Horse bucked, cowboy rode, prize won -- 8-15-21
Horse Bucks, Cowboy Rides, Prize Won
By: Carrie Keiser
As a bronc rider, Kalvin, is very athletic, dertrmined and strong. He had been riding bucking animals for 10 years he’d started when he was 9 with sheep and moved up to bulls, but his love had always been horses and he was determined to be a world famous bronc rider making lots of money. This year he had had a fantastic season and would be headed to the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas.
“Five more days, breathe, Kalvin! Visualize the ride. You have reviewed the vids of all the broncs, you are as ready as you can be.” Kalvin hung the phone up after his mother told him that.
What he needed was a long soak in a hot tub, a massage and something to get his mind off the upcoming championship contest.
Five days later….
Kalvin’s first go around was on Big Tex and although the horse bucked quite aggressively, he didn’t have any trouble making the 8 seconds. His second ride of the championship was on Feather Fluffer and that horse was having a good night. Kalvin had to really work to remain on for the required time. It’s day 3 three of the NFR and Kalvin is set to ride the notorious, Get Smart, in the final round.
He has checked and rechecked his equipment. He’s had a relaxing morning and said his prayers. He’s as ready as he will ever be to ride for all he’s worth.
Kalvin’s name is announced along with his bronc’s, Get Smart, he enters the chute and straps himself on. The gate is opened and the longest 8 seconds of his life begins under the lights and the cameras of the National Finals Rodeo in Sin City. Kalvin is focused, has the sights and sounds tuned out, it’s just the horse and him. The horse bucks, cowboy rides, price won.
It was magic to see, a perfect ride for Kalvin! Get Smart was in top performance mode, he just couldn’t dislodge his rider this time.
The buzzer sounds and Kalvin is astonished that he has done it. He has achieved this goal! Kalvin tosses his hat into the crowd and it is caught by a young boy with stars in his eyes. The boy shouts, “I’m going to be as awesome as Kalvin! Did you see that horse buck? And that cowboy ride? He’s the winner! The young boy fist bumps the air in excitement.
Buck Horse in the 27th Century
By: Aaron Leavitt
My name’s buck. I’ve been in this trade for a long time. I’ve flown in more spaceships than I could even possibly count. Owned some, rented space in some, stowed away in some. My current bounty was being slippery, so I’d stopped to make some inquiries.
“Why the long face?”
Oh, great, a comedian. I’m a man/horse or a horse/man. Body of a man, head of a horse (roughly). Which means every single self styled funny many makes the same joke and thinks he’s funny. It’s definitely a bit tiring. Not really clear how I ended up this way, but, well, you play the cards you’re dealt. What else would I do?
I held up a small 3D image.
“I’m looking for this being.”
The scruffy looking, skinny guy in a cowboy hat spun slowly in the image. He looked about as good for nothin’ as he actually was.
“Yeah, he was through here a day or two ago, stiffed me on payment, rode out of here on a stolen bike, headed out of town east, but I can’t tell you much more than that. Just as soon see him gone, so you’re welcome to him.”
It certainly wasn’t much to go on, but I’d make it work. I dropped into the saddle on my own bike, dropped low over the bars and set about making up some time. East most likely meant he was headed toward Jedicho, it was about the only small trading post out that way, and he didn’t seem like the sort to rough it on the bare plains out this way.
People ran for all sorts of reasons, threats, powerful enemies, jilted loves, all sorts. This fellow just had something against paying his debts. They’d run up to the point where someone had finally felt it worth the while to hire me. He fancied himself a rough loner. I think at this point he was just lonely, and didn’t know what else to do.
I pulled into Jedicho in record time, the journey had gone better than I’d guessed. I’d just stepped off my bike when poor Jimmy swaggered out into the street.
“I heard you were looking for me”
He had a hand poised over his pistol, you could hear the whine of the capacitors charging already. He’d obviously watched way too many of those ancient westerns. Though I doubt he ever counted on a duel with a horse. Before things got too dramatic though, the cook from the diner he’d just left strolled out the door, rolled her eyes and walloped him across the back of the head with a pan. He dropped like a sack of potatoes and just lay there. Well, that went better than I’d hoped for. Thanking her, and covering his bill, I slung my prize across the bike behind me (properly trussed up of course, I’m not new to the game), and headed back across the barren emptiness toward my ship, and another payday.
The Ride
By: Vanessa Holmquist
Mountain Mustangs Making Mayhem
By: Myrna Flynn
Mart Montgomery was moving across America, stoping at every town that he thought needed to have his special and unusual rodeo. He did not publicize what made his rodeo different from others, he enticed the curious to come and see.
One town he came to had an intriguing name, Upstart. It was a tiny town in the rodeo country of Wyoming, not too far from Casper. He was sure he could convince the town's people that they need him to liven their lives with his special rodeo and that Upstart would earn it's name.
He explained that all they needed to do was pass the word to their friends and relatives. They should invite those who lived in the bigger towns around to come to their little off the beaten track settlement on the day they chose for his rodeo. And ask them to let the word out to every bronc rider they knew to come and try their skills on his very unusual string of horses.
The residences called a town meeting and decided on the bicentennial of the founding of Upstart, July 4th 1820. Now on July 4th 2020. Two reasons figured into this choice 1) the anniversary and 2) to show that they were a unified town in the face of a plannedemic.
Randy Thompson, a very cocky and successful performer on the rodeo route, was on of the first to throw his hat into the ring. The next, was a new comer to the rodeo circuit, Joshua Johnson. Inface this would be only his second rodeo that he had entered. Altogether, there were 20 riders who signed up.
