You Know You Are A Rodeo Mom

You know you are a rodeo mom when you check to see what is banging in the dryer and you find a broken breawaway hondo.

Happy Holidays!

Holiday Fun - Pick A Cake

With the holiday so close, it is time for a little holiday fun. This is remarkable & just in time for the holiday baking season! Just click on the name of the cake and bam the recipe appears!

http://www.northpole.com/Kitchen/Cookbook/cat0002.html

Rodeo Moms In Business

By Teresa Fackrell

Rodeo moms have lots of odd jobs and side businesses to support their kids in rodeo. Some moms have gone out on their own and started their own business. We would like to support those moms by featuring rodeo moms in business.

The first business to be featured is All Horse Utah. As a rodeo mom, I was having a hard time finding information online about junior rodeos and other horse events for my kids to participate in. So I developed the site www.allhorseutah.com and then contacted all of the junior rodeo associations that we were associated with. The site provides information about other horse events in Utah too.

The junior rodeo section is probably the most comprehensive in the state. There are a lot of associations and single rodeos posted there. Associations also have the option of having a page on the site to post member information, points and rules.

So if you are looking for rodeo information in Utah try All Horse Utah first.

The Importance of Warming Up Your Horse

by Shauna Winters

I saw something a few weeks ago that I never want to see again. I went to a Rodeo because my brother was competing as a calf roper. As we were watching the team roping, this team came out and roped their steer. They got their ropes off the steer, and the steer cut back towards the roping chute. The heeler went to head the steer off, and as he turned, his horse went down. The horse fell on its side and it began convulsing. It was horrible. I can remember grabbing my brother’s leg because he happened to be sitting right next to me (poor guy). I kept saying, “What’s wrong with that horse?” over and over again. My brother thought that maybe the horse had had a heart attack.

People, of course, went out to help. A man from the audience yelled to get the saddle off. He thought the cinch was too tight. The poor kid who was riding the horse began tearing the saddle off. By this time, a vet who happened to be in the audience went running across the arena. A huge group of guys came in carrying a panel. They rolled the horse over on the panel and carried it out of the arena. The horse died.

My brother went to take care of his horses and when he got outside he ran into the vet, so he asked her what had happened. She said that it was a pulmonary embolism--the main artery to the horse’s lung had burst and the horse had basically drowned in its own blood. He then asked what had caused it. She said more than likely the horse had been out to pasture, was a little bit out of shape, and was not warmed up as well as it should have been. It was very cold the night of the rodeo, so I am sure that the combination of all of these things didn’t help. I don’t know for sure exactly what caused this to happen.

Even if there was a previous problem, this was a good reminder. Please make sure that your kids, or anyone else for that matter, realize how important it is to warm up their horses. I know sometimes we get in a hurry or we show up late to the rodeo, but it so important to warm the horse up and cool it out as well. I can’t imagine having that happen to one of my animals if it was something that I could have prevented. It was terrible to have to watch, but a very good lesson for my kids.

Focusing on Personal Best

by Lori Pierce

I have been struggling with my kids always worrying about winning and being the best. Also them having all the best horses and equipment that goes along with rodeos. It is no different than when a kid comes home and wants a certain pair of designer pants because every popular child has them or when your child comes home and wants to cut their hair like their friends hair.

In rodeo, it can be a lot the same. The kids want the best barrel horse because one of their friends/competitors just got a new horse. Or they want a living quarters trailer because everyone else has one. Well we can not afford all of the latest trends. But as a mom I want my kids to have the best and feel that they fit in and are a part of the in crowd. However, that does not have to be the case in rodeo.

In our family, we focus on the best that we are as individuals and the best that we have as a family. As well as focusing on doing better each time we compete. My rewards system is not focused around if they win or not but if they try hard and did better than they did the time before. I have found that in doing this my kids have actually started to win even though they do not have the most expensive horses or the most expensive equipment. They are learning to be proud of themselves because they are doing better each time than the time before. They are becoming much better cowgirls and they actually are doing their share of placing in the top.

I also have found that by slowly improving with what they have to work with they have learned that their own level of improvement has grown. They slowly have become better and better and it has made them much more confident in their abilities and the abilities of their horses to actually compete against the kids they thought they would never be able to compete against. This is something that has really worked with my oldest daughter and I can see it working slowly with my youngest as well. I know that if I had the money I probably would have went out and purchased a better horse and a better trailer and all of that stuff. However, I am glad in some ways that we were not able to do that because I really feel it has made my girls a lot better cowgirls.

