Youth rodeo returns to Ten Sleep

TEN SLEEP - Youth 14 years of age and under will take over the arena for the 2015 Ten Sleep Youth Rodeo on Saturday, July 18 beginning at 9 a.m. This marks the 10th year for the event sponsored by the Ten Sleep/Hyattville Lions Club.

The activities are usually completed between 2 and 3 p.m.

Awards and buckles will be handed out in the bleachers immediately afterward.

The Youth Rodeo offers 15 events the kids can enter: All ages includes Costumes and Ribbon Race. In the race, each team will hold a ribbon between them without breaking or dropping the ribbon from the starting line, go around a barrel and race to the finish line.

In the costume category, horse and rider both have to be decorated.

Events for the younger kids include Dummy Steer Roping, Barrel Racing, Goat Tail Untying, Goat Tail Tying, Stick Horse Race and Mutton Bustin’.

The longest ride wins in Mutton Bustin’ while in the untying event, the contestant will run to the goat, remove the ribbon from the goat’s tail and throw their hands in the air. Best time wins.

In the tying event, the contestants must ride into the arena, dismount behind the line, run to the goat and tie a ribbon onto the goat’s tail and throw their hands in the air.

The Stick Horse Race is a foot race from start to the finish.

Steer ropers get three throws from behind a line and the most horns caught wins.

For the older kids, events that will take place are Barrel Racing, Flag Race, Potato Race and Pole Bending.

In the Flag Race, the rider picks and places two flags without dropping them.

All contestants will be mounted horseback for the timed Potato Race. Riders spear a colored potato and drop it into a matching colored bucket.

There will also be Steer Riding for ages nine and over - a six-second judged ride for contestants.