BIG BEND RANCH RODEO

The Cowgirl Chicks are 5 ladies who take their itinerant acrobatic riding to events around the southwest.....and they are the kind of thing you have to see to believe.   Their gravity defying feats bring folks of all ages to their feet!  (yes, that is a 2nd cowgirl hanging off the back of the horse by her feet!!)

The Big Bend Ranch Rodeo is an annual August event in Alpine...and it was our first rodeo.  A ranch rodeo is a regional and family style rodeo as contrasted to the larger, professional rodeos.  In the Big Bend version 20 regional ranches sent 6 participants each for events that included roping and riding of all sorts.   These are full time and part time cowboys (and cowgirls) who come together for a fun time as well as to see which ranch takes home top honors.....this year those honors went to a ranch in Southeastern New Mexico.

Here the "cowpokes" gather for opening ceremonies that include a benediction, the national anthem and a tribute to the State of Texas.   (note the little guys in the photo with their dads).

Getting ready for the National Anthem....note even the little cowboys have their hats on their hearts.

In between events there is always some cowboy / cowgirl chat.

One of the popular events is the cattle branding....where the cowboys rope the horns and the rear leg of a steer, wrestle it to the ground and then simulate a branding.

When the red flag goes down the clock stops....note here one of the "cowpokes" is a member of the distaff sex....and I can tell you she held her own out there.

A hilarious event is the "mutton bustin'" event....where youngsters as young as 3 years old come out of the chute doing their best to stay on the back of a nervous sheep.   Here this little guy takes a tumble after staying on the sheep's back for about 3 seconds.

This 7 year old gal was the mutton bustin' winner.  She wrapped her arms around the sheep's neck and her legs around its middle and just held on.

More cowboy chat...this time involving one of the youngest cowboys..and you should have seen this little guy ride like the wind around the arena....he must have been born on horseback!!

And this cowgirl chick rode two steeds standing up around the arena...and she was really moving.  Later in the show she rode 5 horses standing and threw in a 3 foot high jump in for "effect".  Never saw anything like it.

And the mutton bustin' champ just keeps going...like the energizer bunny.

We left the ranch rodeo under the full moon in Southwest Texas...we went with friends Debbie and Mike Murphy....and had a great time.  Can't wait until next year for more "get along little doggie".   As Pam says.....WAHOO!