The Outside Circle: BHSU tickets, Canterbury Park meet approved, NFR Watch Party, series, roping and grub history lesson

     We had some freezing rain, snow and cold this past week. It came as a surprise to many who always seem surprised when the northern plains get winter weather, in winter. I’m more surprised when we don’t. Fortunately, I had retained my ability to drive on slick roads and had no problem. I did defensively move away from a car with California plates though. Seemed prudent.

     With the NFR in full swing, then Christmas and New Year on the way, events are pretty slim pickings right now. It happens every year.

     In preparation for the new year coming, the Black Hills Stock Show tickets are officially on sale now. When buying tickets, be sure you utilize the genuine site. There are so many ticket scammers out there that you can easily be fooled. The official website you’ll need is http://www.BlackHillsStockShow.com. Also, use extreme caution when buying event tickets from social media pages.

    Here’s some good news for Thoroughbred racing! Canterbury Park in Minnesota had their 51-day racing season approved and it will run May 23 through Sept. 19. To get specifics on dates and times, to to http://www.canterburypark.com.

    The Buffalo Gap Blow Out NFR Watch Party and Ugly Sweater Contest is Dec. 13, 5 p.m., at the Buffalo Gap Community Center. It’s $20 at the door and fun for the whole family. For more information call 605-890-1533.

    The Winter Gymkhana Series at Riata Ranch, Cheyenne, Wyo., has set the dates. They are Dec. 28, Jan. 4, 18, Feb. 1, 15, Mar. 1, 15, 29 (finals and awards). They’ll offer barrels, poles, keyhole, flag race and Big T events. There’s a $6 arena fee per person entry fees are $6 per event. You can enter 10-11 a.m., cash only and it starts at noon. For more information contact Amanda 307-640-4617.

    The 7^th Annual Toys for Tots Team Roping and Dummy Roping has been rescheduled for Jan. 3, enter at 9 a.m., rope at 10. The dummy roping is for kids and the age groups are 6 and under, 7-9, and 10-12 years. The roping will be aat Goshen Co. Pavillion, Torrington, Wyo. For more information call Cory Clark 307-351-9556 or Michael McNamee 307 534-5156.

    Signup is open now for the Buzzard Bait Bucking Ponies Rough Stock School Jan. 17-18. It will have barebacks, saddle broncs, and bulls and is $400/student. It will cover all of the fundamentals from the ground up. To learn more or to get your kid signed up, call Kerry 701-880-8372.

    There’s definitely been a hard freeze now, at least -15 would be at my place, so it’s time to get those horses dewormed. The horses will winter easier without the parasites draining their life blood, damaging their insides and messing their systems up. You younger folks who have grown up in this era of good and effective dewormers don’t remember the days of having bot fly “grubs” making bumps on a horse’s back in the spring. They’d feel about like a pinto bean under the hide and if one shaved the area, there would be a little hole where the grub would eventually emerge at the adult stage. The grub would be visible if it was developed enough. In order to ride the horse, the bumps had to be addressed or the grub would get smashed under the saddle and lead to a nasty infection that was hard to get rid of and take the horse out of the rotation for work. We’d shave the hair off the bump with a straight razor and see if the hole was there and if it was the size of a match stick, we could extract the grub. A pop bottle full of scalding hot water would be at hand, and if the area was prepared, the bottle was quickly dumped and then the mouth of it was held over the grub mound and hole, pressing down firmly to seal it. As the bottle cooled the vacuum effect would pull the grub out of the hole. It was kind of entertaining if you weren’t squeamish. The hole would then have some sort of horse medicine put in it and allowed to heal, which would happen pretty quickly. If the horse had to be used, an old felt saddle pad or a piece of foam pad the size of a saddle pad would have the area against the grub hole cut out to alleviate pressure and the horse could go on being ridden. I sure don’t miss those days.

       Well, that’s my circle for this week! Have a great week and please pray for our nation, our first responders, ICE and our military. May God Bless America!