Mutton Busting

Mutton Busting: A rodeo sport. Children weighing under 45 lbs ride bare back on a small mutton (i.e. sheep) holding onto a rope until they or the mutton fall over. This event is timed and judged. 50% of the final score is how well the rider rides and 50% is how well the mutton performs. 

This might just be a South East Idaho thing but we LOVE our rodeos! My dad is on the Madison County Fair board and we love going and supporting him as well as our favorite Horses Dick and Homer (above). For the 4th of July we ended the day at the Whoopie Days Rodeo in Rexburg followed by some fireworks. The kids loved having all their cousins around and just watching the animals. 

My Dad asked the boys- Mack and my nephew Brenner- if they wanted to do the Mutton busting after we watched the event and they were both pretty excited about it! I was more than hesitant! I thought for sure the Mack wouldn't want to do it, but he wouldn't stop talking about it and was really excited. So I held my tongue and let him try.  After all- he was pretty close to the weight limit so I new this might be his only opportunity to try. 

Saturday night we got there early and waited anxiously for the event to start. Randall and my brother Kyle were so proud that they're boys were doing it- I think they were more excited than the boys were!  

Here is the video of the actual event! Brenner goes first then Mack is right after him. Turn down the sound because I am super annoying! Lexie and I were shaking and really nervous- I about threw up after Mack got rolled on, it was a very weird feeling. Thank heavens he was ok! He had a little road rash on his cheek but other than that he said, "It felt like a big blanket was thrown on me!" He is a tough kid and had a blast doing it! I was relieved when it was over! 

My nephew Brenner won the even! He was so proud and so were we, he held on like a champ! Mack placed 3rd in the event with about 10 other kids. It was a fun night, we left not long afterwards and did a little firework show at our home. 

The whole family was so supportive and came out to watch. 

Here is pictures of Mack coming out of the gate! I love that you can see Randall (in stripes) and Kyle(in blue) in the gate helping them come out! These guys were living their own childhood dreams!

  Mack got a great big sheep butt on his face!! He thinks this picture is so funny! 

 

 Then here is the pictures of Brenner...

 It was a pretty dang fun to watch. 

 My Dad had his team (Dick and Homer) bring out the Grand Marshall and follow the Americana's out for the opening number both nights. Here he is exiting with our friend Rodney. 

It's crazy how hard it is to let your kids do things that you know might be a little dangerous. I really just wanted to say "No, he is not doing it!" But inside I knew I shouldn't say anything and let him make the choice. Mack is such a sweet boy, he is sensitive and very cautious- I was so proud of him and how brave he was. He never felt bad about not winning and was a great sport, cheering the other kids on. He is patient and observant and seems to take everything in. He is always teaching me, he loves unconditionally and puts others before himself. It is just his nature. To say he is loved is a understatement, we feel blessed everyday that he is ours.