Rodeo Club

The rodeo club that we have been going to lately is a new club for us. Every club does things a bit different, that is to be expected. But this club is just down right strange. If it weren't for Big Cowpoke actually winning ribbons, I am sure I probably would not go back. Every time we get ready to go to the rodeo, I tell myself, "I am not going to go to the announcers stand and ask about scores!" But it seems like every time we go, they mess up the placings some how. What I think is strange, is that the announcer will announce the "unofficial" results of the class. They shouldn't even get the kids' hopes up with unofficial things. Don't announce it until you know for sure. That will stop me from having to walk up there and argue about the placings. I keep track of every rider's score in my kids' age groups. You have to, because more than once, they have gotten it wrong. My rodeo Princess

For the first two rodeos, Little Cowpoke placed in almost every event we had him in. But his last rodeo he didn't place at all. The lady told me that because we lead him in, he gets put at the end of the list of children in his age group that are not led in. The other groups we ride for just give the children with a leader a five second penalty. By putting the lead children to the back, gives them about a 20 second penalty. So, now Little Cowpoke doesn't win any ribbons. When I asked them about the rule and said it was not stated in their rule book, their response was, "That's just how we've always done it." Could you imagine if AQHA did something like that? They just have assumed rules that people have to follow?

Anyway, needless to say, the rodeo club ladies don't like me. They see me coming and they get on their game faces. One time I had just asked for the placings in a class because I had not heard them be announced and she went off on my about why my kid didn't place. Well, that was certainly not what I was asking about, but okay! Anyway, clubs are political, and it's sad. I am not sure if we are going to ride this club next year. They have too many rodeos on Sundays, and too many power tripping woman working the placings and points. But now that I got that off my chest, I can now share with you our rodeo day! My niece rode Peanut in the goat flipping...... Her boot got stuck in the stirrup. She was wearing Airat's Fat Baby boots. A lot of kids, and myself included, wear those boots. I even ride in mine. But they are not supposed to be ridden in. The toe is too fat and can get stuck in the stirrups. I love her look in that picture. She's like, "Yeah, that is how it's done boys!" My niece is the cutest girl ever! Then it was Big Cowpoke's turn. Big Cowpoke and Peanut ran in there and then put on some serious breaks! Gotta love a good "whoa". I had asked Big Cowpoke to start sitting back a bit, but I think he has taken it a bit too far. You will notice in some pictures, he is almost laying back on Peanut. We will have to work on this. Big Cowpoke went to flip the goat and that front let got hung up.Big Cowpoke went down and the goat stayed up. A second try......And down they go! He got a 12 second time. It was good enough for 6th place. My nephew even tried a run on Peanut. He is in the older group that actually ties the goat. He got it done, with just a little help. It's been a while since we have practice goat tying. Then Little Cowpoke did the stakes race!And because Mr. Cowboy "lead" him through, Little Cowpoke didn't place. We tried to get Little Cowpoke to ride to one person on the other end of the arena and then back to Mr. Cowboy, but Little Cowpoke just sat up on Peanut and smiled. He is only three, he didn't get it at all. Here is Big Cowpoke's barrel run.See the leaning back. It looks like Big Cowpoke is about to do a reining stop. I can't say the kids doesn't try to do what I ask him to do. At home he doesn't make such wide turns around the barrels. I guess we are going to have to step it up a bit at home to teach Big Cowpoke to move his hands down on the reins a bit faster. Then we had pole bending. I worked the poles for this event. It was horrible. There were at least 40 exhibition riders. I thought it would never end. Those last two are some of my favorites. You would have never seen Big Cowpoke kick or run like that last year. Peanut really has given him some confidence. I think Big Cowpoke ended up with a fifth place in poles. The kids had a blast, and I was given glares by the desk ladies who give out the scores, hee hee, but all in all we had a great day!