Wild horses set to get their kicks
Fee Fall, Bad Bruce, Dislocater and Shocktreatment will be doing their bucking best to catapult cowboys into the dust at the Mid Northern rodeo after running wild for a year.
They are some of the 37 broncs that were rounded up on a Mangakahia Rd block and transported to the Maungatapere Equestrian Centre for this weekend's rodeo.
Mid Northern Rodeo stalwart Murray Darroch was on hand to watch the round up and to cast an eye over the equine athletes that are only ridden - if the cowboys can stay on for the mandatory eight seconds - once a year.
"A lot of these horses wouldn't be here if it wasn't for the rodeo. Some of them have been ridden in showjumping or hunting but just aren't suitable so they are given to us."
Bucking bronc Swan Saw is the most experienced of the herd with 21 years' experience leaping from the chutes and testing the cowboys' stickability.
"He's a bareback specialist and all the cowboys have to hold onto is a leather strap with a suitcase-like handle. He kicks high behind and has bucked off more times than he has been ridden," Mr Darroch said.
War Saw is another seasoned campaigner and will be sure to delight the crowd. The broncs will be in action on Saturday and Sunday along with calf roping, steer wrestling, barrell racing and bull riding. Both days start at 10am.
The action starts on Friday night when 10 cowboys take on 10 bulls in a winner takes all competition starting at 6.30pm.
For more photographs of the bronc roundup check out www.northernadvocate.co.nz
