Local youngsters to showcase their skills at the Ramona Rodeo

While the seasoned competitors will certainly get their share of the limelight at this year’s Ramona Rodeo, several youngsters are also looking forward to showcasing their skills. Opening today (Thursday) and continuing through Saturday, this year’s rodeo will feature barrel racing, mutton bustin’, team penning, bareback riding, breakaway roping, bull riding, team penning, saddle bronc riding and tie-down roping. The younger set will be able to participate in mutton bustin’ and barrel racing, two competitions that require very different skill sets. Mutton bustin’ is a matter of hanging on. Whoever stays on their sheep the longest wins. The competition is limited to youngsters ages 4 to 7 who weigh 55 pounds or less. There are eight participants per rodeo performance, chosen from applications submitted in June. Although he is only 4, Hudson “Huddy” Ennis, the son of Tyler and Taylor Ennis, is totally focused on the upcoming mutton bustin’ event. He has ridden a dog before, but it will be Huddy’s first time riding a sheep. “We go to the rodeo every year, and our friend’s son did the mutton bustin’ a few years ago, and Huddy’s been wanting to do it,” Taylor Ennis said. “It’s so just s o cute and it will be really fun this year to watch Huddy because he’s so excited.” On the way to the mutton bustin’ check-in last Sunday, Huddy said his goal is to “ride fast and not fall off.” His favorite part of the rodeo each year is “night time, when we ride the sheep,” and his favorite part this year, so far, is “signing up to ride the sheep,” he said. Huddy will be cheered on by his parents; his sister, Emery, 6; their friends and “all the Pinkerton family,” Tyler Ennis said. The junior barrel racers also have to qualify to enter the event each year. “This year, the girls are very excited for the event; they all really, really enjoy the Ramona Rodeo — it’s a neat, neat rodeo and it hits differently,” said Rebecca Hatch Arnold, who headed the qualifier event. She said youngsters come from all over San Diego, Orange and Riverside counties to compete at Ramona, partly because the grounds and arena set the competitors “up for success.” Overall, she described the racers as “very community-based; they take the lead and like to give back to the community, which is awesome.” Charlee Gibbs, 12, is one of the Ramona residents who qualified for barrel racing. She is the daughter of Ja ke and Kendal Gibbs. “I’ve been barrel racing since I was 4 or 5,” Charlee said. “I like all of it. It’s really fun and makes me happy.” Gợi ý thực hành: 1. Theo dõi thông báo từ cơ quan địa phương tại California. 2. Kiểm tra nguồn chính thức trước khi chia sẻ lại thông tin.