2008 October | Horse Travel Network Blog

Rodeo Workers Behind the Scenes

Welcome back!

Have you ever stopped to think about all the behind-the-scenes support people it takes to put on a rodeo? There are many hours of rodeo committee preparation before the event, and during the rodeo itself a lot of people are putting in their time making sure the rodeo runs smoothly.

For instance, the grand entry may involve horseback riders carrying sponsor flags. They had to get themselves and, often, their horses to the rodeo, practice the grand entry, warm up and groom their horses, and be available for flag runs before and during the rodeo. The video below shows sponsor flags being presented after the recent NILE rodeo in Billings MT.

Of course we expect the contestants to be there. But the pickup men have to be available to pull the cowboys off the bucking horses, and to get the stock out of the arena. They wait quietly for their turn to work.

Chute help works both ends of the arena, helping with the rough stock and the timed events and making sure that the cowboys have a fair chance. Even in the barrel race, you will find helpers raking the ground between barrel runs to keep the arena smooth and fast.

These are just a few of the support people for the rodeo. Each community has a core group of helpers that they call on to make sure the event runs smoothly. Look around next time you are at a rodeo and see if you can spot some of them. And if you do, be sure and tell them thank you. Most of them are volunteering their time and efforts.

Technorati Tags: rodeo, putting on a rodeo, rodeo helpers, pickup men, sponsor flags

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Dusty Hausauer scores 84 at 2008 NILE rodeo

What a difference a year makes! Last year when Dickinson ND cowboy, Dusty Hausauer, competed in the saddle bronc riding at the 2007 NILE rodeo, he didn’t know if he would be competing at the NFR or not. He was in the 15th position at the time, but had the possibility of being bumped down during the final tour rodeo. Billy Etbauer ended up winning the 15th slot, and Dusty stayed home from Vegas last year.

This year Dusty has qualified in 8th place in the saddle bronc riding for his first NFR rodeo in Las Vegas, as well as leading the saddle bronc event going into the Canadian championships. For those of you who don’t know Dusty personally, you might not notice him right away. He’s soft-spoken, polite, and has a quiet way of moving. You might find him talking to a group of little kids as he signs autographs out back. He’s only 26, but his talent has drawn attention from competitors and rodeo personnel (and fans) in the last few years.

Dusty had a good NILE this year, to start him off in good shape for the 2009 rodeo season. Friday night he scored 84 points on a good ride on Sankey Rodeo’s horse, Blanco Canyon.

Keep an eye on Dusty Hausauer. Those who follow saddle bronc riding say he has the talent to be a World Champion. It’s going to be fun to watch him get there.

Technorati Tags: Dusty Hausauer, NILE rodeo, saddle bronc riding, NFR qualifier, cowboy

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2012 Controversial Olympic Equestrian Location

2012 Olympic equine events are likely to be held at London’s Greenwich Park, following positive findings by a government study hired to look into the situation. The proposed site of the 3 equine events, dressage, jumping, and eventing, has been the subject of much controversy by opponents of the plan who are concerned about possible damage to the historic gardens. The Olympic organizing committee has countered by promising to repair any damages and minimize disruption to the Park.

However, opponents feel that the four mile course which winds through much of the Greenwich Park’s historic flower gardens will require many flower gardens and shrubs to be moved, and possibly irreparably damaged. The 350 year old chestnut trees lining the park will probably have to be pruned in order for the riders to gallop through them. Comments have been made questioning the wisdom of substantially pruning these old trees when signs currently in the Park offer criminal charges to chestnut-pickers.

Also affected by the Equestrian events will be the Park’s boating pond which will be turned into a water jump. Other locations which have been suggested for the Olympic Equestrian events include Woolwich Common, Windsor Park, and Blenheim Palace. Greenwich Park is apparently considered to be the most cost-effective.

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Native Nokota ponies show at dressage in Devon

It’s a long way from the badlands of North Dakota to the Devon Horse Show ground in Devon, Pennsylvania, but the Nokota horse breed proved itself a winner. The following excerpt was taken from the USEF industry news. You can read the entire story here.

“Throughout the day in the Dixon Oval, the main arena at the Devon Horse Show grounds, a total of 31 individual breed classes were held. While a number of Warmblood registries showed a strong presence, less traditional breeds were also in the arena in large numbers. New this year were the Nokota horses, a Native American breed derived from the last surviving wild horses in the Little Missouri badlands of North Dakota, and their ancestors include early Native American as well as frontier ranch horses. With the Nokota Horse Conservancy celebrating its 10th anniversary, a growing presence in Pennsylvania and Nokota horses showing their talents in the dressage arena, the Nokota Horse has sparked interest. Kathryn Jones and her two-year-old Nokota filly Little Miss Ouri bested the other four entries in the class. The ponies—Oldenburg Sport Ponies, American Sport Ponies, and Weser-Ems, a German pony used mainly for dressage and showing for the first time at Dressage at Devon—stood up against the big guys.”

The Nokota horse has been receiving more attention lately. The following video was from the Parade of Breeds at the Kentucky Horse Park earlier this summer.

Technorati Tags: horse breeds, Nokota horse, Dressage at Devon, dressage