Chapter Four

I had so much fun on the Fourth of July at Belle Fourche, S.D., that when we got on the trucks to drive across Wyoming and go to Vernal, Utah, I was still excited.

In case you didn’t read my last chapter, Lyle Welling, from Crawford, Neb., won the rodeo on me. It was especially great because my foal, little Miss Sassy Pants was with me. All the other mares had their babies with them as well and it was a good learning experience for them.

We left Belle Fourche on July 6th and headed to Vernal. It’s not a bad trip, just 600 miles of Wyoming scenery. When we got to Vernal we had a couple of days to settle in before going to work. The rodeo was July 9-12 and I was in the first and last performances.

The night of July 9th, they sorted me out of the pen. I ran down the alley and headed to work. I was wondering who was going to ride me and heard it was going to be Shaun Stroh. Well I know this guy is tough. I was at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo for the first time in 2004 when he got bucked off in the second round, fractured his back and continued to ride.

I know this guy rides really well and we’re going to have some fun. I’m in the chute being my usual congenial self. Shaun takes care of his end, quietly and quickly putting the saddle on me. He measures his bronc rein, steps over the chute, settles down on my back and nods his head. They opened the gate and I stalled a little. I tried that in Belle Fourche, thinking it would rattle Lyle’s cage, but it really didn’t work. That time, they shut the gate, Lyle regrouped and it was on. This time, I could tell it wasn’t going to get to Shaun at all, so I just took one humongous leap out of there.

When I landed, Shaun was right with me and we started the party. He matched me jump for jump and when the judges added up the scores, we had a 90-point ride. I was happy. I think Shaun was happy too.

While I was waiting in the chutes, I heard him talking to the other guys about his family. They were all giving him a bad time about being the lucky guy to draw the big bay mare -- that would be me -- and I heard him say he’s got five kids. Well me being a mom, that set me to thinking about a cowboy’s life and I was honestly hoping that he would ride me and we’d get him to the pay window. I was thinking he could use the money.

He’s got four boys and one girl, the good news for him is he doesn’t have four girls and one boy. I know all about how high maintenance daughters can be. But my heart goes out to his wife. He’s out here trying to ride me and she’s home with five kids. She’s got to be tough.

I had two nights off before my next trip. And, I put the time to good use trying to instill those patience lessons on Miss Sassy Pants. She wants to know everything and do it now. I got back to the pen after Shaun rode me and she was saying that she thought I should have kicked harder and if it was her, she would have thrown him out of the arena.

I told her she’d get her turn and if she does what I tell her, listens to Khadafy, world champion bareback horse and mentor to all of Powder River Rodeo’s bucking horses, and follows her instincts she will get her chance.

After two days off, I was ready again. I waited patiently in the pens until sorting time. I was so excited, it didn’t even bother me that Miss Sassy Pants kept telling me what I should do when I got in the arena. This time it was Kaleb Asay that drew me. I’m thinking this is a Wyoming cowboy and wouldn’t it be cool to have a Wyoming cowboy and Wyoming bucking horse win the rodeo in Utah.

I knew I was going to have to turn it up a notch if we were going to beat the 90-point ride that Shaun had Wednesday night. But, it is Saturday night and these fans are wild. I was so pumped up I had to really work to stay quiet in the box and give Kaleb a fair shot. I heard Roger Mooney talking about me and how Shaun is leading the rodeo on me. Kaleb was calm and talking to me and I think this is just another day at the office. Finally, it’s our turn and I explode out of the chute again. I guess I exploded a little too much, because Kaleb didn’t hold his feet, missed me out and got a no score.

I’m not sure who was more disappointed. That guy rode me really well and we could have really put some big numbers on the scoreboard. That makes me happy. If I buck a guy off honestly, that’s okay, but that mark-out rule doesn’t really help my record. I’d much rather have a new arena record.

So, I give myself five minutes to get over it and head back to the pens and I now have a whole new story and explanation for Miss Sassy Pants and all of the babies. They were glad to have us moms back and all in all behaved pretty well.

