Equine
Giving Back in Rodeo
By Phillip Kitts
Around the rodeo world, the countless stories of good deeds and support of others is enough to fill a book. It always seems the rodeo community and the roots of the rodeo family have a deeper understanding of taking care of their own.
In the same breath, just looking around the world, one can see the droves of complaints about the youth of our nation and the so-called cancel culture. The fact is, the complaint between generations probably goes back farther than just the current generation, but it just seems to have become more profound in recent years.
In the end of September, and first part of October, a group of youth made a very quiet but profound statement that they refuse to be categorized with the masses. To understand this quiet stand, one must acknowledge the platform where it begins.
The Southern New Mexico Fair and Rodeo has a rodeo that continues to grow and flourish as a large part of a week of activities. This rodeo includes a night of Ranch Rodeo, two days of professional rodeo and a barrel race. Each year, this rodeo committee looks for more ways to highlight the western lifestyle and the roots of America. In 2022 when the committee recognized there was a need to dedicate an evening to rodeo fans who face special challenges, they accepted the task and developed something special. Thus, the New Mexico State Fair and Rodeo Exceptional Rodeo was born.
To read more, pick up a copy of the November issue of NTFR magazine. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
By Krista Lucas Wynn
The American Western Weekend on March 8-9 at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, was a weekend full of rodeo competition that fans looked forward to for the past 10 years. The night of the American rodeo is something cowboys and cowgirls have worked hard for, in order to have a chance to win a $1,000,000 prize.
The top five from the 2023 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo were invited to compete alongside five contenders. The invitees were vying for a $100,000 paycheck for first place, and if a qualifier won their event and was the only qualifier to do so, he or she walked away with $1,000,000.
In the bareback riding, Kade Sonnier, Keenan Hayes, Jess Pope, and Tilden Hooper made it out of the long round of 10 to advance to the final four-shootout round. WNFR qualifier, Sonnier, made a 90.5-point ride on Agent Lynx to win the $100,000.
To read more, pick up a copy of the May issue of NTFR. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
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.
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