Worth Quoting

"The secret to success is action, not attitude. It doesn’t matter what your attitude is. What matters is what you do with your time. If you do the right things you will be successful regardless of your emotional condition or mental attitude. If you do the wrong things, no amount of positive thinking will save you."

- Michael Masterson

So You Want To Be A Rodeo Queen(Part 2)

Now that you have an idea of what to work on, it is time to get started. I suggest that if you are new to rodeo queening, talk with someone with experience and ask for help. You can learn a lot from the trial and error of others. It is well worth paying for lessons for your daughter if queening is what she wants to do. If you think about it, you wouldn’t send your daughter in to a dance competition without a dance instructor. In choosing a coach or instructor or even a clinic make sure you choose one who can prove success. If they have no proof of success, then they will not likely be able to teach your daughter to be successful.

Now, for the scariest part of all!! How are you going to afford rodeo queening? Start off slow! You only need a few basics (contest rules will tell you specifics). No matter what the contest requirements are you can build an amazing wardrobe around a few nice basic pieces.

First, I suggest choosing one main color. For example, even now at a national level when we travel my daughter usually only takes a black hat, black boots, and outfits that will match. And she is not the only one. If you ask any of the rodeo queens who are doing a lot of travel most of them will tell you the same thing. If it is good enough for Miss Rodeo America, it is certainly good enough for your daughter starting out. The most important thing is to make sure that the clothes are clean and fit, your hat is blocked, and your boots and belt are polished. Start small and then build.

Last, remember this is supposed to be fun. Make sure that it is. Don’t let the stress take the fun out of rodeo queening. Start small and build up. You wouldn’t expect your daughter to enter much less win a professional barrel race her first run, don’t expect any different from queening.

Also, remember you can learn as much, and sometimes more, when you don’t when as when you do. So heads up, smiles on, and go armed with confidence and a can of hairspray because if you and your daughter are dedicated there is a way to make the dream of becoming a rodeo queen a reality.

Picture of the Week

All I can say is Ouch. Do you have a better name for this photo?

So You Want To Be A Rodeo Queen(Part1)

By Kendra Sagers

Nearly every little cowgirl wants to grow up to become a rodeo queen. I was no different, and for that matter neither is my daughter. The world of rodeo queening, and it is a whole new world, is an exciting one. Glitz, glamour, and all eyes on you in the arena or on stage. Who could blame a little girl for having a dream like this? Certainly not me. Dreams are great, but what do you do when your aspiring rodeo queen wants to put her dreams in to action. Just the thought can leave many rodeo moms running scared. I know, remember I am one. So many questions come to mind. How do we get started? Where do we find contests? How do we know which contests to enter? How do we prepare? And, probably the scariest question of all, how are we going to afford it? Don’t worry; there are answers to all of these questions and more. In fact, you can compete in MAJOR rodeo queen contests and, if you are creative, you don’t even have to sell major body organs on eBay to do it. While each of these topics could, and soon will likely be, a topic in and of themselves let me start by giving a short version here.

The first step is to take it one step at a time. First, how old is your daughter? Your daughter’s age may determine what contests are available to for her to compete in. If your daughter is very young, let’s say under 9 or 10, I would start by looking at local and 4-H type contests. Many of these are horsemanship only contests. Your daughter is already interested in horses and if you are a rodeo mom she probably already has a horse so the battle is nearly over. In fact, no matter the age of your daughter I recommend that you find one of these low key kinds of contests to begin with any way. This way you will be able to get a better feel if your daughter really wants to be a rodeo queen or just likes the idea of it all. Also, it is important to keep in mind that being a rodeo queen at any level is a lot of hard work. So make sure you have this conversation from the start.

One of the best places to find contests to try out in is to talk to other rodeo queens. Don’t be afraid to walk up to any current queen and ask for information. They had better be friendly and willing to help, after all that is their job. There is no better place to get information than from the people who are doing what you want to do.

Once you have decided on a contest to enter, I suggest you contact the coordinator and get the rules as early as possible. The more time you have to prepare, the less stress you will be under. You can not fully prepare until you know what you are preparing for. Once you have the rules, simply follow them. Don’t try to tweak or stretch them, just follow them.