The next morning they back my truck up to the loading chute and I’m ready to get in it. They headed north and when we went through Rock Springs, I knew we were headed home. I have mixed emotions about going home because I know that it’s time for Miss Sassy Pants to stay there and let me focus on my job. Her lessons with me have come to a close for a while and as independent as she is, I know she will do just fine.

We weren’t home very long so I didn’t get to dwell on what was going on in my personal life. It was time to load up and head for Rock Springs. We went over there for the Red Desert Roundup, July 24-25. Because there’s a little rodeo down the road in Cheyenne known as the “Daddy of ‘em All”, we always get good contestants at Rock Springs. I was excited to go and was hoping I’d draw Rusty Allen, or Chad Ferley. Or, maybe even Chet Johnson who has yet to be successful on me. I’m sure he’d like another opportunity and he is one of my friends on MySpace.

Boy was I surprised when I found out who would ride me. He’s from my hometown of Riverton, but I had never heard of him. I’m thinking about what I’m going to do with this rookie Justin Mills. I could tell he was excited and maybe a little nervous about getting on me. It was business as usual until they opened the gate.

I took my usual big jump out of the gate and he stayed with me. Another jump and he was still there. Well, I thought about those babies that want to grow up to be like me and I let this guy have it. I bucked higher and harder than I had all year and he got loose. My front feet hit the ground and he came out of the saddle. I kept bucking, he came over my neck and it was over.

So far I’ve been to three rodeos and they’ve won two of them on me. I’m still inspired to keep the legend of the Wyoming bucking horse alive and spread the word about our great state. So I’m really excited to tell that we’ve added that to my name. I will now be known as Wyoming’s Miss Congeniality and the first place I’ll be bucking with that title will be at Caldwell, Idaho, for the Ariat Playoffs. I’m sure I’ll have more great stories to share!

My name is Wyoming’s Miss Congeniality and I’m proud to be a bucking horse!

p.s. Check out this cool video my friends at Wyoming Travel & Tourism made for me:

Miss C Hits the Road

When I saw cowboys on horseback riding into the pasture, I knew it was time for me to go rodeoing again. They gathered us up and took us to ranch headquarters where my truck was waiting.

I say it’s my truck and while I’ll ride in any trailer that will get me to a rodeo, this is the one I like best. Powder River Rodeo has one truck with my name on it and I love riding in a trailer behind it. So my traveling partners and all of our babies load on the truck and head east.

I’m pretty sure that we are on our way to Belle Fourche, SD. That’s usually where we are on the Fourth of July, and the Black Hills Round-Up is the second place I ever had a cowboy on my back. It has a real special place in my heart, especially now since it is the first trip my babies make with me. I think it’s real important for all of them to get on the trailer and have a rodeo experience when they are little. It prepares them for their future and gives them a taste of life as a bucking horse.

I kept an eye on the highway and watched the scenery along the road. There sure was lots of green grass traveling across Wyoming. The more we drove, the more convinced I became that we were on our way to Belle Fourche and I started getting excited.

My baby was being her usual self and wanted to know why we left the ranch and where we were going. I know she hasn’t got a professional name yet, but I call her Miss Sassy Pants. She is so sassy and sometimes she gets a little too big for her britches.

So I tell her that the one thing I haven’t really talked to her about is patience and that’s something she needs to learn if she is going to grow up to be a bucking horse. We had plenty of time to talk about that and I think she started to

We got to Belle Fourche a few days before the rodeo started. It gave us time to rest and more time to explain to our babies what was going on. The first day of the rodeo came around and I’m waiting to be sorted out of my pen. I watched and waited and I was a little disappointed when they left me in my pen.

The next day started early. We got fed and there was a lot of commotion at the grounds because of the parade. I’m watching horses coming and going and floats go by, so I know that today is the big day at the Black Hills Round-Up. It’s the Fourth of July and we’re going to have an afternoon performance. Sure enough, I get sorted out of my pen, along with Sundowner and Tangle Ridge and our babies. We’re in a pen in back of the bucking chutes and I’m pacing back and forth by the gate. I can’t wait to go kick up my heels in front of the crowd.

