72 - Gettin' Ready

This cowgirl is getting ready outside of the Fort Worth Coliseum (the first indoor rodeo arena) to Barrel Race, while an earlier contest is leaving head down.

Goal is to ride in the fastest time around three barrels in a cloverleaf pattern. When they enter the arena, they are at full speed, "attacking" the first barrel, circle it, hitting the other barrels (2 & 3) and then gallop as fast as possible back to the starting line.

The riders pay an entry-fee and according to the number of contestants riding, the winning money is either won alone or split up to place four, if there are a huge number of riders. The rodeo, which also features cowboy events as bull and bare bronc riding and roping takes place every Friday and Saturday in the Stockyards of Fort Worth. Not all events take place on the same day, for more information check out their official Website, Stockyardsrodeo.com.

Sources: barrelhorseworld.com, stockyardsrodeo.com
This shot and other photography of mine are available through Dispatch Press Images for publication.

Donald Lee - Fort Worth Drover

While strolling through the stockyards in Fort Worth, I ran into drover Donald Lee. Dressed in vintage looking western outfits, he helps twice daily (11:30am and 4pm) to drive a herd of longhorn cattle through East Exchange Avenue. Easy job, somebody may perceive quite quickly, well not that fast.

Besides riding out there in everything from ice and snow to 110 (43C) degree weather, there is also the upkeep (like shoveling manure) of the horse, the stable, the cattle herd and the pens. And if this is not enough, like all the other drovers, they are also ambassadors, spreading goodwill about the old traditions, the history of the cattle drives and why they disappeared as well as educating kids about the daily life and chores, like branding.

The big cattle drives are long gone, their heyday being between 1860 - 1890. The only cattle being auctioned off these days is by satellite video conference. So go out, visit the Stockyards in Fort Worth and learn something from the past. For more information visit the Visitor Center online or in person.

He also rides in his spare time, below you can see him and Molly, a paint.

Sources: Branding Picture & Video courtesy of Donald Lee, http://www.fortworthstockyards.org/, Fortworth.com
This shot and other photography of mine are available through Dispatch Press Images for publication.

Heavenly Reflection

On a roadtrip we took a detour to examine the ghost town of Antelope, Texas in northwestern Jack County between Jacksboro and Wichita Falls.

Antelope, once a bustling frontier and ranching town - the West fork of the Trinity river is close - with a town square, hotel and general store, once was proud to have a population of 300 people. By mid-century it was down to half and by now there are about 50 people, calling Antelope home. Highway 281 bypasses the town by just a mile or so, but it's worth taking the "town loop" to explore this North(west) Texas heaven. And if it's only for the Baptist church, suddenly emerging before reaching the highway again.

This shot and other photography of mine are available through Dispatch Press Images for publication.