All posts,  BB+USA

The Mutton Busters

March 8, 2011 / 24 Comments

The last few days have been full-on in Houston Town. 

Man, this Rodeo/Livestock Show thing is HUGE…

‘Bigger’n’Texas’ as the locals love to say!

I have so very many things to blog, so many photos to post, but somehow when we flop back at the hotel at the end of each day I can barely summon the energy to clean my teeth, let along process pics and think of sane sentences to string together. I sometimes manage the odd tweet, but it hardly tells the story of our days here.

There has been cattle and bling, la-de-da luncheons and Mexican karaoke, speeches, sideshows and rodeo and even Tim McGraw…

Tonight, as we pack up the debris to fly to Los Angeles tomorrow, I post none of these things for you.

I post Mutton Busting. Why? I hear you ask… Well…

A. Because they are pics most recently uploaded, but mostly…

B. Because it was so darned funny.

Meet Mutton Buster Dash and Mutton Buster Violet. 

They have lined up, all gung-ho, to ride ’em a sheep or two.

(It’s a highlight of the Houston Stock Show for the kiddos – rodeo for littlies!)   Basically they have to cling onto the back of a sheep for as long as possible.  And the kids all flock (pardon the pun) to this tent to have their shot at the shiny buckles on offer.

Violet was first up, and found herself on a speedy wooly jumper…

She hung on for a few seconds, but her moment of glory was short-lived.

The crowd went wild at her spunk (ably assisted by the ‘clown’ whose job it was to interrupt any threatening meltdowns by throwing up the riders arms in salute to evoke some frenzied applause from the audience of very involved parents).

Then it was Dash’s turn.

His first mount proved, well, stubborn.

And he decided that a foot beyond the gate was as far as he was going.  Appreciate, dear reader, the limpet-like technique of his rider…

Sadly, this technique had quite worn out the rider’s grip by the time he got his re-ride.

And this was the result.

Despite some substantial clumps of dirt in the underpants (the bathroom floor tonight testifiies Dash’s regular complaint throughout the evening) our brave young rodeo-er gracefully accepted the crowd’s delight at his recovery.

I believe he scored a 79.

While neither took home the coveted belt buckle on offer for the winners, our two were proud participants in the Houston Rodeo 2011.

I predict that:

A. These two rosettes make it to Show and Tell at school first day back in Oz.

B. My pair are currently dreaming about riding to the bell. And belt buckles.

 🙂

BB

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24 Comments

  • Leonie
    March 8, 2011 at 6:22 pm Reply

    I love it!!! I saw mutton busting at a rodeo NE of Perth many years ago and I agree, it’s THE best part of a rodeo and we here in Qld should have it more often in our rodeos!!! Have a safe trip home you gorgeous friends of ours. xox

  • debby
    March 8, 2011 at 9:18 pm Reply

    Those grins! I remember a picture you posted of dash at his first camp draft…his nervous grimace made me laugh out loud! The two of them have become quite the adventurers, ready to give anything a try!I love that!

    I wonder where they get that from? Oh. Wait…
    debby´s last blog post ..The Group

  • Sal
    March 8, 2011 at 10:10 pm Reply

    Now that’s something they’ll remember forever! And i’m sure will make good story telling for many years to come. Can imagine the blast they had and lookout when the next local rodeo comes around! 🙂

  • nancy
    March 8, 2011 at 10:38 pm Reply

    I am vicariously enjoying your trip so much (I don’t know how you get anything posted) and what nostalgia I felt when I saw the kids pics at their mutton-busting! I grew up going to the Arcadia rodeos in Central Florida (very horse-y country)–thanks for sharing!!!

  • Kelly
    March 9, 2011 at 1:03 am Reply

    P.S. I know Violet is interested in squirrels and I posted a photo of a squirrel nest on my blog yesterday. You can click on it to make it larger if you want to show it to her.
    🙂
    Kelly´s last blog post ..Squirrel Nest

  • ellie k
    March 9, 2011 at 1:13 am Reply

    Now will a few sheep be added to your ranch so the kids can have there own mutton busting contest when they get home. A new game for there cousins.

  • Colin (HB)
    March 9, 2011 at 6:02 am Reply

    Great funny post BB.
    I guess your two “young rodeo” riders won’t forget Houston for a very long time.
    Great holiday for sure.
    Colin (HB)

  • Margaret Pengelly
    March 9, 2011 at 7:43 am Reply

    I laughed till tears rolled down my cheeks..my laughter even dragged Hobo 1 away from his shave and he came in decorated in shaving cream to see what it was that brought the house down…it was the “limpet-like” technique of rider 2 that did it…showed determination if nothing else! See those pink riding boots had a staring role as well. Morning Talks are going to be great when they get home.

  • Nancy in Iowa
    March 9, 2011 at 8:33 am Reply

    Ellie K had the same thought I did – will there be some sheep on the ranch in future? You’ve had a fantastic trip and we all appreciate the time you’ve taken to share it with us along the way. I know you’re anxious to get home to Axel and mounds of laundry…..

  • Helen G.
    March 9, 2011 at 9:06 am Reply

    I love it! Mutton busters from down under! They did great to participate and I know if Dash’s first ride had of gone on it would have been great but as you said his grip was tired out… that’s one of the fun things about rodeos, getting the kids involved and I hope that it will be a great fun memory for them all their lives.

    Way to go, Dash and Violet!

    Helen
    Helen G.´s last blog post ..Aging Happens

  • Theresa in Alberta
    March 9, 2011 at 10:53 am Reply

    Well done violet and dash!!!!!!!!!!! very happy that you were able to break in your new boots in proper in the riding ring!! BB you can catch up with your blogging on the plane ride back to Oz 😉

  • constance
    March 9, 2011 at 1:20 pm Reply

    We were there and saw the mutton busters but didn’t know that yours were among the contestants. How fun was THAT?!

  • Pencil Writer
    March 9, 2011 at 2:29 pm Reply

    This is weird! I was in Houston today, too, or nearly. You were so close . . . It’s been years since I’ve been to the Houston Livestock Show. It was amazing and mind boggling then, so I can only imagine how much bigger it is now-a-days. Did you manage to make it to the barbeque cook-offs? Or was that a couple of weeks ago? I forget. Please tell me you have sampled some Texas barbeque! Be safe and have fun in LA!

  • Quincy's Keeper
    March 11, 2011 at 3:00 am Reply

    Mutton busting is the best sport ever! Looks like the kidlets thourouly enjoyed themselves. It was such an unexpected surprise to meet you in Houston. I’m so glad you guys toured the barn and stopped at our stalls 🙂

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