Being a cowboy has meant a lot of things in this country. They have established and built cities, constructed and raised the cattle and grains of our lands and the men and women behind being a cowboy stand strong and tough and never allow their sore aching muscles and bones stand in their way of the day to day work that needs to be performed. In a history of tradition these strong and tuff men and women try to conquer these animals massive and strong in a series of events called the rodeo. When anyone thinks of the rodeo one tends to think of the one wearing the chaps sitting on the back of the bull trying not to be bucked off but I have a different side of the rodeo cowboy and that is what my husband does for the rodeo. My husband for years has been participating in a long time family ritual that he volunteer´s and work´s every year at the NFR-PRCA in Louisville, KY. Around October my husband calls the manager and a major stock contractor to make sure to inform them that his family will be there to assist in the set up and tear down of the shoots as well as being the handlers at the rodeo. This is a part of the rodeo that most people miss. This is a time consuming and tiring as well as a dangerous position at the rodeo. The man handling and lifting in precise placement of each gate that must go up to construct a massive shoot that will house and maintain as well as release the animals into the arena where the other cowboys will test their strength and will at mastering the position and try to win the highest score to top all others in this amazing exciting fight of animal versus man. After the shoots are constructed which takes about three hours and upon lifting each gate that weighs in the area of 30 lbs a piece the handlers arms are tired and stiff as well as their backs but they forge on for the real events a few days later. The first night of the rodeo is finally here and these men assemble and meet to get prepared for the night at hand. They are the ones that don´t make any money nor do they walk away with a shiny award at the end of the night the only thing they have to show for it are bruises and bumps from the animals that they are trying to handle. These handlers including my husband have been drug down the metal bars by being pushed in the ribs by the massive steers that the previous cowboys have just tried to wrestle. After the steer is released and the cowboy tries there hand at the beast the steer has to be handled back into the gates to be housed until all of the steers have been ran. When the steers come in the handlers are face to face with this massive animal as well as the bulls. The handlers must move quickly and must move in unison because one false or delayed move means that they will meet the end of those hard, long horns. The bucking horses are a bit different the horses run into an additional stall so the strap that was placed under around the horse to prevail bucking must be removed. It is a precise set of actions that must be taken to get this strap removed. One must put themselves at the front gate to open at the right moment with this massive animal running right at them and shut it as soon as the horse inters in hopes that the animal doesn´t come back on them or kick the
gate. After the horse is in the position of the shoot, the handlers have to remove the strap of this jumping bucking horse that wants to get free. Hands and all body parts beware because of where they are positioned and where the horse is any wrong move means a kick to the head or possible jerking of the animal can break the hand of the one who is risking sticking their hand into the shoot to remove the strap. My husband has been horned, kicked, stepped on, he has had his hand crushed and his arm hurt almost to the point of which he thought it would be broke. His father has been kicked, hit and in one occasion a horse reared up and planted its two front hooves right into his chest luckily it didn´t do any permanent damage it just knocked the wind out of his sails for a minute or two. These men do so much and get so little but without them the rodeo would not go on. Are the cowboys that ride going to load there own animals before they ride? No but someone has too. That would be the men like my husband, who take time away from there lives for the pure enjoyment of the game. They load the animals they wrangle in and they control the animals to insure safety and awareness all along never causing harm to any of the animals. These men, these proud strong hard working dependable men give so much of themselves all for the love of the sport. They are happy to be there and look forward all year to come back and participate in this superb moment in time. These men feel that it is a privilege that they get to participate in what they see as the greatest sport on Earth. They risk themselves knowing they are going to be battered and bruised but eagerly await the chance all over again. Most people who sit in the arena and watch don´t think twice about the men they see working behind the shoots but next time, remember they are there and they wouldn´t choose to be anywhere else. So thank you to the ones who allow the wrangler´s that volunteer there time every year to be there it means the world and all to my husband, bruises or not he loves it. The contractor of the association they work for has shown great appreciation to these men, he gives them the honor of presenting them with a jacket from the NFR-PRCA finals rodeo, these are coveted by these men and they wear them with pride. Again next time you are in the seats looking down, look behind the shoots and give these thoughtful caring men a big thank you for volunteering there time for your enjoyment.
gate. After the horse is in the position of the shoot, the handlers have to remove the strap of this jumping bucking horse that wants to get free. Hands and all body parts beware because of where they are positioned and where the horse is any wrong move means a kick to the head or possible jerking of the animal can break the hand of the one who is risking sticking their hand into the shoot to remove the strap. My husband has been horned, kicked, stepped on, he has had his hand crushed and his arm hurt almost to the point of which he thought it would be broke. His father has been kicked, hit and in one occasion a horse reared up and planted its two front hooves right into his chest luckily it didn´t do any permanent damage it just knocked the wind out of his sails for a minute or two. These men do so much and get so little but without them the rodeo would not go on. Are the cowboys that ride going to load there own animals before they ride? No but someone has too. That would be the men like my husband, who take time away from there lives for the pure enjoyment of the game. They load the animals they wrangle in and they control the animals to insure safety and awareness all along never causing harm to any of the animals. These men, these proud strong hard working dependable men give so much of themselves all for the love of the sport. They are happy to be there and look forward all year to come back and participate in this superb moment in time. These men feel that it is a privilege that they get to participate in what they see as the greatest sport on Earth. They risk themselves knowing they are going to be battered and bruised but eagerly await the chance all over again. Most people who sit in the arena and watch don´t think twice about the men they see working behind the shoots but next time, remember they are there and they wouldn´t choose to be anywhere else. So thank you to the ones who allow the wrangler´s that volunteer there time every year to be there it means the world and all to my husband, bruises or not he loves it. The contractor of the association they work for has shown great appreciation to these men, he gives them the honor of presenting them with a jacket from the NFR-PRCA finals rodeo, these are coveted by these men and they wear them with pride. Again next time you are in the seats looking down, look behind the shoots and give these thoughtful caring men a big thank you for volunteering there time for your enjoyment.
