Rodeo Jumper

Rodeo Ride

I watch the cattle stir as the sun started to rise over the showgrounds, I can hear the horses snorting as the munch on their morning hay, the smell of the fires starting up for breakfast strangely comforting and with a slight breeze in the air indicating it will be a perfect day for the rodeo.

'Come on cowgirl, or you'll miss out on breaky!!'

'Coming dad!' I yell, as I jump off the rail in the cattle yard, startling some of the cattle. I run past our horses, stopping and giving my horse Navaho a sugar cube from my pocket then continuing on to our campsite to get ready for day one of the rodeo. The Campelton rodeo is held every year and people come from all over the country to compete, some travel up to three thousand kilometres to compete here, some with world class horses, some of the country's best bull riders and others just to watch the world renowned bulls and broncs. My father, the famous horse trainer Harry Walters don't have to travel, but we find it easier to camp at the grounds than to transport seven horses the morning of the show. Usually my dad just comes to watch me compete and give advice to young riders which they eagerly listen to, but this year he has decided to compete with his old companion Bonton, his trusty quarter horse gelding and test the legs of one of his project stock horses Jackie-o. He also bought along -after years of nagging- four young horses to sell, which should sell for a decent profit as anyone would kill for a horse trained by him.

I scoff down some bacon and eggs then rush over to saddle up Navaho, but when I get to the yard I find his gate open and him nowhere in sight, I climb to the top of the rails and let out a high pitched whistle and get a loud whinney and hear the galloping of hooves followed by swearing as I see my big grey gelding come barreling from behind a group of trucks. He stops alongside the rail I'm standing on and I leap to his back, riding him the way he came, as I rounded the trucks sitting in a pile of dust was a boy about seventeen years old.

'Well shit cowgirl, didn't know you taught him that trick' he says as he gets up dusting himself off.

'What and fall for your games again slick? I don't think so' I say with a laugh helping him up on Navaho, but before he can get settled I push Navaho into a fast canter almost causing him to fall, but luckily he has better balance than that. My cousin Kyle and I have grown up together, he thinks we're only friends because he thinks I need a guy friend to protect me if I ever got bullied, I think it's because he knows I can kick his butt. He always tries to play tricks and gets away with it most of the time, all he has to do is batt those blue eyes and everyone thinks he's innocent, I know otherwise. I'm constantly hated by girls because we hang out so much, and I don't blame them, he is quite the charmer, with his blue eyes and blonde hair, he looks just like a storybook prince charming.

'So, gonna kick some butt today?'

'Of course, you know Navaho is on top of his game and he's got a championship to defend' I chuckle as I give Navaho a pat, feeling the raw power beneath me.

We walk back to Navaho's paddock and hope off, Dad comes running up yelling something. as he approaches I can finally make out what he says and then I realise what the time is. I'm late! I run over to the trailer bringing out a heavy dark tan turquoise well oiled saddle with matching breastplate and bridle, and a turquoise saddle blanket. I'm in such a rush I'm having trouble doing up the cinch so Kyle pushes me out the way and does it for me while i grab Navaho's boots.

'I'll do that, you just get ready' he yells at me.

I nod gratefully and race into the trailer to change into my good boots, dark blue jeans, turquoise shirt and lucky cowgirl hat, I use to wear it everywhere, hence the nickname. I stop at the car mirrors and have a quick look, not to bad, I take a deep breath and relax, then walked back to where Navaho was waiting ready to go. I checked the girth as always before mounting up, and walking him out, I have five minutes before I'm up, I rode to the warm up area and have a look at the competition, most of the girls are the usuals with a couple of new faces around. I take Navaho for a trot around the outside and let him just stretch out and relax while the junior beginners have their runs, until it the junior pros are called into the yard where we're given our numbers, I got fourth out of nine, our usual number. We stand to the side of the start so I can watch the girls before me, the rounds went fifteen point seven seconds, fourteen point eight seconds and one barrel knock and the third rider was fourteen point nine seconds, it will be tough to beat.