Blog
American Cowboy Poetry Month | Red Steagall
Red talks old friends, rodeo legends, and his favorite stories.
From the Bunkhouse | Bob's RHA Run at Amarillo
Watch Editor Bob Welch's Ranch Horse Association run at Amarillo.
From the Bunkhouse | RHA Run at Amarillo
Editor Bob Welch's run at the Ranch Horse Association of American show in Amarillo.
New Series, Cowboy Country, Premiers
From HRTV Equestrian Programming: HRTV (R), The Network for Horse Sports, will add more diversified weekly equestrian programming to its schedule when it premieres a new series, Cowboy Country, beginning this Wednesday, July 3 at 8:30 p.m. ET.
RURAL RADIO to Launch on SiriusXM
From RURAL RADIO, L.L.C: Sirius XM Radio and RURAL RADIO, L.L.C. today announced the creation of RURAL RADIO, a 24/7 channel devoted to providing a wide variety of programming for and about rural American life, the Western lifestyle, and agribusiness interests.
PRCA merchandise donated to tornado victims
From the PRCA/Lazy E Arena: OKLAHOMA CITY – The United Way has set up its temporary control center at the Goodwill Headquarters building in downtown Oklahoma City to assist with the distribution of PRCA merchandise to those affected by the recent tornadoes in Moore, Okla., and the surrounding areas. Tornado victims will be able to come in and select what they need at no charge.
CSU Hosts Legends of Ranching Sale, Capping Year of Learning for Equine Students, Young Horses
From Colorado State University Equine Science: The Legends of Ranching Performance Horse Sale promises to be a springtime highlight at Colorado State University in late April, when 81 American Quarter Horses – both promising young horses and proven older horses – will be offered for sale.
Kevin Red Star's "Horse Shield" official logo of 28th Montana Cowboy Poetry
From the Montana Cowboy Poetry Gathering & Western Music Rendezvous: “Horse Shield” by world famous Montana artist, Kevin Red Star, has been selected by Montana Cowboy Poetry Gathering & Western Music Rendezvous as the official logo for this August’s 28th Gathering, produced in Lewistown, August 15-18.
Why we love them...
There's a saying that goes "If you're lucky enough to have horses, you're lucky enough." I completely agree. Every day I ride or even just hang out with my horses, I consider myself blessed.
Once Upon a Time in Italy—Spaghetti Western Roundup
(This excellent article by Alex Cox ran in the New York Times on June 6, 2012.)
Cowboy Elvis sells for $37 million
This from Erik Hayden of Time.com: It has nothing on Orange, Red, Yellow — the abstract painting that reportedly just set a contemporary art auction record with an $86.9 million dollar price tag — but the combination of Andy Warhol and Elvis Presley still proved lucrative when it went up for auction at Sotheby’s on Wednesday.
Rodeo Clown Reunion—Sheridan, Wyo.
The laughable, photographable band of former rodeo clowns, bullfighters and barrelmen will arrive in Sheridan, Wyoming, for their Rodeo Clown Reunion, July 11th through the 14th during the annual Sheridan WYO Rodeo. These laugh-getters and cowboy-savers will stir up the town with their colorful costumes and individual make-up along with their strange sense of humor.
Mangled Horses, Maimed Jockeys
Anyone who loves Quarter Horses needs to read this New York Time article: "Mangled Horses, Maimed Jockeys: The new economics of horse racing are making an always-dangerous game even more so, as lax oversight puts animal and rider at risk" (link below). It's horrifying and fascinating.
Denver's Best Hotels
In January, I spent some time in Denver, Colorado, at the Great National Western Stock Show (www.nationalwestern.com) and at the annual Western and English Sales Association trade show, and I had the pleasure of visiting two classic Denver hotels. They're worth noting, because both are housed in stone buildings that were constructed over 100 years ago.
KNOW HOW: Stampede String
Subscriber Cari Brown from Airway Heights, Wash., wrote me a letter recently asking about how to attach a stampede string to a cowboy hat—without ruining it with too many holes. To get expert advice on the stampede string (a.k.a. hurricane strap, chin string, head holding tie down), I contacted Trent Johnson of Greeley Hat Works (greeleyhatworks.com).
Whisker Wars!
I stow the shears and often grow a beard in winter to stay warm, but this is something completely different... A new reality television show debuts tomorrow (August 5) on IFC about "competitive facial hair growing" called "Whisker Wars." Set your TIVO!
Managing cattle for altitude sickness
This article about altitude sickness in cattle (a.k.a. brisket disease) by Dan Frosch ran August 1 in the New York Times. Very tricky conditions for ranchers to deal with... For tourists traveling into the mountains, altitude sickness can be an uncomfortable reality. The lightheadedness. The nausea. The vicious headaches.