It Only Takes Eight Seconds

Eight Seconds

By:  Poetic Cowboy  ©July 1997

Eight seconds is all it takes
To win the prize for heaven’s sakes
Any cowboy will understand
What it takes for the ride to be grand

The bulls and broncos are tuff you know
And are ready to give a really good show
There is nothing like a rodeo
To bring out the best in all you know

The cowgirls that ride really pass each test
Cowgirls with pride stand out above all of the rest
So there with their fellows they'll ride with pride
And the guest that arrive there will notice their stride

These are among America's best

Facing a challenge that will put them to the test
But these proud few that ride for us all
Won't disappoint us they will ride and stand tall

Rodeo is America's own brand of pride
And those who arrive will give a good ride
Ladies love cowboys that are wild and brave
At least for this cowboy there is one woman I crave!

Yup, we went to another rodeo ... yeehaw!!  It was the Royal Gorge Rodeo in Canon City.  The stands were filled and the food was atrocious (not kidding either), but the entertainment was fabulous.  I guess that could be a matter of opinion though.  We had a good time anyway.

 

 

The Royal Gorge Rodeo is a popular event in Canon City and is held in conjunction with the Music and Blossom Festival.  The stands were packed by the time the rodeo started. 

Here's a shot of the officials who are judging the competitions and the holding pens where the riders take off on their buckin' broncs.

 

The event started with the local cowboys and cowgirls performing a synchronized riding routine.

 

The first official event was the bronc riding.  Now, we have been to only one other rodeo so we are by no means rodeo experts, but let me just say that the bronc riding in Montana didn't hold a candle to this bronc riding event.  These buckin' broncs were radically buckin' and threw just about every rider as you'll see below.

And, of course, every rodeo has their requisite clown, and here's the Royal Gorge Rodeo clown sporting his finest.

The next event was the steer roping.  Two cowboys were to rope a steer and one of them was to jump off their horse and hog-tie the steer.  Not many of them were successful, but it only takes one to win the prize!

In the photo below, look closely and you'll see the cowboy (whose saddle is now empty) right behind the steer pullin' him down for the take.

Here's a couple who took a time-out to two-step to the music.  And, of course, the guy guzzling his Coors for a Rocky Mountain high!  Don't you just love small towns?

 

Third event of the evening was steer roping.  What made this one different from the other is that it was one cowboy going after the steer.  As you can see below, this cowboy's rope missed the steer and this was not an infrequent occurrence.

This guy got his steer!

Here this cowboy is throwing his lasso.

Gotcha!

 

The last event we stayed for was this cowgirl riding a longhorn steer.  Why would anyone want to do that is beyond me.  This cowgirl, however, got thrown from this steer about 1-1/2 years ago during a thunderstorm.  She was seriously injured and this was her first time publicly performing on her steer since the accident.  Look how she gets that big honkin' steer up on that round pedestal.  Ride 'em cowgirl!

The Music and Blossom Festival also included a carnival located close to the rodeo grounds.  So I'm going to end this post with an evening photo showing the bright lights and fanfare from the carnival.

 

Makes you want to be a small-town dweller, doesn't it?  It does me!

 

Job 39:19-25 //  Do you give the horse his might? Do you clothe his neck with a mane? Do you make him leap like the locust? His majestic snorting is terrible. He paws in the valley, and rejoices in his strength; he goes out to meet the weapons. He laughs at fear and is not dismayed; and he does not turn back from the sword. The quiver rattles against him, the flashing spear and javelin. With shaking and rage he races over the ground, and he does not stand still at the voice of the trumpet. As often as the trumpet sounds he says, 'Aha!' and he scents the battle from afar, and the thunder of the captains and the war cry.