After coming out of Yellowstone Park exhausted but alive, I made my way to Cody, Wyoming. Full of tourists from all over the world, the town is home to the Cody Night Rodeo. Celebrating its 74th anniversary, the rodeo takes place every night from June through August, giving Cody the title of Rodeo Capital of the World!
As I made my horses feel at home at the rodeo grounds, cowboys and cowgirls came to say hello. After explaining where I was coming from and where I was going, a team ropers from Nebraska turned to me and said, “You’re like a real cowboy man. Traveling on horseback like they used to do it.”
I thought he was the real cowboy roping here all summer lol, but I took the compliment! As I watered my ponies another cowboy from Texas came over to chat. After 3 minutes of talking, it was official, I would rope that night using his horse!
“I used to tie-down rope in high-school,” I told him.
“No shit, you can use my horse to rope tonight,” he shot back.
“Okay,” I responded trying not to show how nervous I was at the thought!
During my high-school rodeo days I could rope a calf and make it look good. I even made it on the Wrangler All-Star team two years in a row qualifying for the National Finals. Since University, I hadn’t roped at all! I maybe threw a rope 6 times since I moved to Toronto to study journalism.
Now there I was, at the rodeo capital of the world entered to rope in less than 8 hours… What if I made a fool out of myself in front of all of those people? This was the only thought in my mind. I tried to calm myself and did the only thing I could – I practiced.
For the next 7 hours I must have roped that dummy a thousand times. I roped it over and over again until my arm felt like it was going to fall off!
As the rodeo approached Coleman White tacked up his horse Speedy, and talked me through how to handle him.
“Speedy here is going to get you to that calf, you just have to focus on riding him… He will come out hard from the box,” Coleman told me as he tightened the cinch.
After warming up our loyal steed it was time to take off our hats for the playing of the National Anthem. My stomach was in knots as I stretched out my legs. I was the fourth roper out and tie-down roping was the second event after the bronc riding. As the rodeo started the stands began to fill up.
After watching the guy before me miss his calf, I knew there was no turning back. I walked Speedy into the box and got my rope ready. When I saw that the calf was standing straight in the chute I turned my horse around and backed him into the corner.
“A Brazilian cowboy… This guy is riding a team of horses from Canada to Brazil, I’m serious man,” the announcer said over the speakers as I smiled nervously.
As soon as Speedy’s butt hit the pipes I straightened him out and nodded. The rest was a blur.
Reins down, rope up, throw.. Got him… Lost my right stirrup… Hold slack and get off somehow… run, flank, one wrap on the tie and hands up… this is all I remember. As I walked back to my horse the crowd cheered and I finally felt relaxed. I didn’t win the rodeo but that didn’t matter! The important thing is I didn’t embarrass myself lol 🙂
Special thanks to Coleman White, Ken Sabath, Mary Moe and everyone who helped me out in Cody!
