Cowboy Up!

Due to difficulties (in myself getting the time to create a blog entry), the regular program has delayed.  We now invite you to go back in time (only 3 weeks ago) to experience the Dean Anthony Memorial Rodeo in Mankota, Saskatchewan.

The rodeo is an anticipated event for the community - everyone comes out to help put on this class 1 event.  

Spectators watch from their vehicles on the terraced parking.  The rain gods stayed away this weekend, since often it is more like a mud bath occurring during the rodeo than a dust bath.

Everyone comes to watch.  You can choose to sit in the comfort in your vehicle....



....or the comfort on your backside on the grass.



Porky the pig came out to enjoy the events. 

Some of the stars of the show.

Before the rodeo started, I was asked to do a stockdog demo.  (The rest of the pictures is by Kyla Kohl - our resident photographer- I love her use of shading, but I wish she could have shaded a few pounds off my carcass.)

I did my spiel about the use of a good stockdog.



The dogs showed them how things were dong.

After the demo, the rodeo began.

Gripping on for dear life.

This guy looks like he is riding a rocking horse.

The pick up guys (for those of you not familiar with rodeos, this has nothing to do with pickup trucks.)

Calf roping....oops, I mean tie-down roping.  Lets call a spade a spade eh?  Or should we call it a blunt digging tool?

What would possess a guy to jump off a perfectly good horse?

The team ropers.

The can chasers (aka barrel racers).

Some awards were given out - this fellow was given an old card...or maybe that was a gold card.  I think it allows him to get into any senior citizen's whist game for nothing.

Always some clowning around to do.

Up and coming bull riders.

The real McCoy.

Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be cowboys.  They may get into a situation like this.

Now, not to be outdone by Kyla, I did my my own photos for some Kodak moments.
This is just another angle of the photo from Kyla - a zoom would have helped to show the fellow's "What the hell was I thinking!" face.

 This fellow is praying the horse doesn't step on his hat.

 Calf roping...oops, when will I learn...tie down roping.

 Yeah!!

 The little cowboys

 The important people behind the sidelines.  The whole community comes and supports this event - without them, there would be no rodeo.

 Jumping off of running horses.

 Careful where you put that foot please.

 Run Forrest, run!

 More cogs of the wheel.

 Ride'm cowboy!

 

Horse 1 - Cowboy 0

Sticking on!

 Whoa big feller!

 I said WHOA!!

 Some bullshit.

 Ready, set, GO!

 Faster!

 Waiting for their mounts.

The mounts.

 

The mounters.

 The Mountain.

 The nuts behind the operation.

Kyla checking out picture 541 of 2300. 

The stands were full of spectators.

 Idle hands they were not.

 The scary sheep for the children to ride.

 Excuse me bull, may I wipe the snot from your nose?

 Taking off Ferninad's belts.

 Good hands.

 Viewing from the lounge.  This watering hold was visited regularly.

 Waiting patiently for their turn.

 Roping dummies.

 The pickup guys.

 I'll scratch your back if you scratch mine.

 Happy trails to you, until we meet again.

A Short Blog Through Stormy's Eyes

I woke up this morning, and wrote on my list for things to do.  It can be quite a full day around here - with pissing off others and such.  So with much thinking, I came up with my plan of attack.

1. Piss off Chris - by jumping on his head in the middle of the night.

2. Piss of Wendy-by asking for my bottle several times during the night. You can't blame me, it goes down real smooth!

3. Kick Eldon's butt. This is fair, he kicked mine since I came!

4.  Kick the puppies butts.  I got to get to them while I can.

5. Lick my own butt - or have Eldon lick it for me.

6.  Jump on the counter.  This drives Wendy nuts.  She was like, "Get off the counter, and I was like, Get off my ass!"

Yup, those plans went according to plan - all done before 7 am.  I guess I will have to sleep a few minutes to rejuvenate myself.

Pissing off others is such a hard, but enjoyable thing to do!

