Outside Circle by Jan Swan Wood: Time and flies, summer series, clinic, horse show, mules and more mules, sightseeing horses
I can’t believe it’s June already. Time sure marches along when you’re two months behind. The fencing projects have been moving right along, unhampered by rain and mud. It’s been a little windy though, and I was nearly injured when a log chain I was using to pull posts blew in the wind so hard that it nearly snapped me like a whip.
The wind does keep the flies hunkered down and not as bothersome for the livestock though. Scripture says to be thankful in all things, so I’m trying. My good horse that got his tail injured last winter can’t switch it, so I’m thankful for the wind that keeps the flies off of Rush’s fanny.
The Great Plains Indian Rodeo Association’s website is up and running with the new rodeo schedule on it! You can check it out at http://www.gprodeo.com.
The Dupree Jackpot Summer Series, Dupree, South Dakota, will be kicking off right away. The dates are June 9, 23, 30 and July 7 and 21. The last three dates are also NBHA sanctioned. You can enter at 4:30 to 6, exhibitions will be at 5, devotions at 6 and the events start after that. There will be open 4D, youth and peewee barrels, goat tying and goat tail snatching for the little ones. You don’t have to be a member to participate, but you must be for the year end prizes. You can look it all over on Facebook under Dupree Jackpot, or for more info, call Linda Olsen at 605-365-5148 or 605-200-1311.
The Johnson County Weekly Night Rodeo, Buffalo, Wyoming, will be Wednesday nights, 7 p.m., June 1-27, except July 6. There will be barebacks, rookie and open saddle broncs, bull riding, team roping, tie down roping, open and junior barrels, goat tying and breakaway. The entry office opens Monday 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. at 307-217-0220. Timed events can enter the rodeo at 6:30.
A Boxing (with horses and cattle, not fists) and Ranch Riding clinic is set for June 10 at the Central States Fairgrounds, Rapid City. C.R. Bradley, Collinsville, Texas, 23-time AQHA Open and Reserve World Champion is the clinician. Morning will be boxing with a $70 fee and afternoons ranch riding for $50. Each session is limited to 15 people so call right away to get your slot. Contact Georgia Sutton at 605-264-5452 for details.
The Black Hills Summer Circuit Quarter Horse Show, July 7-10, has been approved for the SDQHA year end points, plus approved for CONQHA and WQHA points too. You can contact show management, Mary Glass, by email at goldbuckle100@aol.com.
If good mules are your weakness, the place to be June 15-19 would be Ralston, Wyoming, for Jake Clark’s Mule Days. There’s jackpot team roping, barrel racing, goat roping, a mule rodeo, trail course (all sale mules must participate in it), mule races (those boogers can run!), a dance, parade, art show and lots of other activities and fun people. This year they’re having a ranch bronc riding too (on horses, not mules). Ralston is a beautiful little town in the basin west of the Big Horns so the trip there can be a great summer trip in and of itself. I’ve been to Jake’s deal and it’s a blast from beginning to end. You can get a catalog or more info by calling 307-754-4322 and you can check out the website at http://www.saddlemule.com.
The Lodgepole Valley Saddle Club 2016 Buckle Series, Sidney, Neb. will run June 19, July 10, Aug. 21 and a fun day Sept. 11. Signup is at 10 a.m. with the classes at 11. There will be barrels, poles, flag race, ring toss, stake race, keyhole race and 50/50 draw. It’s open to all ages and levels of riders. Call Laura at 308-249-5019.
Philip Livestock, Philip, South Dakota, will be having an open horse sale Tuesday, June 21, after the regular cattle sale. Call their office at 605-859-2577 for info.
I saw something the other day that made me want to pull my hair out. As I was driving through town (a big town, over 4,000 people, even) a pickup pulling a nice, big slant load trailer was coming from the other direction. The windows were wide open and those nice horses had their heads out looking at all the sights. Now, knowing horses as we all do, and knowing they can get gravely injured while wrapped in bubble wrap, why in tarnation would someone haul them down the road with their heads hanging out in traffic?
Well, that’s my rant for the week.
Be sure and send me your news items, upcoming events and suchlike. Give it a couple weeks lead time before the event too, please. Have a wonderful week and pray for rain.