Goat Ropers and Mutton Busters

Saw a billboard along the highway promoting a high school rodeo scheduled for next month. A couple of events were listed that really brought home some wonderful memories for me. Does the term 'goat roper' mean anything to you? No? How about 'mutton buster'? No? My friends, you are missing out on one of the greatest rodeo events for children short of the 'calf scramble'. WHAT!!!? You never heard of that one either? Well, it's past time you were acquainted with these action packed events provided just for children. Read on.

High school rodeos include the full range of events; bareback bronc riding, saddle bronc riding, bull riding, bull dogging, and barrel racing. Some of these events are just for the guys; others are just for the young ladies and all are great entertainment. But none of these events hold a candle to the youngsters competing for ribbons in goat roping and mutton busting. It's an opportunity for these little cowpokes and cowgirls to compete with the big kids.

Let's start with goat roping or goat tying as it's called in some parts of the country. This event is mostly for the little cowgirls that can ride a horse and is a genteel substitute for calf roping. Little girls learn to ride horses at a young age on home ranches in West Texas as I'm sure they do in other parts of rural America. It's fascinating to see a four year old girl riding a tall horse of fourteen hands. But this is normal for western kids.

Here's the set up. A small goat is tied to a stake in one end of the arena. At the signal, a cowgirl rides her horse to a designated station in the arena and dismounts. Running to the goat, she flops him on his side and ties three of his legs together. Quickest time wins! After a few throws, the goat wises up and begins heading away from the horse even before the rider dismounts. This is where the event gets a little tougher and a lot more fun. Goats are changed frequently.

Sometime the horse is omitted and the really little tykes just run to the goat and untie a ribbon from his tail. Other times the task will be to tie a ribbon to his tail. The actual requirements vary upon the size, age, and skill sets of the contestants.

Mutton busting is for the young lads. Sheep are lined up in a narrow chute, a bucking rig belted around his chest right behind his front legs. The young cowpoke is seated on the sheep's back, he grabs the bucking rig, digs in with his knees, and nods to the gate keeper when he is ready to ride! Bang! The gate opens and the sheep dashes out into the arena. Sheep usually don't buck but run straight ahead. The look on the little cowboy's face is priceless.

Hanging on for dear life, they fly down the arena at great speed, losing their hats in the process. Some riders fall off right away into the soft earth of the arena floor, others ride till the whistle blows or the sheep runs out of gas and just stops. Either way, the ride is over and there is great joy for those who hung on. For those that fall off, they go home mad and a little wiser knowing Mom or Dad will work with them to improve their performance for the next rodeo. It's a great microcosm of life.

Finally, the calf scramble is an event scheduled during the intermission of almost all rodeos. A young calf with a ribbon tied to his tail is held by a full grown cowboy at one end of the arena. At the other end of the arena are all the kids who could convince Mom or Dad that this would be a good thing to do.

At a signal from the announcer, the calf is released. At the same time, the kids are given the green light to GO! The innocent little calf observes the mob closing in on him and decides he had best head for the hills. But, there ain't no hills! Just an arena that seemed huge a moment ago is now very small indeed. The chase continues till one of the kids frees the ribbon from the tail and gives it to the master of ceremonies.

All these events are hugely entertaining. Most rural communities have what is called play days where you can see this for yourself. No one is hurt, the kids have great fun, and the livestock is never mistreated.

You owe it to yourself to find these rodeos and play days. See these youngsters in action. Check with local 4H clubs, high schools, riding clubs, or even the Chamber of Commerce. You'll find plenty of action and good clean fun.

After you've been to a couple of rodeos, you'll need a good western hat, some boots, a belt, and...well, you'll get the idea.

PB

"Pass the Senate Bill, Please"

That's the title of Paul Begala's Op Ed piece in the Huffington Post, dated today, January 26, 2010. Let's review (and make corrections) some of Paul's more obtuse assertions.

Paul, you are a hoot! You actually get paid to write this drivel?

