I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday weekend. I went to the
Molalla Buckeroo on the Fourth of July. In Oregon, they call the "Fourth," "
Cowboy Christmas." There are lots of rodeos that weekend and it leads into the Nationals.
For me, rodeos are a curiosity. I watched the girls tear around the ring at top speed on their horses, carrying the various sponsor flags. Every rider had a death-grip on the reins, holding so tight, but still spurring their mount to go faster. You can almost see the girls exhale as they come to a stop. The broncs were beautiful, big boned steeds from the Flying 5. Some could go completely vertical on all fours. When the fireworks went off later that evening, they circled in their corral a few times and then went back to figuring out their "pecking" order. The bulls were blowing snot everywhere, and their rage seemed so intense. At last, the cowboys...relics from another time, yet fresh faced 20 somethings. Gladiators grappling with calves and slapping their thighs before a bull ride.
Sherry Cervi was there to run barrels.
Darcy LaPier saddled up and did barrels as well. She is a local girl that married the Hawaiian Tropic founder (when he died, she got millions) and she later married and divorced Jean-Claude Van Damme. It was a fun place to be on the fourth, talking horses and sipping beer with my friend Nicole.
I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday weekend. I went to the Molalla Buckeroo on the Fourth of July. In Oregon, they call the "Fourth," "Cowboy Christmas." There are lots of rodeos that weekend and it leads into the Nationals. 
For me, rodeos are a curiosity. I watched the girls tear around the ring at top speed on their horses, carrying the various sponsor flags. Every rider had a death-grip on the reins, holding so tight, but still spurring their mount to go faster. You can almost see the girls exhale as they come to a stop. The broncs were beautiful, big boned steeds from the Flying 5. Some could go completely vertical on all fours. When the fireworks went off later that evening, they circled in their corral a few times and then went back to figuring out their "pecking" order. The bulls were blowing snot everywhere, and their rage seemed so intense. At last, the cowboys...relics from another time, yet fresh faced 20 somethings. Gladiators grappling with calves and slapping their thighs before a bull ride. Sherry Cervi was there to run barrels. Darcy LaPier saddled up and did barrels as well. She is a local girl that married the Hawaiian Tropic founder (when he died, she got millions) and she later married and divorced Jean-Claude Van Damme. It was a fun place to be on the fourth, talking horses and sipping beer with my friend Nicole.
