Rodeo Time!

The first rodeo of the season is in the books! Mutton Busters Cambria and Titan competed in Saturday's Hobble Creek Riding Group's 4-H Rodeo/Art City Day's Rodeo in Springville, Utah.

Already a two year veteran of mutton busting, Cambria had strategies for preparing and riding. Friday night before going to bed, she laid out her rodeo necessities.

Shirt, jeans, belt, good luck charm, and face mask.

She had a way of imagining herself winning and how long to stay on a sheep. 

And then (my favorite), she made a list of what to do on rodeo day.

See those check marks? She was checking things off as she did them! 

Not on that list and a surprise for both Titan and Cambria was a mid morning shopping trip for new boots and hats.

Titan's new books are very similar to ones I had while in high school. I think he liked that connection between us.

While liking these fake fur/cowhide boots with red bandana trim, Cambria was afraid they'd get too dirty in the arena and got a different pair.

New hats, new boots, new shirts, very excited, and ready to rodeo.

Cambria's ride. You can ride facing forward or backward. Backward is easier because you can  hold on better when your face isn't smushed against the sheep's neck. She earned 38 points.

When Titan's turn came, he hopped right up onto that sheep and rode! So much for being a mutton busting newbie!

Jessica did not hear his score.

Waiting for all the competitors to take their turns can be long. Word in the stands was that the sheep were "tough" that night and so the rides were fairly short.

All who rode got a sheep trophy and a new cowboy hat. (Cambria is wearing hers; Titan is not.) Neither Titan or Cambria won the competition, but they had a lot of fun and gained some more experience.

I am especially proud of Titan - he wanted badly to ride, but he was also leery of the sheep. Showing true cowboy grit, he rode. 

One rodeo is in the books, and two more to go!