Rescue Race

A ranch rodeo by nature is a wild event. If you have never been to one (www.strrf.com) you should check one out. Cap and Ely had entered a team in the local ranch rodeo since they were old enough to sign the release forms. Their careers had started out as a couple of young guys who ended up hurrying through every event and lost more time than anything having to do things twice. Then they progressed into the older phase where their skills had improved and they were pretty good competitors who the younger guys watched. Now they were just novelty entries....and they knew it!

A ranch rodeo can have all types of events and every kind is entertaining. Some have a Ranch Bronc Riding or a Stampede Race to make things interesting. This particular event had what was called a Rescue Race.

The Rescue Race can be done several ways and this one was pretty unique. One cowboy stands on the top of a 55 gallon drum at the end of the arena. Another cowboy is horseback at the opposite end of the arena and when the flag drops, they ride at full gallop down the pen toward the man on the barrel, then ride around the barrel while the man standing on it jumps on the horse behind the rider and they have to race back to the other end riding double. No problem right? Right.

Cap and Ely discussed their strategy out back. "It makes sense that since I have the fastest horse I should ride and you should stand on the barrel", reasoned Cap. Ely wasn't so sure.

"I like the idea that my horse is gentler and would be easier to jump on. Fast ain't always good if someone is busted up when the dust settles." said Ely. Cap wouldn't hear it.

"This is a speed event and we have to be fast." said Cap," If you're scared we can get Jaime to stand on the barrel and I'll ride to him. He'll try anything once. We really need the points in this event to have a chance at winning."

"I ain't scared...I just think it would be easier with a gentler horse."

They both stood looking at each other and Ely had seen that look on Cap's face before. Ely turned and walked toward the other end of the arena. The event was about to start.

When it came their turn Ely was standing on the barrel at the other end of the arena. Cap tightened up his cinch and was ready to go. He had tied a short piece of rope on the saddle horn so Ely would have something to grab ahold of if he needed it. That rope would become more pivotal than either one of them realized.

The flag dropped and Cap gouged hide. Now the normal person would get going good and then start to slow down in preparation for the turn around the barrel...Cap wasn't normal. About 10 yards before he got to the barrel he started hollering "JUMP! JUMP! JUMP!". He just wanted to motivate Ely to help them win.

Ole bay came towards that barrel at a high rate of speed and Cap was hollerin' at the top of his lungs. Naturally all of this commotion spooked Ely a little...and ole bay alot. Now horses are amazing creatures, but there's several things that their nature won't tolerate. Some of these things are loud noises they aren't used to and humans standing on barrels who then try to jump towards them. I guess it brings flashbacks for them of predators trying to kill and eat them. Whatever the case may be...they don't like it.

As Cap came around the barrel, still hollerin', Ely made a desperate grab for the saddle horn and Cap's waist. His leaping attempt was a little mis-measured and he grabbed the back of the saddle with one hand and managed to grab ahold of the rope tied to the saddle horn with the other. At that point, it was unclear who was rescuing who.

Ole bay left the vicinity of that barrel at a HIGH rate of speed. Cap was still hollerin', but now he was hollerin' "WHOA! WHOA!" while trying to break the bridle reins by pulling back in an attempt to stop the horse. Ely was hollerin now too, only it was "AHHHHHH!". The bay horse was still freaking out...horses can't holler or he would've too.

The race back to the other end of the arena was pretty short. Ely's legs were dragging as he was holding on for dear life to a runaway horse that Cap couldn't stop. The good news is that they set the new arena record in the Rescue Race. Everyone agreed it was brilliant strategy on Cap's part to not have Ely even mount the horse. Ole bay was much faster dragging 150 lbs of screaming for dear life cowboy than he was carrying it.

The bad news is that next year Jaime is the new rescue race barrel man...and Ely is riding!

Hold on Jaime!


Walker