Runner of the Woods -not edited-

Rodeo Days

Chapter three

Bo tagged along behind me as we walked toward the arena. Just as we got there they opened the gait to let one of the cowboys out on the bull. The bull jumped forward and landed on his front hooves, kicking out his back ones, he continued to do this while spinning in a tight circle. The poor cowboy on his back hung on for dear life. Finally his 8 seconds were up and the bull kicked out, and the poor boy flew off his back.

As soon as he hit the ground he jumped up and ran to the fence.

“Alright folks that was Johnny Grabenhors, and our bull Bad to the Bone! Johnny had a time of 9.5 seconds and a score from our four judges of 35!” the announcer said, “next up we have Hunter Wood, and he has been assigned the bull, Jamaica Me Crazy.”

Oh god, I thought, that’s a bad ass bull. He had a buck time of 4.5 seconds. I was worried about Hunter but I have faith in him.

Bo and I found a seat in the stands and sat down. They let the bull and Hunter out of the chute, that bull was insane. I sat on the edge of my seat as Hunter was thrown around on the bulls back. The timer went off saying he had done his 8 seconds, finally that bull started runnin and made a quick turn, Hunter flew off his back and hit the ground hard. The landing knocked the wind outta him.

“Alrighty! That was hunter wood and Jamaica Me Crazy, with a time of 8.6 seconds; his score for the ride was…” he paused, “39 points! He’ll be a hard one to beat!”

I whooped and hollered his name, I ran down the stands to the fence and since I am in the rodeo they allowed me back to where the riders were. I saw Hunter and ran up to him. I threw my arms around his neck and hugged him.

“You were amazing!” I told him.

He laughed, “Yea, but I knocked the wind outta me!”

“Well I have to go get Cowboy ready for the cutting competitions later tonight,” I told him, “I'll see you later.”

I walked back to the stables with Bo behind me, when we got there I put him in the stall with Night, since they always got along with each other. I put on Cowboy’s halter and clipped it to the tie in the stall.

I grabbed all the different brushes and groomed him; I ran the dandy brush down his hair, getting rid of all the loose hair and dust. When he was shiny and clean I grabbed the hoof pick and picked up his left front leg. I picked out his hoof and then got all the other hooves. He stood calmly for me and didn’t resist.

“How the hell do you do that?” someone behind me exclaimed. I stood back up and looked at them. Jacob stood looking at me.

“Do you really not know how to do this?” I asked raising an eye brow.

“I know how to do it, but Midnight keeps resisting,” he said.

“Well then you obviously don’t know how to pick out a horse's hooves. Let me show you.”

I walked to Midnight’s stall and walked in. I went up to the mare and rubbed her face. I leaned down and ran my hand down her leg. I squeezed the chestnut on the back of her leg. She picked her hoof up easily. I cleaned it out and did the same with all four.

As I left her stall I told Jacob, “By the way she has white fungus in her hooves, try soaking it in Epsom salt.”

I went out to my truck and grabbed Cowboy’s show saddle and saddle pad. I went back to him and put the pad on his back, and then I put on the saddle. I untied the girth and pulled it under his belly. Then I looped the girth strap around the metal rings. When it was as tight as I could get I tied it off and grabbed his breast collar. I put it on and then grabbed his bridle.