“IT’S been a good weekend,” said Karen Gill of Gill Bros Rodeo. “Just the one injury so far – and he didn’t have to go to hospital.”
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Rodeo, it seems, is not the sport for those worried about picking up a war wound or two.
But everyone needs to start somewhere and so Gill Bros puts on an annual clinic in December for those looking to learn the trade or hone their skills.
Last weekend, riders from the Northern Territory, Victoria, Queensland and all across New South Wales went to Upper Horton to take part.
“We’ve got horses for all sorts,” Eddie Gill said as a wild-eyed bronc tried to throw a middle aged rider behind him.
“Some go on the rodeo circuit. That bloke has only ridden a few times before so we gave him something tamer.”
Next was the bulls, and the young blokes sped off in their utes from the sportsground to the Gill farm to try and best another bunch of wild animals.
They all came down eventually. Some rode out the eight seconds and dismounted as elegantly as possible given that a tonne of angry muscle, hoof and horn was trying to inflict its own lasting lesson on the young bull riders.
Others get an intimate lesson in the taste of dirt within moments of being released from the holding pen.
“They’ll all be a bit sore tomorrow,” Karen said. “But they’ll get up.”