Page:Patches (1928).pdf/226

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inside two minutes and the quickest time took first money.

Bull-dogging steers was a kindred event and that was also staged on the glass plot. As in the case of roping, the steer was driven in and allowed a thirty foot start. The cow-puncher mounted upon his favorite pony went after the steer like the wind and at just the right moment sprang from the saddle and threw his right arm over the neck of the madly galloping steer. Then with each hand he seized a horn and with a sharp pull of his left hand brought the steer's head around and threw him heavily upon his right—side. He had to be thrown with all four legs stretched out and with his head laid down flat on the ground. The cow-puncher had to hold him with one hand while he waved his other hand to the judges.

The cowboys' bucking contest was one of the great events of the rodeo. For this occasion the country for hundred of miles around had been scoured for outlaw horses. Some of them even rated as killers. The conditions were very hard, a cow-puncher was allowed an assistant to help saddle the horse. He was not allowed a bridle but had to guide the horse with a halter. He had to ride sitting erect, he couldn't pull leather, that is catch hold of the saddle to save himself from a bad fall and each time the horse bucked he had to wave his hat to the audience. Al-