One of the best ways to learn what to prepare for is to attend a contest and watch. Go in to the contest with an open mind, even if you know one of the girls trying out. Watch and see what catches your eye. What looks right? What looks wrong? What stands out good or bad? And then, did your opinion agree with the judges? If so, you are probably on the right track. If not, you may want to talk to the judges and see if they can tell you what they saw that you didn’t. (Talking to the judges may also be a good place to find help for your daughter.)

Second Chances

by Teresa Fackrell

We ride a horse that only has one eye. She is our rope horse. She is an amazing story of second chances.

Racheal had been using her for High School Rodeo Breakaway. She had done okay in the fall but she was still a little unpredictable. In the spring, she got a little infection in her eye. We thought it was no big deal. She would be fine. Then one day it got a lot worse. We hauled her to the vet. He gave us several things to treat it with. In a few days she was looking better. Then the next day, it was horrible. We hauled right back to the vet. Our only option was surgery to remove her eye.

When she first lost her eye I thought for sure we would not be able to use her for anything. It was sad because her and Racheal had just started to get along. We gave her some time off to recuperate.

Racheal wanted to try riding her again. So we started really slow. She did okay with normal riding. I thought we could at least sell her for a trail horse. Then we thought what the heck, we should try to rope on her again. It worked. She roped just fine.

We have to do some extra things to make sure she does not hit her head or walk on you when she can't see you but she ropes really well.

Brent decided since she was mellower than the horse he showed last year that he would try and show her. The mare has never been showed. We have only used her as a rodeo horse. Brent had a good over all show. He got a blue ribbon in Horsemanship on her and he placed 3 in Reining. We did not even know the mare could do a flying lead change and she did it beautifully. WOW!

Brent is now using her Heal, Goat Tie and Breakaway. Racheal uses her in High School Rodeo.

Now my nephew Cole who is 5 is also using her in rodeo. He placed 3rd on her in Poles and placed twice on her in the goat tail untie!

Horse Vitals

by Terrie Vickers

1. First of all you should have a base line of your horses’ vitals. This will helpful for you & to pass on to the vet if needed. You should write this down for your records.

2. Heart Rate: this should be a resting heart rate. Normal: 30-40 beats per minute. Trouble: 50 beats per minute or faster (may indicate pain, shock, dehydration, or fever).

How to check: Take the pulse at the mandible artery, which passes under the lower edge jaw (either side). Feel for a notch on the lower edge of the bone; the artery is right there. Count beats for 15 seconds & multiply by 4 to get rate. You can also find the pulse under the horses left elbow & just above the fetlock, where major arteries run between the tendons.
3. Body Temperature: average temperature ranges from 97 to 101 degrees Fahrenheit.

How to check: Use a flexible, non-glass thermometer with KY jelly or petroleum jelly, before inserting into rectum; you might want to add a string to this so you won’t lose it in the horse.

4. Capillary refill time: This is the time it takes for color to return to a horse gum tissue next to they teeth after pressing & releasing your finger. It should be 2 seconds less.
5. Membrane color: The color of the mucus membranes of gums should be salmon pink.

6. Dehydration; Just pinch or fold a flap of skin on neck & then quickly release it. It should immediately snap back into place. Failure to do so is evidence of dehydration. Find some shade & water.

7. Respiratory Rate: This should be 12-20 beats per minute at rest. This rate should never exceed the heart pulse rate.

As always check with your veterinarian

Getting Kids to Practice Part 2

Practice can be either a fight or a joy. I personally would like it to be joyful. Like I have said in an earlier post, it is hard to get my kids out to practice. There is always something “better” or more “fun” to do. I think that if the farm/arena where we keep our horses were in our backyard it wouldn’t be as hard, but you use and do what you can. Anyway...I have learned in the past that if I have to fight with them to get them to practice that it just isn’t fun anymore and I hate it as much as they do. So I have come up with some things that I do to make it fun for them instead of work.

1. I let them know in advance (way in advance) that we will be leaving for the farm at a certain time. I try to make it a time that doesn’t interfere with what they have planned. We usually go out to ride at 5:00 p.m. in the summer.

2. I invite their friends to practice with us. This is the BIGGEST and easiest way to get them to come out and ride. If their friends are there, they want to socialize. They will want to ride. It turns into a fun time for all. Even if they don’t “practice perfect” they are having a fun time doing what they do.

3. The last thing that I have found to be successful is to have some type of reward system. If they practice good and don’t argue for X number of days they get something (candy bar, soda, movie rental, etc.)

These are ideas that work for me and my kids, hopefully they or some version of it works for you.