People are crying for Diversity at the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo

In a news article published by Richard Connelly, he reports that there has been an outcry over the lack of diversity in the staff of the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo (HLSR). The leader of this outcry is Ben Mendez, a political activist and spokesperson for the National Hispanic Professional Organization. He claims that that there are only 7 minorites represented in the 320 member board. Of the 42 executives, there is only 1 minority. He also claims that the HLSR is a money-making business, and not non profit as they claim. The HLSR released a repsonse to these accusation, saying that Mendez has "presented a list of inaccurate statements and facts accusing the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo's volunteer leadership and salaried management of deception and non-compliance with state and federal requirements for non-profit organizations".

I know many people that have participated in, and have worked for this organization. I have never heard of it being in any way exclusive of participants, employees, or spectators. I think that this Mendez should look closer at the actual facts, and not jump to conclusions just to have his name bandied about in the press. For the full story please see Diversity.

Jackie Hobbs' strong showing at the WPRA Finals

Jackie Hobbs, of Abilene, TX made a strong showing at this years WPRA Finals held in Tulsa, OK. She came into the finals as the reigning All Around Champion from 2008, and was looking to regain her title. Hobbs was also the returning tie-down champion. Hobbs won the All Around title yet again, ending up almost $8,00o ahead of reserve. She also captured back to back tie-down roping titles, ending up almost $2,000 ahead of second place.

This is a strong showing of the talent and hard work put in by many of today's top rodeo cowgirls. The boys of rodeo should watch out. The girls in rodeo are here to stay and may even pose a threat to many of today's top cowboys. Gone are the days when women were just eye candy on fast horses in the barrel racing. Today the women of rodeo are showing the same grit and determination that has been a characteristic of the sport of rodeo since it came into being. Keep up the good work girls, and I hope to see y'all one day at the finals, competing right alongside.

Wrangler National Finals Rodeo 2009

Hooray for the NFR almost being here. I am lucky enough to be able to attend this year's finals during the first weekend. The finals start on December 3, and run through December 12. This year a record $5.75 million will be rewarded at the finals. Trevor Brazile is attempting to set a world record at the finals this year. He is attempting to win a record-tying seventh All-Around World Championship, which would tie him with ProRodeo Hall of Famer and “King of Cowboys” Ty Murray. To follow his progress through the finals go to the PRCA website. Going into the finals in first place is as follows:

Bareback Riding: Clint Cannon
Steer Wrestling: Steve Graves
Team Roping Header: Chad Masters
Team Roping Heeling: Jade Corkill
Saddle Bronc: Jesse Kruse
Tie-Down Roping: Trevor Brazile
Bull Riding: J.W. Harris
Barrel Racing: Brittany Pozzi

Good Luck to all the contestants at the finals! I will be there to cheer y'all on!

College Rodeo loses big-time sponsor

U.S. Smokeless Tobacco has, for many years, supported college rodeo and donated hundreds of thousands of dollars a year for scholarships for rodeo athletes. Unfortunately, they have decided to no longer be a sponsor of college rodeo. The new owners of the company (Altria) decided to no longer support the PRCA and pro rodeo. There are negotiations along the way to try and get continued support, but after January 2010, that money will no longer be available. USSTC has promised to provide scholarship money for the 2010 College Finals in Casper, WY, but that may be the last time the finals has such a generous supporter. The NIRA has recruited Copper Springs Ranch and the United States Team Roping Association as new sponsors, but they are going to have some big shoes to fill after all the support that USSTC has offered since they first began sponsoring rodeo in 1974.

Rule changes for the best

The National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association has finally put into effect the rule I have been hoping for. A bell collar catch in the breakaway roping. Before a legal catch consisted of the rope passing over the calf's head and then pulling tight on whatever body part it happened to catch. I believe that this is not right. Girls at the collegiate level should be able to catch a bell collar loop at this stage of the game. A bell collar catch is the rope passing over the calf's head and pulling tight around the neck (like a collar on a dog).

Having the rule the old way is like allowing pro bicycler's to leave training wheels on their bikes. There is no reason why girls at the collegiate level cannot rope this way. If they don't like it, then they should not be competing at this level. I for one applaud the NIRA for implementing this rule change. I only wish they would have put it into effect when I was still eligible to compete in college rodeos.

News regarding transporting horses to Canada from Texas

A new outbreak of a contagious disease was reported by the USDA and the Texas Animal Health Commission. Apparently a Quarter horse mare in Texas was found to be infected with Equine Piroplasmosis (EP). Many more horses were tested and veterinarians found 32 horses infected with this disease. This poses a sever health risk, as EP is a contagious disease. It is spread by certain ticks or by the transfer of blood from infected horses to unaffected horses through shared needles.

Symptoms of this disease are weakness, lack of appetite, fever, anemia, swollen abdomen, and labored breathing. This is a very serious problem as there is no vaccine for this illness and the treatment options available are not fail-proof and are still being researched.

The problem for horse owners is that Canada has imposed restrictions on equines originating in Texas that are being transported to Canada. The USDA will no longer endorse any health certificated for equines being transported from Texas to Canada. Also, any equines being exported to Canada from other states must have additional certification that during the previous 21 days the animal has not been in the state of Texas. These restrictions are in place until further notice.

For further details and contact information go to the RodeoUp website.

Local Ropings

For anyone looking for cheap and fun local ropings, Ricky Canton out of Navasota, Tx, puts on roping series at least twice a year. Ricky is an WNFR qualifier and is a renowned calf roping horse trainer. This weekend was the last weekend of his 2009 fall series. They gave away belt buckles in every roping which included, 15 & Under Jr. Tie down Roping, Girls Breakaway, Open Breakaway, 00, 1, 2, and Open ropings. For more information on Ricky's ropings, you can visit their website at RickyCanton.com.

Coming up in January, Ricky will once again be moving his ropings to Huntsville for the Winter Series ropings. They will be held at the Cowboy Country Arena in Huntsville, Tx. I am pretty sure they will be giving away belt buckles again for the winner of the series. They are also hosting a benefit roping, November 14, to help pay the medical bills of the parent's of a little girl who died recently. For more information about this roping, you can look at the flier which has more information here.

This weekend Ricky announced that they will be adding a Jr. Tiedown roping to the benefit roping. That information is not on the flier that I posted above.