Lot of eight seconds
Now this was a while back something like forty five years
ago. It was a Friday night in June, I went to the horse auction and met up with
a few friends. Before the night was out I had bought two mustang horses. One was
about fourteen hands a little thin, and snowy white except for her main and
tail which was kind of gray. The other
one was a bay about fifteen hands he was gilded. After the auction we took the
stock over to my friend Dusty’s place. It
was about six thirty and dusty brought out a bottle of whiskey. We all had a
shot or two when dusty said let’s have a rodeo. When you have something new you
have to play with it don’t you.
Well this night was going to get a little wild before it was
over. The little mare I had named June bug, was the one I drew. Dusty saddled
her up and put on a blind, I got mounted and then always helpful Chris pulled
the blind. Well June bug was not happy with me on her back, she went into a
bucking fit. But I stay with her. After two or three minutes she came to a standstill,
and I had her under control. I got her to walk around the corral. And they were
all saying great ride.
The next night was Saturday and Chris was the raining college
bareback champ and was the entered in a local rodeo, he invited us to come and
watch, he said he would get us some free tickets. So we all went to the rodeo. As
we were standing in line with Chris, he had to sign in and register and get us
tickets. Chris elbowed me and ask me for
a twenty, he said he left his wallet in the truck. I knew he was good for it so
I gave him a twenty. We were just standing there checking out all the young
lady. When Chris asked to see my back, I though he was going to use it for a clipboard.
Instead he pin a contestant number on my back and said congratulation you are
now entered in the saddle bronco compaction. All my good bubby’s got a big
laugh out of it. And I wanted out of it, I was no rodeo rider, but they kept
egging me on. Chris pull me aside and
said he would get me out of it, or he would coach me threw it. He saw my ride
at Dusty’s and said I was good enough to be in the rodeo. So I agree to ride.
We wander around the rodeo grounds till it was time to get
ready to ride. The whole time I was wondering how I got into this mess. I sat
on the fence and watched the two fellows ahead of me ride. They did not make it
to the buzzer and did not score. It was my turn, as I got screwed down all I could
see is me in a hospital bed all broke up. I ran through all the pointers Chris
gave trying to remember all he told me to do. I was set and gave the nod to
lets us out. The gate swung open and I spired him out he was bucking like there
was no tomorrow. That eight second seem like an eternity. Then I heard the
buzzer and the pickup man was there he pulled me off and set me on the ground. I
went looking for my hat and the announcer said the high score for tonight
belong to Roy Durham from Ogden Utah. A local boy with a score of 84. I tried
my best to get back to the fence and not show how bad I hurt. The next and last
rider was in the cute and ready to ride. He was putting on a good show, I figured
he had beat my score. But to my surprise he scored a 73. I was the saddle
bronco champ. Got a buckle and 250.00 dollars to boot, and a bunch of girl that
wanting to know me. The celebration after the rodeo was a lot of fun and a lot
of medicinal whiskey to easy the aching joints.
I went with Chris to more rodeo to some fifteen or so rodeos
and did not do as good, only place in the money one more time. That summer. Looking
back it was a lot of fun, I don’t know if I had it all to do over that I would.
I rode or tried to ride twenty five bucking
horses and made 500.00 dollars. You don’t have to be a top rodeo hand to enter
just be fool enough to pay the entry fee and dumb enough to get on the horse.
Thank you for stopping by and God Bless.
