Sunday, March 22, 2009

A day of dust and dancing








We had a big day yesterday, what with working the KSJD booth at Ag Expo from 9-11, then taking pictures of the sorting competition and the ranch rodeo (in ever-increasing dust!) and going to the KSJD Gypsy Ball in the evening! (We did get home to clean up in between!)

The team branding competition includes roping the calf, moving it to a designated area and "branding" it. In the process, you grab any handle you can! Other riders are on hand, in case the critter gets away ... as it often did.

Sudden changes in direction are part of the game, leaving hat and head going in different directions in one instance. In another, the horse and rider parted company.

The picture above the hat-flying one captures the essence of the competition - getting a rope on the critter so you can get it where you wanted and get it branded.

Cowboys start young; if not born in the saddle, they're hanging onto Dad while he's waiting his turn in the competition.

The Gypsy Ball started with belly-dancers (former park ranger pictured) and segued to a jazzy group from Albuquerque, Le Chat Fantastique. At which point some of us old folks went home and to bed! tv


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