The participants would try their skills in the order that they had signed the sign-up sheet. None of them yet knew what was going to be different about the horses they would be riding. Promptly at 10 AM, Marty came to the microphone and as the horses were led into the arena, he said, "Ladies and Gentlemen, here is my string of wild mustangs for today's event. They have never been ridden before. Pick your horse and get ready for your turn to ride."
As if turned out, Randy was number 19 on the list and Joshua was number 20. Most of the previous riders had not fared well with their rides, lasting only 2 to 5 seconds. Randy was sure he had the win in his pocket. He climbed aboard his mount and said, "Let 'er rip!" HE was barely out of the chute when he realized he was in for the ride of his life. The horse bucked, twisting and turning left and right. It was the scariest jump he had ever endured. he managed to hang on but before he could re-seat himself, the horse rose straight up and came back down, Randy flew through the air landing face down in the dirt. Time, 6.5 seconds.
Joshua had watched closely and was puzzling in his mind what he could do to succeed if his mount tried the same moves. HE got his mind prepared as much as he could, as he anticipated what may happen. He signaled that he was ready. Sure enough, his horse's first move was the same. Joshua had a feeling the second one would be different. He took a deep breath and waited. Up the horse rose and the horse ducked his head and tried a bucking movie the air. It was unbelievable, but Joshua clenched his knees and stuck to the saddle. The magic 8 seconds had been reached, just before he fell off.
His horse bucked, he rode and they both won the prize. The horse, a ring of roses around his neck and Joshua the trophy and a kiss from the Rodeo Queen.
Postscript: Joshua and the horse bonded and the owner of the rodeo agreed to let Joshua buy the horse, which he immediately named Upstart.
HORSE BUCKED, COWBOY RODE, WON PRIZE
By: Daren Flynn
8/14/21
A year ago he was an unknown 21 year old from Peach Springs, Arizona on the Hulapai Reservation. Today Rubin Red Cloud leads all PRCA Saddle Bronc riders in earnings for the year. Rubin's rookie year on the Professional Rodeo Cowboys circuit has been nothing if not stunning. In fact, crowds at major rodeos across the country have actually been stunned to silence by this young cowboy's performance as he rode bucking bronc and bronc. His outstanding rides have made him the talk of rodeo fans everywhere.
People in the know have been wondering and speculating about young Rubin's chances of toppling the reigning world champion, Ty Tripp, and claiming the title for himself. He has a scant lead over the champ going into the finals.
the PRCA Finals Rodeo is underway in Las Vegas and championships are up for grabs in all rodeo events, including Saddle Bronc riding our focus here. Top cowboys from around the world have come together here to compete and decide which of them is best in his field of expertise. And, of course, who will take home the prize money.
Rodeo fans from around the globe also have converged on the high arena to be a part of this outstanding show of rodeo skills.
The excitement was electric, almost tangible, as everyone talked up his or her favorite cowboy. One of the most talked about, and most anticipated events prior to the first go around was the rookie, Rubin Red Cloud and the battle with Ty Tripp for the Saddle Bronc Crown.
There is another group of people who play a very important of the finals rodeo. They are the people who provide the stock, one of which is the Bill Boggs Rocking Double B Stock Company out of Starbuck, Washington. The Boggs outfit has produced some of the finest rodeo stock over the past decade including a few world champions.
This year the Rocking Double B has entered last years champion bull, "Tough Times" along with their unridden saddle bronc, "Rocking Chair". Rubin Red Cloud drew Rocking Chair for his final ride, which was the last ride of the saddle bronc event. Ty Tripp had turned in an awesome ride which was given a 90 by the judges. In order to win the championship buckle, Rubin would have to beat Tripp's 90, a nearly impossible task.
As Rocking Chair was led into the chute in preparation for the final ride, a hush fell over the entire crowd in the arena.
The cowboy from Peach Springs climbed up the side of the chute, carefully settled down into the saddle with his feet up on the sides of the enclosure. The horse fidgeted from side to side and snorted while trying to get a good look at the cowboy on his back.
Rubin postponed himself with his spurs over the horse's shoulders, got a goos grip on the six foot braided reign and said with his teeth together, "Turn him loose." With the opening of the gate, Rocking Chair became a rocket, sky bound. Rubin kept his spurs over the shoulders until after the first explosive jump from the chute. Then began vigorously raking him with those spurs. Rocking Chair, when he came down, landed on his front legs, then twisted right and left, spun around and near;y did a summersault with his head to the ground. The cowboy leaned back with his free hand held high to avoid touching anything and kept an vice-like grip on the reign. The bronc switched ends, went up with a violent twist, then came back down with a caring jolt designed to throw the rider. But the rookie from Peach Springs stuck to the saddle like he was born there. Eight seconds can seem like a lifetime, but when those long eight seconds were past, Rubin was still in the saddle atop the Rocking Chair.
As the cowboy was retrieved, the crowd went wild, standing and cheering for the unbelievable ride they had just witnessed.
Soon the judges announced the score awarded for the ride. It was a world record tying 95 points which gave him the title of World Champion Saddle Bronc rider. So young Rubin received the silver buckle, the prize money and the accolades of the crowd.
Although Rocking Chair was ridden, for the first time ever, he was judged to be the World Champion Rodeo Saddle Bronc.
The PRCA Finals Rodeo was over. HORSE BUCKED, COWBOY RODE, WON PRIZE.
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