If it’s January; in Denver; it’s the
National Western Stock Show and Rodeo! I
love that smell. I love being around farmers,
ranchers, cowboys, and horse people. I love
their values: God, country, family. I love
their work ethic centered around kids, crops, and critters. I love their commitment!
We can learn a lot from cowboy
wisdom; Irish wisdom, too:
Then I remembered the Irishman's remark, that
one spur was enough, because if one side of your horse went, the other would be
sure to go.
George Pickett
My wife is a horse person; my younger son, his wife, and my granddaughter,
too. Coming from the Chicago suburbs, I
live with a whole different “herd” now:
My husband said if I don’t sell
my horses, he will leave me. Some days I
miss him.
Unknown Sage
My favorite National Western event is the draft horse
competition. On the surface, you see the
power and beauty of the teams and the teamsters. Their commitment lies below the surface.
In this 2018 picture there are (14), 6-draft-horse teams. That’s about 84 tons of horse! And, over eight million dollars!
Here’s my math (in 2018 dollars):
$105,000 for tack (42 sets of harnesses, hitches, and reins x $2,500 per set; 3 pairs per team - 2 horses are the wheel team; 2 horses are the swing team; and 2 are the lead team)
14 show wagons with trailer @ $25,000 each = $350,000
14 pick-up trucks to haul the show wagon trailers @ $70,000 each = $980,000
14 tractor-trailers to haul the 84 draft horses @ $110,000 each = $1,554,000
84 draft horses @ $60,000 each (average public auction price) = $5,040,000.
All in, that’s $8,029,000!
Those millions don’t cover hay (50 pounds per horse per day
x 84 horses x $5 per pound x 365 days = $7,665,000); plus grain (50 pounds of
grain per day…); plus shoeing… plus veterinarian … plus fuel for the vehicles…
plus, plus, plus.
The $2,500 1st Place prize money is certainly not
the reason these folks compete.
While others watch NFL playoffs on TV, these folks feed; fill
water; groom; polish tack and wagons; muck manure. While caring for their critters, they even eat
their meals in the barn. Commitment!
Western folks are committed to our U S of A, too. During the National Western at the start of every
day, as well as before each rodeo, everyone stands and “removes cover” for the
singing of our National Anthem.
Yep – I love the sights, sounds, and smell of the National
Western Stock Show and Rodeo!
GAP
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