Behind the scenes at the Waimarino Rodeo

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 8, Issue 377, 12 March 1991, Page 8

Behind the scenes at the Waimarino Rodeo

By Gail Imhoff Preparation is well in hand for the Waimarino Rodeo Association's 41st annual rodeo to be held on 16 and 17 March at Raetihi. Over the last few weeks committee members have been quietly getting organised, making the necessary repairs to fences, building new gates, making sure the chutes are working properly and generally tidying up. From one year to the next the rodeo horses are

grazed courtesy of local farmers. During the last week before the rodeo they have to be rounded up from the various farms, those not being trucked to town are brought together ready for running or droving to town on the Friday morning. Every intersection along the route needs people and vehicles to make sure the unbroken horses don't bolt in the wrong direction. All this is done with a

minimum of fuss so as not to spook the horses and the men droving them. Committee men and any other available hands have this down to a fine art after many years. There are 48 horses this year and the organisation of this is the responsibility of Horse Steward Don Windle. As well as the horses, calves are needed for two events the calf ride and calf roping. Greg Windle looks after this area.

This year the steers for the steer ride are courtesy of Tom Punch, and for the bulldogging courtesy of the Craig Estate. Craig Wiggins and Kevin Scarrow are the stewards for these. Larry Martin has the job of organising the bulls for the bull ride. This sometimes presents problems, getting bulls that aren't too big to sit astride or to fit in the chute. All the stock is trucked courtesy of the Turnpage 15

Behind the scenes at Waimarino rodeo

From page 8 local trucking companies. Alf Alabaster is in charge of the gear. He has to ensure that the arm bands, flank ropes, saddles, halters, bull bells and all other pieces of equipment are ready for the riders. Late on the Friday afternoon the arena has to be ploughed up. This is usually rotary hoed courtesy of Peter Perkins. This helps to cushion the riders' falls. Chute Boss Neil

McLean is in charge of running of the rodeo ensuring that the stock is geared up and ready for the riders and also that the riders are ready. The chutes have to be well manned as well as the yards to help saddle and unsaddle the stock. Stuart Graham and Ross Healey have the job of picking up the riders and of clearing the stock from the arena. Grey Healey is the man on the exhaust gate at the bottom of the arena where the stock leaves. Clowns are used to protect the riders during the bull ride and sometimes to try and get the bulls to buck better. The secretary is very busy for months before the rodeo and frantic on the day taking entry money and getting the riders

numbers and events sorted out. The workers involved don't actually get to see the rodeo as they are busy working behind the scenes. Ross Brown judges the horses for the local association to see

if they buck to a satisfactory standard to be used again or whether they will be retired to the farm Each and every area has to be properly organised in order to have a smooth running rodeo

and for it to all come together on the day to provide an entertaining day for the public and

riders. The rodeo association is a non-profit making organisation and all

donations and sponsorship are used for the prizes and the running of the rodeo.