VINTON — After an absence of several months, the bulls came back to the Texas Longhorn Friday, August 3. There were 14 bull riders. Four young ladies to tried their hand at riding a semi-wild steer. Ladies steer riding will be a new event on the schedule along with a “Blind Sheep Scramble.”

The sheep will not be blind; it will be the “catcher.” This is a new event for the ladies that want to get in the arena and get down and dirty. The lady will pick a male partner. A blindfold will be placed on the lady and the male will give her directions so that she may try to catch a loose sheep. The new event should be an action event that will be fast moving. Heaven help the guy who can’t give the gal good directions!

Last Friday night the first bull rider out of the chute was Peyton Devillier. Devillier is a new name at the Longhorn. He is also new to bull riding. Everything he did was wrong from the time they opened the gate. He leaned forward, looked down and did not have his free arm where it needed to be. One short hop out of the chute and Devillier was on the ground. In bull riding, you follow your head.

The next riders were all young, inexperienced riders who made the same basic mistakes. The ride was over when the gate opened. The next few seconds were just hanging on. No control, no ride, no time.

Shane Seimien looked good from the time he left the chute until he dismounted after the buzzer buzzed. Cody Alston had ridden earlier and made about six seconds. Alston was OK, but ran out of grip and lost his seat and crash landed short of the buzzer. Semien heard his buzzer.

When the gate opened Semien came out erect, head up, arm up, looking forward. All the pieces were in the puzzle, he just needed to hold it together. He did it well. His bull came out and turned back and kept turning. There was one good, high buck that gave a classic look to the ride. It was a steady performance by both rider and bull.

The judges thought it was good enough for 83 points. That is a respectable score wherever it occurs. This night it was the only score and Semien took home the whole purse. It was worth $770. Semien will be the rider to watch in the future.

In the middle of the bull riding, the bulls took a rest and let the steers come out. Heather Hooks, Courtney Kileolen, Tiffany Cain, and Morgan Anders got on the books to try to stay aboard a steer for the required six seconds. They all nearly made it, but nearly does not get points or money. The ladies all had the same problem; they could not hold on. They appeared to not be aware of how hard it is to hold onto a hand rope around a steer’s belly. With some strength training and the ability to hold on, any of these ladies could be a winner.

Bull riding back means that there will be a Friday night rodeo event in the area again. Local bull riding has been missed and Ray and Tina Cotton decided to start the Friday night tradition that fans have been asking for.

Contestants can get information on the Friday night events or get on the entry books by calling SYJ Productions at: 409-745-1471. There is $250 added to the bull riding and a $150 prize for the winner of the steer riding.

The Blind Sheep Scramble is scheduled to start at the August 10 show. The mechanical bull will also be available for practice rides or just for the fun of getting bucked off after the show closes.

Beginning August 31 and continuing weekly will be free dance lessons conducted by BeBe LaGrange. LaGrange has taught dance lessons in the area for 40 years; she can teach a broomstick to waltz.

Sunday, August 12, will see the start of thoroughbred straight track races at the Longhorn Training Center. Races will run over 250, 300, and 330 yards.

For information on the events, please call 337-589-5647.