Finals at Pendleton w/ Barrels Round-Up Style

Whew!!! We've survived so far!

I say that because 4 days at Pendleton can take it's toll on a person. The trick is to pace yourself...and remember the word "moderation."

Really, we're not wild and crazy people, but we like to enjoy ourselves at Pendleton. We dance a lot in the evenings, and we also walk everywhere, so we're pretty beat by the time Saturday arrives.

We've shopped all we can shop, visited with numerous friends that we sometimes only see once a year...at Pendleton...and in general, we enjoy a good time with no responsibilities...no dogs or horses...just us!

Where we camp it's really nice and quiet...until 7 AM every morning. The live band starts up next door at Stillman Park for the Cowboy Breakfast. The first morning there's absolutely no way to sleep through that. But, by Saturday AM we're so tired, we actually slept until 8 AM...then it's time for coffee!

Each rodeo performance starts at 1:15 PM, so that gives us plenty of time to take showers, get breakfast, and window shop on our way to the rodeo grounds.

Saturday is obviously the best day for rodeo action. The top 12 contestants in each event come back for the championship. After each event is finished, the champion rides out on a horse with the saddle they just won and receive the rest of their awards in front of the South Grandstands. Then they take a victory lap around the track. It's really fun to see them carrying all their stuff and waiving to the crowd as they gallop around the track!

Well, let's head to the rodeo!!

I've mentioned that my camera just won't do a very good zoom from where we were sitting. I managed to get a couple during the bull riding. But mostly I took shots that were just interesting to me.

Ropers and steer wrestlers warming up their horses

on the infield while the wild horse race is being held.

The hard working pick-up men taking a

well deserved break before the next

event begins.

Clown and barrelman Keith Isley...he took over the

position when my favorite clown, Flint Rasmussen, quit

the PCRA for the PBR...I miss Flint :~(

What's this? Looks like a bunch of PVC made into

a fence...yep, and it's the fence they use for the bull

riding...crazy huh?!? It won't hold freezing

water in the winter, but it'll hold a bull!!

Well, it actually works...most

of the time! There were a couple of

breakouts...and boy can those cowboys laying in

the prone position "get 'n scoot in a hurry" when

a bull charges the fence!

A successful ride.

Here's the fence crew putting in a replacement

section after a bull busted through and broke

the fence.

Speaking of the fence crew, see all the guys with the

maroon shirts? They're part of the fence crew. There

are probably 30 guys that volunteer to help with

the fence. Sections of the track fence go up and

down at different times throughout the rodeo.

And of course the bull fence has to go up and down

twice daily when they have two sections of bulls.

They have to commit to be there every day

of the rodeo. Many of the guys have been

on the fence crew for years...they love it!

My friend Debbie...look at that tiny camera...but

she can zoom right in with it...a totally cool camera!

Ha!! But then there's these two guys in front of us.

OK...I'll take one of those cameras please!

BTW, they were from Germany!

You know how the sport of rodeo has been...and still is...

being criticized by the PITA wackos. Well, this

handsome gelding fell on the track after the

rider had gotten off.

He just collapsed...it looked really weird...nothing

seemed to have caused him to fall. But, he layed

totally still.

Well, they came in with the tractor and the sled

and removed the horse. Cowboys held the horse down.

Then about an hour later, after the vet had examined

him and determined there was nothing

wrong, they turned him into the arena

to show everyone he truly was fine.

It was a good ending!

You know how the bull riding is usually done at the end because it's so popular and they want to keep the crowd in? Well, barrel racing is more popular!!

WhooooHooooo go cowgirls!!!

I've been going to the Round-Up ever since I met My Man...this is year 12 for me. They didn't have barrels back then. About 5-6 years ago, they brought it back, and I really think it's the most exciting event at the rodeo.

These are the finals gals waiting for the

barrels to get set up.

I can feel the tension and excitement.

There was only .65 hundredths of a second between the top and lowest rider coming into the finals. Charmayne James still holds the arena record.

Our friend Brenda Mays (who will be going to the NFR again this year) was in the middle of the pack...so we really wanted her to win. But, she knocked over barrel 2 and it put her out of the money.

So...our next favorite is Linzie Walker. Her and her cute lil' horse has won Pendleton for the past three years...Can she do it again?!?

Is that exciting or what?!? I would love to have a horse that could do it. I think the hardest part of the pattern is that second barrel...no matter which barrel you start with the second barrel has the horse going straight toward a grandstands with lots of movement, color, and shading. I think the horse has a hard time finding the barrel after that long run across the infield. But, when they get it right, it sure is a pretty sight!

Congratulations Linzie Walker...4 time winner...2006-2009!

Well...that's it!! Thank you all for coming along with us on our vacation! I hope you enjoyed it. If you're going next year, I think we need to get a Blogger Meet 'n Greet going!

A couple parting shots...

My favorite truck sighting of the week.

The road that leads back home~~~until next year...

Let 'er Buck!