Rodeo action!

This week we had our first real pro rodeo experience - and LOVED it!! :D

On Thursday night we went to the Cloverdale Rodeo kick-off party, which was a concert featuring famous Canadian country artist Terri Clark. I have been a fan of hers for years, so I was ecstatic to see her live, and even Ben (not much of a country fan) enjoyed it! Amongst all the old favourites, she played her upcoming single Gypsy Boots, a medley of old country songs she used to play in the kitchen for her mum (who has cancer and was in the audience), and a funny new "turning 40" verse of Better Things To Do. Then she invited us right up the front for the final few songs. It was great!



Here's a video that hopefully even our non-country-fan readers will enjoy - a solo by the band's awesome fiddle player, a girl who quit college at 19 to go on the road with Terri Clark...

And here's a verse of Girls Lie Too...

The next night, we went back for the first night of the Cloverdale Rodeo and Exhibition with Myla, Shonna, Angharad and Heidi. Cloverdale is only half an hour from where we live, and the Cloverdale Rodeo is Canada's second biggest pro rodeo, right after the Calgary Stampede. This means they had a whole bunch of world champion and Canadian champion rodeo riders, and even an Aussie!

So we saw the Saddle Bronc, Bareback Riding, Bull Riding, and Ladies Barrel Racing events... and in between that we saw clowns, a Mexican Charro (horseman with amazing rope skills), and the Mutton Busting event - i.e. tiny kids riding sheep; extremely cute and hilarious!! Here are some photos and videos...


The world champion in the Bareback Riding event...

Ladies Barrel Racing (there was at least one grandma in this!)...

Mexican Charro, Tomas Garcilazo...

Mutton Busting...

Bull Riding...

And a group of clowns trying to catch some colourful runaway chooks (funnier than their actual act)...

Afterwards, we had a wander through the fair and enjoyed some mini donuts before heading home. It was a great night!