South Dakota’s High School Rodeo season is set up quite differently than what I experienced growing up as a kid in Texas. Our season lasted the entire school year. Here, it wouldn’t work quite that good, since there’s snow on the ground by Oct/Nov and it’s not usually nice enough to want to be outside full-time until April. So that’s when their season starts. April. And they have rodeos nearly every weekend until the third weekend in June. Which works out well for us, since that is the weekend we brand around here.
Friday afternoon we ventured up to Timber Lake, South Dakota which is where The Cowboy’s daughter lives. Her home-town high school rodeo was at 5pm that day.
There was lots of pink…
A cute little brother…
Bling. Don’t forget that bling is an integral part of a barrel racer’s wardrobe!
Pink, Green and Bling make for a lot of color! And of course, Wranglers are important!
It had rained all week, and so the arena was less than dry! In fact, it was a bit icky.
The first barrel really sat in a mud hole!
Despite the muddy ground, it was an absolutely gorgeous day outside! Timber Lake turns 100 years old this year. They have an annual celebration, complete with an Amateur Rodeo sanctioned by the South Dakota Rodeo Association every year. This year, it’s their Centennial, so it’s going to be a really big deal.
Like at most rodeos, there was a grand entry. Albeit, this one was small.
There’s always at least one cute little dog at a rodeo. At barrel races, they’re practically a pre-requisite accessory for every barrel racer!
Now it’s time to get down to business. Barrel Racing is the first event at this rodeo. I like it like that!
I think Kelsy’s horse, Pommel thought that mud around the first barrel was not cool.
I love the look of concentration, on both their faces! Run, Pommel, Run!
Time to run home!
I took a lot of other photos from the rodeo too- some before it started, when they ran the roping calves and steers through the chute, to the other end of the arena; and plenty more of the barrel racers. Next week, I imagine there’ll be even more photos- and maybe some of the other events!
Here’s the rest from the Friday. Enjoy!
XO
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great pics, so how’d Kelsey do? BTW I LOVE her belt! Any clue where it came from?
I see leaning-no leaning! She’s gonna be good.
Great pictures too bad the arena was so muddy, that is never fun, especially the clean up after! This weekend was our local highschool rodeo too! Luckily our arena is so sandy when it rains the footing gets even better!
I sure didn’t miss having to deal with the muddy arenas at the HS rodeos this year. Meg opted out of trying to compete in Colorado until she has her next horse ready.
I heard White River didn’t even have a practice rodeo this year? What did they do to compensate for the Triple Crown they used to have-Kadoka, WR, Burke ??