the first day but luckily by the time the rodeo started it was done.

This was Racheal's first rodeo since the accident. I was extremely proud of her to dig deep down and be able to go in and compete. She had some great accomplishments. She had the best barrel run that she has had on her mare in the last 2 years. Her first barrel was awesome. She had a clean pole run the next day. Even though she had not really practiced poles in the last four months. She placed in the Team Roping too.

However, the weekend was really tough on her. She almost threw up before every event. Then on Saturday she cried off and on all day. I think we may let her start too early. She really wants to rodeo but that trauma is a lot to get over. We will continue to support her in whatever she decides to do.

Brent had some good moments too. My favorite was Brent and Shad in the Team Roping. The had a beautiful run. Brent headed and handled it really well. Then Shad got both heels. They did awesome. They were so cute.

High School Rodeo Success

On Saturday September 15, we went to the High School Rodeo in Delta. Although, we said that we were not going to do as much High School Rodeo this year, we still are going a lot.

Although Racheal has tons of success in showing, she struggles with rodeo. Racheal is an excellent rider and a great trainer. However, she has serious confidence issues when it comes to rodeo. She over thinks everything. She doubts her and her horses' abilities. We all know what happens when you think negative, negative things happen. She proves herself right all the time.

I have tried and tried and tried to talk with her about thing like visualization, positive affirmations, goal setting and other things that make the difference in becoming a champion. But, she thinks I am crazy and that those things don't really work. I have explained that all of the great champions use them from Michael Jordan to Michelle Kwan. She does not want to hear it. She likes justifying her inability to herself. It makes her feel like she is right. Unfortunately, justifying your feeling and making yourself think that you are right is a very powerful motivator. It is a trap a lot of us fall into.

As a parent at this point all you can do is advise. It takes a lot of effort on their part to incorporate these positive habits into their lives. Unfortunately, you can not do it for them. Our only resolve was that if she was not going to take become a rodeo champion seriously, they we were no longer going to pay for it. So this year she started to pay all of her entry fees. We thought at least if she had the pain, she would practice more.

She really has become more dedicated to her practice. She is out at least 4 to 6 days a week on her horses and practicing the right things. I am not sure how long it will take for her to start working on her thinking but at least it is a start.

Back to the rodeo, Preston and Racheal did really well in the Team Roping. She has been struggling with her dally. So when she got it on Saturday, I am sure everyone at the rodeo heard me. I was so excited for her. I did not even care if they placed but then they announced their time and it was really good. I was even more excited.

The placed 8th out of 100 and something teams and they qualified for the State Finals. Racheal really wants to go to State Finals this year. So maybe that is a goal to start with!