Choosing to follow the rodeo is automatic for some cowgirls and cowboys.
"My dad is an old RCA [the old term for Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association]
cowboy who was pro for many years," says Kaycee Anne Board. "I haven't
lived any other lifestyle than a horse person, so it's not really like
I woke up one morning and said, 'I think I'll try...rodeo.'
It takes many years to learn all the tricks of the trade. I haven't even
begun to learn."
She's adept at team roping, barrel racing and breakaway. "I've
even played shoot hand and timekeeper!"
Having to supplement a rodeo income from other sources is the norm. Dustin
Amundson works another job when he isn't bareback and bull-riding. So
what makes rodeo so attractive to these hardworking performers?
Called "The Hotman" on the rodeo circuit, John Rivera talks about the fans.
"The fans are the best in the world."
Amundson also enjoys the people he works with. "I love the company of the
folks who participate in the rodeos as other competitors, judges, clowns,
performing acts and...fans. There's camaraderie and an inherent friendship
among folks who participate in this line of work."
But it's a love tinged with sadness -- most rodeo events are inherently
dangerous. Amundson sums it up this way: "These are the three things I least
like about rodeo: one, having to ride right after someone has been hurt; two,
traveling and, even worse, traveling alone; and three, the injuries."
But rodeo's attraction remains powerful, while providing more than
the average supply of laughs. "A bull was jumping halfway out of the first
chute and me and a friend were in front of the chute," says Rivera. "The bull
had jumped up twice and I told my friend to punch the bull in the nose if
he stuck it up in our business again. My friend was ready to punch when the
bull came up and over the chute. My friend fell off the fence into the arena
and I got stuck behind the chutes with the bull trying to stay safe. I was
told it looked like someone kicked an ant hill the way the boys were coming
out of the chutes area!"
"To a youngster starting out," says Board, "I just tell them winning isn't
everything. It's nice to win but if you feel good about what you do,
and you love doing it, that is the best feeling. You have to learn how to
lose before you can win."
Amundson adds, "Don't use drugs or alcohol at all, since you need
to be 100 percent when you're competing. Use the proper safety gear,
a vest, and I'd go so far as to say a helmet when starting any roughstock
[animal] events. Once you decide you want to do it, have fun and don't
get discouraged. It takes time to develop talent."
Rivera adds, "Try hard and never quit. Try also to stay healthy. The rodeo
is full of ups and downs, so don't get disappointed when things don't
go your way, cause it will change."