What is more fun than chute dogging, double-mugging, and bucking broncos? Not much for the rodeo-minded. Several hundred spectators and participants came from as far away as Hawaii to welcome the Rio Linda Best of the West Rodeo - sponsored by the Western Ways Association – back to the community.
The Rio Linda Rodeo, which previously had its last run in 1992, was back featuring many new and very unique events! According to Kimberly Quirarte of Western Ways Association, there was a new twist this year that brought in a Hawaiian theme.
One such event was Wahine (wah-hee-nee) Double-mugging. Wahine is the Hawaiian word for woman. Kane Double-mugging is the same event for males. Double-mugging is where two individuals – one on horseback, the other (mugger) on foot – wrestle a steer to the ground. Typically, the steer is to be tied up, but as Kim Quirarte – an actual participating mugger herself - pointed out, they were aiming more at having participants that lived to tell about the events rather than being technical about it! Kim also said that although the steer won every time, the fun was worth every bruise she sported afterward!
Another unusual event that came to Rio Linda this year was Rawhide Racing where one person on horseback drags a large rawhide by rope speeding from one end of the arena to the other and around a barrel. A partner on the ground has to jump on the rawhide as it flies around the barrel and hang on while being dragged back across the arena and the finish line at the other end. The team that accomplishes this feat in the least amount of time is the victor!
There were great events for the young-ins, too. Wyatt Rosenberry of Modesto was the Mutton Busting champion this year. For any rodeo-challenged readers, mutton busting is similar to bull riding; but much safer for the smaller participants by substituting sheep for the wild and crazy bulls. The same principles apply, however, the buckaroo that stays on the sheep the longest wins. Great job, Wyatt!
In true rodeo-style, there were the standard events such as barrel racin’, bronc bustin’ and bull ridin’. 21 year old bull rider, Jed Durnay, who decided at the mature age of 10 that riding an 1800 lb. mad bull for 8 seconds “sounded like fun”, has been doing it ever since. Although he has had to overcome some major injuries in his career, he says he “enjoys every bit of it”! Local Rio Linda native, Dani Jenner, took home first prize in the barrel racing contest with Kimberly Dillard coming in second place. Congratulations to all of the winners!
If you missed out on the fun this year, hang on to your hat because the rodeo will return to Rio Linda in September 2009!