Chasing Butterflies Around the Rodeo Arena

When they finally call my name, I’m not even sure if Caz knows that we are here for a barrel race.  It’s the first rodeo of our 2012 season.  He walks through the gate and lopes towards the first barrel.  I notice how slow he is going and think about turning the first barrel too late.  I’m almost to the fence. As I go towards the second barrel my body takes over.  I go from one hand to two hands and then back down to one as Caz approaches the second barrel. 

I’m still thinking about the first and wondering why Caz is so slow. 

LOPING TO THE FIRST BARREL

Last season he had worked up to a nice fast lope. I hope that he isn’t hurt or sore from the six hour drive.  I wonder if he stepped on a rock in the parking lot. I also think he might be sore in the back because he's so stiff on his turns.  And then I’m startled by the closed gate, our race is over.  There is no run out like most rodeos.  So there we stand as the crowd is fairly silent after my display.

Did I even go around the third barrel?  I think back.  I can’t remember anything after the first barrel.  It’s like my body and horse ran, but my mind got trapped in the details of the first. I pat my horse on the neck hoping no one noticed my confusion and moment of befuddlement. I leave the arena.  I walk him back to the trailer.

“Mom! What happened?” Kaylin asked.

“What do you mean?"I asked her for clarification as I had already forgotten the episode I had had in the rodeo arena.

“Mom, you barely were riding your horse!  You didn’t even 'look' while going around your barrels.  That’s not like you!”  Kaylin explained.

 “Oh, I don’t know.  Caz was a good boy though, he didn’t act scared or nervous about anything.  I’m so proud of him.” I give my horse a big hug, and walk up and down the driveway behind the arena, cooling him out.  After untacking and putting the horses up, we rush back into the bleachers to sit with our friends who are watching the rest of the show before going to the dance hosted by the Malibu Ranch.

“Wow!  What was Caz doing? Lori, were you chasing butterflies around the arena?”  One friend asked. Another friend used his finger to make a curly cue ribbon trailing in the air designating the path we took while covering every inch of the arena.  I laughed at the image their question evoked.  I didn’t respond.  

I let them lavish Kaylin with kudos on her first rodeo run with Leyna this year.  She only has one run at one other rodeo previous to tonight, so this is a big night for her. Everyone cheers as she enters the bleachers and walks up to our seats.  All eyes are on her! However, the friendly picking continues, “We saw you looking at the hot guys on the fence at the third barrel Kaylin, we all know that’s why you went a stride past. You just wanted to get closer to the hotties!” and everyone cracks up laughing again.  I just love my group of friends, they are so much fun to be with and so light hearted. No one mentions anything else about my run.

I sit in the bleachers surrounded by friends.  We are not in our usual spot.  We are on the right side, way at the end. It feels weird.   In front of us are the roping chutes. I consider my run again, wondering what really did happen. I question my memory to see if we had actually made it to the third barrel.  It's right there where it always is, set in front of the roping chutes.  I don’t remember being there at all.  I just don't know. I do know that it was a thrilling run and now I'm watching bull riding with my wonderful rodeo friends waiting eagerly to hit the dance floor over in the saloon.

This isn't the time to fret about all the time I spent in the arena.  I'll worry about my run later, when we get home.   I will watch our video and plan our daily training sessions based on what I see. I'll get help from my friends and family, and we'll pull the next run together and shut that clock off in a hurry!