Sheep River Classic Flowing With Fun

Billie Richardson and Jerry Kurbatoff hosted the Sheep River Classic in Okotoks this past long weekend, and it was going to be the first field trial for this gang of the year. We got there in good time - if you were planning to leave the day before, which we didn't.  In my little plan book, we would leave mid-morning to get there.  It seems to be the travelling gods did not read my plan book. First there had to be some shifting around of feeders for the lambs (which are 1/2 hour from home), and fix the fence of that housed those lambs, since their guardians - Fiona and Scotty - were seen more outside the fence than in.  I got all the dogs and paraphernalia ready and waited to load everything into the trailer when Chris got home.  Then there was job two to do - which was a good thing it was noted before we headed out - put new ball bearings so no tires would fall off the trailer.  Trailer was finally fixed, and dogs were loaded.  Dexter the horse was added as well as a large piece of farm equipment - the kitchen sink was full of dishes so it stayed home.  Another quick stop was done on route to help a standed motorist, and one was made to drop off the equipment.  Then we were on our way. Wait though, we had to drop off some bantam chicken eggs at our friend's - Annette and Colin Dyck.  Knowing Annette was the fowl queen (no, she is not a chicken hoarder since they are not in her house...yet) in Rosemary, Alberta, we dropped off the eggs to be set on by one of her hens, since Chris the Banty had an unsuccessful visit with Fiona and Scotty (they thought she was a chew toy).

During the trip, we consulted Marion, Marion the (Iphone)box for good directions. Chris questioned her and took a slightly different route, causing her to become upset.  He forged through and we eventually ended up at Jerry and Billie's.

The weekend would be full of dog trialing and visiting.  Letters were to follow my runs for the first day, but the second day, the trial gods visited briefly to allow Floss to win second with a 93, Gin to get sixth with a 90, Mitch to almost get a pen, and Ky to have a pretty decent run for his nursery debut.  Norm Close the judge had closely watched all of the runs over the three days.

Alberta weather being like it is, I wore shorts and a winter jacket all in the same day.  There was good visiting, and good dog work.
 An ugly puppy I had raised was the winner of the pro-novice and nursery class - Gus and Louanne Twa.  Randy Dye with Sweep swept the open class and took the overall.  Intermediate was won by Naomi Shields and Nim(rod).  The novice was won by Tyler Strader (whose wife makes a great cake!) and his fine border collie Jess.
Now here is an overview of the weekend in picture form.
Jerry in deep thought - he was probably thinking, "What was I thinking?"

 His main cohort Billie was thinking "Damn this beer is good!"

 This was Milton the (Guard) Rooster - several times this SOB ran after me - I had to have eyes in the back of my head.

 Enjoying the trial.

 My friend Ellen telling Ky what to do. 

Big field.

Saskatchewan let Peter Gonnet out to play.

 Chris setting one of many sets.

Sir Randy Dye with Sir Sweep doing a great job.

Lee Lumb at the pen.

 The real trainer - Jocelyn Dye working Sweep in the novice class.

 Proud pappa.

 Have enough pictures Randy?

Guess not.

 Randy getting tips from Jocelyn.

Randy putting Jocelyn's tips to the test.

 Chris setting, and Jerry way behind bringing sheep up for novice.

 Leanne Huber and Sue.

 Michelle Bryan and Mac.

 Tyler Strader.

Tyler and Jess at pen.

 Lindsay getting ready to run.  Don't laugh Lindsay, we didn't bring the Depends.

 Jared telling another story.

 And in the midst of it all - celebrities!

 Amber Marshall from Heartland.

 I do believe Chris got tongue tied meeting Amber. 

 Look this way!

 Dexter, Chris and Amber (yeah, we are on first name basis now.)

 Amber with Randy Dye's coach, Jocelyn.

  Norman, the partier.

Getting a little tipsy.

Hey Norm, leave some for the rest of us!

 Norman calling for a cab.

After all the drunks were sent home in cabs, we had passed out all the awards.

My pants will have to be tied with a baler twine for right now.
After the awards, we chowed down and hit the road.  In the drive back, we realized that Marion the box was correct in her directions - we will never question her directions ever again.  We stopped by the Dyck residence to pick up some new feathered friends - guinea hens.  Heck, we had room after taking the machinery off, you have to fill it back up.
Rolling in at 3:30 am, we went to bed and started the day again at 6 am.
I vowed I would wake up early and train dogs - I would have to have a few days of recuperation before that vow could be carried out.