Just Like Me ?

When you have a son you think I hope he grows up to be just like me, until he does. When they are small it is neat to see them pretend to ride a rank bull / arm of the couch. Then the time come to ride rank sheep, so off to the show we go. I enter him up in the muttin busting thinking he will get drug off and it will be out of his system, then on to something else. Hmm I was wrong he won the jackpot the first time he entered up, collected his winning's and was ready for the next one. After a few times of not winning it was out of his system and he was ready for something else, digging threw old photobook's and the facebook he see's the bullfighting pictures of his father. Now my son is working as a sheepfighter and wanting to work his way up, so I ask can't you just rope instead. All this time I thought it would be cool to see my son follow me becoming a bullrider / bullfighter but when it starts to be a reality it makes you think long and hard about there future. I will not push him, and sure wont hold him back I will support him in the path he chooses.     

I Went Where !?!

    

I Went Where ?

Most of June my wife and I took a little trip to England yes the County. Like most Texas raise ranchers I have not had the opportunity for world wide travel, as there are always cows needing tended to and horses to feed. During my rodeo days I did some traveling mainly Texas and to Oklahoma a time or two, but nothing like what I was about to experience. For those who have been to England or travel the world often this might seem silly to you, but for me it was scratching a lot of first off my list.Threw our travels we stayed at a few places from downtown London to spending time in York then in North Yorkshire on an Sheep/Cattle farm. From the people we stayed with and others we met most of them we nice and got a kick out of the Texas accent. Now my wife is a history buff so this was mainly a trip down thousands of years of history. We walked threw castles filled with history some were just ruins and others had been maintained and as I walked threw them I thought of all the historic events that happened there and Kings that had walked the same steps as I. Sure we have history here in the US and half of mine dates back to the Native Indians, but that falls short in comparison to the ancient times in England. We seen a ancient Roman bath house, remains of a Viking Village and plenty of historic locations that make you wonder what it was like in those times. York was a very cool place and is covering an ancient Roman city that they discover more of each time the dig up and replace old building. We toured old Abbey's , Churches, Castles, Battle sites and Museums I tell you I though I new a little about the old times, well I sure learned a lot and it was great. We dinned at the old haunted Golden Fleece, walked the Shambles and did plenty of people watching. Now while there I did ride my first subway, first train, and walked plenty of stairs as most of the places are old and full of stairs. The rental car was an experience in itself all switched around in the car then driving on the opposite side of the road. The first few days driving took time to get comfortable in the car and on the road and there road signs where are whole different deal. I'd say the US is big on over posting road signs well in England most signs are not visible from the road and the mainly single lane roads were only the size of the miniature cars the drive. Long story short after a few days I had the roads down and we toured that county like nobody's business the places we visited and the things I seen were amazing and in a few years we will be back touring once again.

Contact us at PepperStewart.com if you want the links to the Youtube video's of the trip while touring the Castles and Churches.

Ever Watched Miniature Bullriding ?

 Your youngster a big fan of bull riding?
The MBR Miniature Bull Riding is your answer for that youngster who wants to get in on the action.
Friday night May 30th we went to cover the Marchi & Shivers MBR event in Terrell, TX and watch the youngsters ride. I can tell you the sport of miniature bull riding has grown tremendously since I had a pen of mini buckers back in 2005. Now days you have a few mini bull riding association to choose from and a couple of them have roots from past PBR world champions.A couple of them have been guest on our show TEXAS RANCH N RODEO WEEKLY to explain there coaching and youth philosophy of the next generation of professional bull riders. At the MBR event Friday night they had ages 8-14 with the exception of Guilherme Marchi's son JG who at 5yrs old rode his bull to 64 points that night. The bull power at the event was fitting for the ages of the riders from the jump kickers, a few that hopped along and in the older group a couple that turned back in a slow spin. The bulls seem to be matched great with the riders to build confidence in these youngsters and help get them started in a positive direction.
What I mean is that if these youngsters have to use all their try every time they get on one and still get slammed in the dirt they will loose confidence. Bull riding is 80% mental and only 20% physical you will not over power a bull, but if your bucked off in your head before the chute gate opens it's not gonna turn out in your favor. Enough word rambling for me, but if your youngster wants to get involved I highly suggest contacting a mini bucker association and get them started on a successful program that will build confidence and head them in the right direction. If your a fan of bull riding try to make it a point to go watch these future superstars doing what they love. 

  

Cattle and Technology

I Can't Be That Old : Many years ago when the computer first landed in school classrooms I made a comment that has comeback to haunt me." Why do I need to learn that, what good will that do me on the back of a horse " Well, now that happened nearly thirty years ago and look how far we have come with technology. It was about fifteen years ago I finally got a Mobile phone and traded in my "beeper" / "pager", what a beating that was trying to find a phone before the third page with 911 on the end. Some of you will get that?  There are kids today who have never heard a dial tone, or got chance to get tangled up in the 50ft cord on the kitchen wall phone. Now days you have electronic ear tags, GPS, cattle management computer programs, and the computer tablet you can carry in your pocket. A lot of the larger cattle operations are very technologically advanced than they were less than ten years ago. With the new computer systems a simple scan of the ear tag and the entire life history of the cow pops up on screen much like your medical records at the doctors office. Current Applications on your phone allow you to watch Television, check Weather, Cattle Market Reports, Satellite Maps, and even a GPS that allows you to mark where fence repairs are needed so that you can return to make the repairs. Although the cattle industry have come along way, there are still some old timers who have done it their way the same way since birth and will never change. I, like many other have surrendered to technology and do not go anywhere without my IPhone. There are times I think back to that day I first seen the large TV style box with the black and white letters and think where has the time gone.  When I pull out my IPhone while on the back of my horse to take a picture it's then you realize there is no going back now and wonder whats next. 

THE AMERICAN 2015 Who's Ready?

Rodeo Fans We Got You Covered : As you know history was made last year with the largest payout of a one day rodeo ever with 2 million dollars in prize money. This event had everything from legends of the sport to the current top rodeo athletes in the world so what more could you ask for. Then there is the money and the opportunity for a competitor to walk away with one million dollars and yes that happen to Richmond Champion and what a fitting name. If you happen to miss the event last year take a few minutes and google  RFDTV The American by Ranger and you will find plenty of great stories on the historic event. Well guess what The American will return for the second year March 1, 2015 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington Texas home of the Dallas Cowboys football team. The show TEXAS RANCH N RODEO WEEKLY #TRNRW  will be covering the event again this year from the dirt and I tell you standing arena side last year for the inaugural event was an awesome experience. Those not familiar with the #TRNRW we cover ranch and rodeo events mainly in Texas but also covers a few outside news worthy events too. This year #TRNRW will cover The American from the first qualifier event down to the finals ride at AT&T Stadium and heck we will even give out some tickets on the show this year. I hope you join us every Monday night for clips and highlight leading up to the March 1st event and you continue to watch #TRNRW showing you support for "The Greatest Sport On Dirt".