“You can’t let your kids go to Walmart alone, but you can tie them to the back of a wild sheep – it’s the only legal child abuse in Texas” so said the compere at the Mesquite Rodeo (yes, that was Rodeo....) that we went to tonight. The Mutton Bustin’ was one of things going on at this fabulous family event, where boys as young as three got their chance in the ring to ride a wild sheep – tiny tots hanging on for dear life dressed as cowboys..... obviously they like to start their men on the macho part of life at a young age. The girls are probably all attending Daughters of the American Revolution meetings just like Sue Ellen Ewing! Not another tourist in sight, just families out enjoying the entertainment. It didn’t start well – a prayer for the safety of the riders and “our boys out in Eye rack” followed by a rather wobbly rendition of the Stars and Stripes by Miss Texas Rodeo 2009. But things soon took a turn for the better – beers and hotdogs were our fare for the evening. We watched bareback and saddled bronco riding, bull riding, steer wrestling, team roping etc.. The cowboys competing were real and dressed in their denims and stetsons (as were most men in the audience....) and they were competing for the purse fund and a place in the finals in Las Vegas. There was a clown of sorts who filled in between events with a few rather non pc jokes and jokes about President Obama who is not a favourite down in this rather right wing part of the US – surprising really as there were hundreds of kids in the audience, but we did laugh a lot and had a great time – and neither of us can believe we are saying that, but it was a true Texas evening. It cost us $100 for the cab and $22 for the rodeo – you really do need a car!!
