Behind the camp

Guess where I am this weekend?

Know what season it is?

If you've been hanging around here lately

you'd be aware that it is CAMPDRAFTING season.

(Here is the explanatory link again for newbies).

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So tonight I am at home, feeding and hosing down animals and kids

while Mr Incredible camps out in the truck at a showgrounds with his

campdraft horses (and Lacey) about 45 minutes drive away.

And seeing as how I still have a gazillion unused images from last weekend,

thought I'd do a quick share of some behind-the-scenes action (up-front action here).

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Here is the loot the competitors were vying for last weekend...

Now THIS is the kind of self-portrait I am comfortable with...

Riders always warm up their horses before they are due to compete...

...like any athlete, they need to have muscles warmed and attitude right

before they can perform at their best.

(Recognise anyone in the background here?)

Then they line up with other waiting competitors beside the 'camp',

where the mob of cattle is held from which they select their 'beast'.

(Is it just me, or would my friend Jenny have had a field day

with the terms used in this sport?)

They also use this time to check out the cattle sent into the camp,

to see if they can pick a 'good one' before it's their turn.

(This is a real skill, as 'bad ones' look very similar to me!)

Then your name is called, your heart starts to beat just that little bit faster, and it's time to gather up and get into action...

Breathing slow and focussing on the task at hand...

And keeping that cow/steer from getting back into the mob...

Then erupting from the small yard and OUT...

Legs all a-blur but seats steady and still....

As rider and steed attempt to keep their bovine 'on course'...

Flying changes and gallopinog manoevres sending all threeweaving through the 'pegs'...

Of course, not everyone has great runs.

And not everyone has high-scoring weekends in this sport.

It can be a bit brutal, actually, when things don't go as planned.

Mr Incredible was disappointed after his run last weekend - can you tell?

Luckily it's an addictive sport so even unrewarding weekends are soon forgotten...

and you saddle up and head back into the dust for another round!

Wish him luck tomorrow, y'all!