Miss Sassy Pants kept asking me what was happening. I told her I was going to be away from her for a few minutes that she needed to stay calm and pay attention. I finally had to push her away from me and explained I needed some time to get my game face on.

They opened the gate and I ran down the alley to the bucking chute. My heart is racing and I can’t wait to see who the lucky cowboy is that gets to try to ride me. They told me that Lyle Welling from Crawford, NE would get on me.

I’m thinking ‘who in the world is this guy?’ I’ve been to a lot of rodeos and never heard of him and I don’t expect much from him. So I’m in the chute and this tall lanky guy brings my Miss Congeniality halter and slips it over my head. He’s so calm and quiet I’m wondering if he knows who I am.

He puts his saddle on, measures the bronc rein and takes care of business like he knows what he is doing. I’m pretty calm in the chute, just waiting for the gate to open so I can plant this guy in the dirt. Well he pats my neck several times and I figure out that he knows who I am and I might have my work cut out for me.

They saved me for the last bronc ride of the day, so I got to watch my friends. Then the announcer, Chad Nicholson, starts talking about me and I know we’re getting close. Lyle settles down on my back and the guy is still calm as a cucumber.

He nods his head. They open the gate and I decide I need to rattle his cage a little bit so I just stood there. They closed the gate again and I expect him to get off and regroup. He just stayed right there, got settled again and nodded his head and it was game on.

I came out of the chute with my usual first big jump and surprise surprise, Lyle was still with me. I bucked, twisted my back end and he matched me jump for jump. Wow, this guy can ride. The buzzer went off and the pick-up men moved in.

I got to take a little lap around the arena. My mane was flying and I held my head up because even though Lyle rode me he did a great job. As soon as they got his saddle off, I headed back to the pen and Miss Sassy Pants.

She was glad to see me and full of questions again. She couldn’t see the arena, so I explained everything that happened. My lecture on patience must have worked because she listened to everything that I told her. We hung out in Belle Fourche another day before getting on the truck to go to Vernal, UT for the Dinosaur Roundup.

We headed west and when we got to Gillette, it reminded me I was near Wright, WY, where I was born. Then I saw a sign for Casper and it reminded me of the time I bucked at the College National Finals Rodeo there.

The road is full of memories and stories and I’m going to make more this year. We drove through Rock Springs, WY. I will be bucking there sometime during the Red Desert Roundup, July 24-26. I love that rodeo too. We always get good contestants because there is a little rodeo down the road in Cheyenne known as the “Daddy of ‘em All” and a lot of the guys try to work both.

I’m getting back into shape and ready for the rest of the year. Miss Sassy Pants is getting bigger and it’s time for her to let her independent nature shine. I think she’ll be leader of the foal pack and spend the rest of the summer growing at the ranch in Riverton. She’s learned a lot going to Belle Fourche and Vernal with me, and if she uses those lessons, she will also have a great life as a bucking horse.

My name is Miss Congeniality and I’m proud to be a Wyoming bucking horse.

Image Captions:

Little Miss Sassy Pants sneaking a peak underneath Miss Congeniality’s neck.

Lyle Welling and Miss Congeniality waiting for their turn at the Black Hills Round-Up Rodeo in Belle Fourche, S.D., on July 4th.

Pick up man Jeff Rector leads Miss Congeniality out of the arena after a successful performance at the Black Hills Round-Up.

Chapter 2

Last time I gave you some background on my parents so that you would understand that I truly was bred and born to be a bucking horse.

Just because it’s bred into you to be something doesn’t mean that you will want to do that or be successful at it. To show you what I mean, I’m going to tell you about one of my heroes and mentors.

His name is Khadafy and he is a three-time world champion bareback horse. Like me, he was born in Wyoming. Unlike me, his parents were not bucking horses and probably did not encourage him to buck like mine did. He is a registered Quarter Horse and he could have been anything. He has a lot of Thoroughbred influence in his genetics going back to Top Deck and Three Bars. His dad was a black horse named Tom Micks that sired 78 foals. He is out of a mare named Steen’s Star that goes back to Oklahoma Star and Ranger Hancock. With these bloodlines, Khadafy could have been a top-notch ranch, roping or performance horse.

