The finals for the Dodge Pro Rodeo Turquoise Circuit wrapped up at the 2008 Southern New Mexico State Fair on Sunday.
Rodeo general manager Mary Borgen said that she was pleased with how the three-day event unfolded at the Southern New Mexico Fairgrounds.
"It went very well,"
Borgen said. "Our stock has bucked great, our horses liked the arena, the surface and we had great weather. Good times all around."
The turquoise circuit consists of the top riders and cowboys from both Arizona and New Mexico. The top riders from the season standings and this past weekend's event winners will be granted an opportunity to compete at the Dodge National Finals Rodeo in Pocatello, Idaho, on April 8-11. There were seven weekend competitions, with 12 cowboys making up each event.
"It's been good,"
stock owner Ward Macza said. "The horses have reacted well to being down here and we've had a good time."
Macza came down from High River, Alberta Canada for this year's rodeo. Macza also owns stock at the Salt River in Arizona. He said that he sent stock from High River down to Arizona this spring in preparation for this year's rodeo.
"It takes them about six months to get climatized,"
Macza said. "It can take them even a year in this weather until they can buck well. There are a lot of different factors — climate, feed, elevation. All of that is different here than in Alberta. And all those things can affect a horse's mood and performance."
Bull fighter Luke Kraut said that it was a pleasant weekend of events, outside of one incident on Saturday night. Kraut described the scene when bull rider Jarrod Green got caught on a bull, forcing Kraut's partner Clifford Maxwell to move in and try to separate Green from the bull. Maxwell ended up being tossed as well, breaking some ribs in the process. Kraut eventually swooped in to save Green from the animal. Still, for Kraut, the experience is part of the thrill of it all.
"Well, it was a real good time,"
Kraut said. "Sure beats a real job."
The talent level is high this time of year in the circuit finals.
"It's the best riders in this area,"
Borgen said. "This is our little world, right here. We were really pleased with how it all went."