You accuse the Republicans of being close minded, not pragmatic, and disrespectful of the feelings of others. But how would you know? Republicans had no voice. Republicans were locked out of the health care discussions while your Democrats cut deals and bought votes behind closed doors. Do the Louisiana Purchase, the Cornhusker Kickback, and the Union Cadillac Insurance deals mean anything to you?

Further, you complained that "the voters" rewarded the Republican mindset by sending Scott Brown to the Senate because he promised to defend the status quo on health care; in other words, to stop it in it's tracks. Let me hasten to assure you that this vote in Massachusetts was not so much for Republicans, but for conservatism. Republicans are not highly regarded either, but right now, they are looking a lot better than they were a few days ago. The voters, your former voters, are against the Democrats' continued reckless spending, bail out plans, stimulus packages, and especially this odious health care plan. There are even Democrats who don't want to proceed with this plan.

May I remind you that these are the same voters that put Obama in the White House last year? Your voters, Paul, the Independent Democrats, voted against your health care takeover by handing Democrats stinging defeats in Virginia and New Jersey and now Massachusetts. You're zero for three now. Wanna make it a complete sweep? Just pass this ill advised health care takeover against the strong warning that you have just received from Massachusetts.

You are convinced that the Democrats lost in 1994 because they did not pass health care in Clinton's early days. Wrong! Democrats lost big in 1994 because Clinton used a midnight deal to push through the Assault Weapons ban. Clinton said this himself. You could look it up, but then you would be...informed. I'll tell you now that after Clinton took his licks in 1994, he moved to the right. Was this on your recommendation? Do you even remember what he did after the 1994 wake up call?

I'm not going to continue to tear down your editorial piece by piece. Already you have made so many wrong headed assertions, it would be fruitless for me to correct each one. So my final comments will be limited to these few words.

Martha Coakley lost because of the Attorney General's decision in the middle of a tight Senate race to try the Christmas Day terrorist in civil court.

Martha Coakley lost because of the Democrats' extreme arrogance in the middle of a tight Senate race by locking out the Republicans, buying votes, making sweetheart deals with powerful Union bosses and by attempting to ram the health care bill through against the wishes of the overwhelming majority of Americans.

The White House owes Martha a huge apology! And you still recommend passing this albatross over these objections? Have at it. Full speed ahead! See you at the polls.

America is not in the mood for more of the same from your party. Push this through now and the Democrats will not have another opportunity to lead for decades.

On second thought, that may not be a bad idea.

PB

California Inmates to Mexico???

Today, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, came up with a brilliant idea! Send undocumented aliens in California prisons to Mexico. Hmm. Seems I've heard this somewhere before.

Now, Arnie wants us to pay Mexico to build special prisons to house these illegal immigrants. "We'll save millions," he says. Good idea? You think?

Hold up on that thought, pilgrim! Let's do a little homework.

About 25 years ago, Mexico came to us, offering to house and feed our violent felons in their already existing Mexican prisons for a fee of $6.00 per inmate, per day! Now that was a splendid idea. Paul Harvey did a cost analysis and reported on his program that billions of dollars could be saved.

Currently, our violent felons are housed in air conditioned comfort with access to everything from orange juice to exercise to a massive library. Many felons actually receive college degrees while behind bars! Free! And if one is mistreated by a guard, the guard is severely reprimanded. Mexican prisons are real prisons. This won't be allowed to happen down there.

Imagine if you will the reaction of a Mexican guard to a mouthy prisoner. Can you envision a difference? In a Mexican prison would violent felons lie around in air conditioned comfort, eating, drinking, watching TV, and getting a free education? Not likely.

Try a little road work from dawn to dusk. Try a good swift kick in the rear if orders are not followed. Try real justice in the form of appropriate punishment for the crimes they committed.

Not fair, you say? Families can't visit? Rehabilitation can't succeed? Rubbish! We are talking about violent felons. Violent felons whose rights should have disappeared along with the rights of their innocent victims. True rehabilitation only comes at the end of a rope.

Social workers, parole officers, and bleeding heart Liberals as well as defense attorneys may have to get real jobs if this were implemented. But so what? Rehabilitation ain't workin' now. Let's cut our losses.

Send violent felons to Mexico.

PB