Big Heads and Bowed Up Chests

So…In my hasty attempt to escape the confines of the Poo-Dungeon unnoticed, I left so fast that when I jerked up my pants I brought the 20 papers seat covers up too. They somehow got caught in the waist of my pants and were trailing behind like a big circular dog tail as I was making for the exit. Another detail you must know to fully appreciate to magnitude of my embarrassment, was the fact that before these seat covers hitched a ride on  my butt, they seemed to have skimmed the water in the toilet on their way up. I don’t want to be too gross and run anybody off, but you have to understand there was no #2 in the potty but there was some #1. The #1 that was in the potty soaked into the paper toilet cover which were now dripping on the backs of my wranglers as I scouted the isles of Wal-Mart look for my people.

To summarize I walked into, that Wal-Mart thinking I was a pretty tough cowboy and trying to make myself readily available in case anyone recognized me and wanted my autograph. I had just spurred a rank dude in the neck at one of the biggest rodeos there is and my chest was bowed up with pride like a banny rooster. 15 minutes later I walked out trying to hide with my head down wondering if anybody saw me dragging the pee drenched toiletries behind.

“Yes its is funny story, but what’s your point?” Let me tell you another quick one to see if you make the connection. About three or four years ago I got the call to come Pickup Broncs at my first PRCA rodeo. Not only was it a PRCA rodoeo but it was for the PRCA Stock Contractor of the Year who everyone knows has the best bareback horses in the world. I was pretty nervous and excited, I knew this particular stock contractor was very picky about the way you handle his bucking horses. I must admit to you people that being called on to pickup for such a guy in a pretty good feeling. He has bucking horses worth more than my house and he wouldn’t trust just anyone work his rodeo. These types of thoughts began to swirl around in my head, as they did I think my head got a little bigger. In retrospect the scripture in Romans 12:3 comes to mind. You don’t have to look it up now we’ll get back to that.

Let me pause right here for just a second to share one of my favorite feelings with you. Some of you may be able to relate others make think I’m crazy. I’ll set the stage, spring time outdoor Fair & Rodeo with the farris wheel and Zipper as a back drop, The smell of funnel cakes and baby power on the horse flanks, ballons and laughing people. In the midst of all this you get on your horse buckle on you Dodge Pickup man chaps and follow the American flag through the grand entry. I’ll just say this, its a good feeling!

Back to the story, rodeo time was upon us. The stands were full of people and the chutes were full of bareback horses. Again it’s a pretty good feeling. I remember this well, my horse and I were on the left side, the first bareback rider, in the first perf, of my first PRCA rodeo, circled around to the right and was set up for me to go in. The rider bucked off at the whistle so I just needed to get the flank. I knew this horse was a colt.

SIDE NOTE: For those of you that don’t know, a colt is a younger horse that hasn’t had a lot of experience with rodeos, bucking, or pickupmen. If you handle a bucking horse correctly as they get more experienced they learn that the pickup men bring relief by getting the cowboy off and removing the flank, so they will come to you or at least let you come to them without trying to duck behind you, cut back or out run you. Colts don’t understand this and have to be handled differently. You don’t want to whoop and holler at a colt, or chase them around. This will ruin the horses and cause you to become unemployed. We basically try to keep the horse moving and quietly sneak in and remove the cowboy and flank, then move away towards the centerof the arena and let the horse follow you out.

Ok, first horse bucks the guy off at the whistle and circles around me, and I quietly move in as she comes out of the corner.  Everything goes good. I trip the flank then start pull off towards the center of the arena to give the horse some room and let her come off the fence and leave quietly out of the arena. As I did this the clown was up in front of us and climbed up on the fence so he didn’t get ran over. Apparently colts don’t like clowns with big red wigs standing on fences. The guy I was picking up with was doing a great job of pushing the bronc from behind to keep him from setting up and ducking behind me. Long story short, the bucking horse ducked under my horses head and ran through my roping rein. I don’t what to boar you with the technicalities of picking up bareback horses or roping reins, but essentially this meant the reins I used to control my horse were attached to the bucking horse and I had no way of controlling anything as the bucking horse bolted and ran off while my horse was attached…See Ya Monday! Just below this is some bottons and it says Reccomend on Google. Please click on the little button that looks like the Facebook 'F' and share with your friends. Thanks