It’s not surprising that Khadafy is an athlete. It is surprising that he is a bucking horse when all the rest of his family were raised to be saddle horses. To hear him tell it, he bucked off every ranch hand from Bridger National Forest to the Wind River Country where we now live.

I think that might be an exaggeration. He was four-years-old when the Franzens purchased him for Powder River Rodeo Company. They picked him as the best bareback horse the first time in 1990 when he was seven. Then he won again in 1995 and 1996. They retired him in 2004 at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR). He was 21-years-old then and that dude was still bucking.

I hope that my career lasts as long as Khadafy’s did. When we were young, he’d lead us into the trailer and he was great to prepare us for the adventure ahead. I wish everybody could be at a ranch where there is a pasture full of bucking horses and see what happens when a trailer backs up to the loading chute.

Horses’ heads come up and we all start jockeying for position to get in line and get on the truck. At the Franzen’s place, Khadafy used to always take the lead. He’d get so excited and looked like he was having so much fun that we all had to join him.

Khadafy wasn’t bred to buck, but I never saw a horse that loved it more than he did and that includes me. I may love it as much, but not more. He was always calm in the back pens and the chute, saving all of his energy for when the chute gate opened.

He still hangs out with the young horses at the ranch and while they don’t get to see him in action like I did, they pay a lot of attention to his stories. And, even though he’s not bucking anymore, he still has a lot to teach them if they just listen.

Most of the time, Franzens start bucking their horses when they are about four-years-old. They might take them to a high school or college rodeo or put them in a rookie event somewhere. That’s kind of how I got started. But my trip was nothing like they had expected.
The first two times they took me anywhere, I jumped out of the arena. One of those times was during the rookie bronc riding at Belle Fourche, S.D. It was there that I got my name. It was about the time that the movie came out where Sandra Bullock plays an FBI agent that wins a beauty contest.

Not to brag, but I think they found the perfect name for me. I may be big and strong, but I do have that long flowing black curly mane and I know I could win a beauty contest for bucking horses. But it definitely is not all about beauty. I’m smart, athletic and do try to get along with everybody.

After that I never tried to jump out of another arena. I was in the rookie bronc riding at Belle Fourche and I figured out that I liked what happened inside the arena. I was big and strong for a four-year-old, bucking off everybody that tried to ride me, so Hank and Lori decided I was ready to go on the rodeo trail. I’m sure glad they made that decision, because I was selected for the NFR that very same year.

Now every time I get loaded on a trailer, I get a good look at the Wyoming license plate that is on the back. It’s said that the bucking horse that’s on those plates is the legendary horse Steamboat. I think it’s pretty cool that Wyoming’s state symbol is a bucking horse and I sure wish I could have known Steamboat. Whenever I see that image I’m inspired to go be the best that I can be.

I had my baby since I last wrote and I’m proud to tell you that I had a filly that looks just like me. I’m not so proud to tell you that she is a sassy little thing already. If I didn’t know better I would think she only had one word in her vocabulary and it would be why. It’s going to be a long trip to Belle Fourche for the Fourth of July.

I can just hear her, “Why are we getting on this trailer, why are we going towards the sunrise, why are we leaving Wyoming, why, why, why?” It will be a good lesson for me to be a patient mother and I hope I can remember that she only asks because she is smart and she’s sassy because she’s proud. It will be fun to show her off a little and give her a taste of the rodeo life. Because, like me, that’s what she’s bred and born to do. Then we’ll let her grow up and let Khadafy have some time with her to teach her about what’s in her heart!

After Belle Fourche, we’ll be in Estes Park, Colo., and Vernal, Utah, before coming back to Wyoming for Rock Springs. Even though Rock Springs isn’t the biggest rodeo in the state, it’s one of my favorites. We always get good cowboys there because of a little rodeo down the road they call the “Daddy of ‘em All”. I wanted to let you know that I have a myspace page too and would love to have you on my friend list!

My name is Miss Congeniality and I’m proud to be a Wyoming bucking horse.