Equine
RFDTV — The American
By Phillip Kitts
Well, the 2018 rodeo season has reached the next phase, and with this next phase there will not be much influence on the world standings, but there are big changes in competitors’ pocketbooks.
As we have talked about previously, the winter months bring a slower time for rodeo. In years past January, February and March are months where a lot of competitors focus on healing up from injuries, enjoying down time with family, and planning out their assault on the highways of America.
Over the last few decades the rodeo industry has capitalized on large indoor venues that have the capabilities of hosting large scale rodeos while keeping fans and competitors away from the bitter temperatures and unforgiving weather. This move has birthed some of the biggest rodeos in the business. Places like Fort Worth and San Antonio, have developed multiple round rodeos that pay out enough money that a winning cowboy can set the conditions for his season and a bid to the Wrangler National Finals at the end of the year.
With great things there are always challenges. Throughout the last several years some rather large organizations have recognized the value in hosting large indoor rodeos during these winter months. Some of these rodeos such as Rodeo Houston and RFDTV The American have adopted new formats that many say are more exciting for fans.
Because these new formats fall outside of many sanctioning bodies’ rules, these rodeos are essentially non-sanctioned and fall into the category of an open rodeo. In some cases, individual events such as barrel racing may have a sanctioning body, but this only applies to that individual event.
To read more pick up a copy of the April 2018 issue. To subscribe call 940-872-5922.
Matt Reeves put down a fast enough run in the long round to come back for the championship round where he claimed his share of the $1 million prize. (Photo by Phillip Kitts)
By Phillip Kitts
The mystique and imagined glory of the rodeo road call many young people’s names. As they grow up, they watch the greats of the sport run from rodeo to rodeo and occasionally land on the television giving the perception of the rockstar lifestyle.
No, the glory of the rodeo road is not as grand as, say, the National Football League or the National Basketball Association, but being an athlete competing in front of the yellow chutes of Vegas is just as big a deal, and in every way, can be compared to competing in a Super Bowl.
However, things sure are different in the rodeo world. Let us take a minute and talk about what seem to be simple things in life that impact rodeo and rodeo athletes that in no way would make a difference to the big-money sports.
To read more, pick up a copy of the April issue of NTFR magazine. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
By Garrett Metcalf, DVM
It is common for horse owners to have a horse with a wound or laceration at some point in their life. Sometimes small lacerations can be perceived as benign, inconsequential problems that do not need immediate veterinary attention and are managed by the owners or trainers initially. Unfortunately, these simple-looking wounds can involve very important anatomical structures that can lead to serious infections that can be life-threatening or, at best career-limiting, for the horse.
Large wounds tend to get all the attention from owners or trainers because when they occur they are so obvious and visually appalling that medical attention is sought almost immediately. Those types of large wounds can be devastating, but they often involve the upper body regions of the horse, which heal better and often don’t involve structures such as joints or tendons.
To read more, pick up a copy of the March issue of NTFR magazine. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
By Phillip Kitts
Have you ever wondered what the rodeo looks like for contract personnel in the winter?
This month we will look at what the winter months look like from the rodeo photographer’s perspective.
To understand the time and demands that go into a career as a rodeo photographer, let’s start at when the season gets busy. Not all rodeo photographers work the same. There are many varieties in their career field. They can vary from the few weekends here and there to the full-timer who travels more than 30 weekends a year.
The full-timer that spends most of their year working usually hits the road in late winter. Yes, the winter months are slower but the photographer who has cemented themselves into the field usually books a few during late winter.
Rolling into the spring it begins to get busy. Depending on the photographer, spring can start with an every other weekend type schedule all the way to every weekend through the summer. In 2023 there were photographers that had 20-plus weeks straight going from rodeo to rodeo.
When late fall rolls in things begin to slow down, even for the go-getter who books everything they can.
To read more, pick up a copy of the March issue of NTFR magazine. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
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