Colorado Voices
Baa Baa Buckaroos continue Mutton Bustin’ tradition at Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo
Clip | 4m 7sVideo has Closed Captions
The next generation of rodeo stars get their start on the backs of sheep
The controversial rodeo tradition of Mutton Bustin', which involves young children riding sheep for as long as possible, has been a mainstay at the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo for decades, and offers some of the earliest cowboys and cowgirls to perform on the big stage.
Colorado Voices
Baa Baa Buckaroos continue Mutton Bustin’ tradition at Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo
Clip | 4m 7sVideo has Closed Captions
The controversial rodeo tradition of Mutton Bustin', which involves young children riding sheep for as long as possible, has been a mainstay at the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo for decades, and offers some of the earliest cowboys and cowgirls to perform on the big stage.
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There you go!
Another one ready for training camp.
You know, Mutton Bustin is better than Disney World.
Thats right, this is better than Disney World.
This is better than any amusement ride youll ever be on.
A kid doesn't know what to react until they actually get on a farm animal.
You look so cute!
Alright!
Look at this sheep rider!
Alright!
The sheep is going to run, and you stay on it, okay?
You hold on as tight as you can.
And if you fall off, you fall off, okay?
You gotta become one with that sheep!
Some of them are super stoked and pumped and as soon as they sit on that sheep, they are scared.
Alright, you gotta hold.
Dont let go.
Because it has to be a little fearful to get on something bigger than you and faster than you.
[sheep bleating] Squeeze as much as you can with your legs.
Squeeze, squeeze, squeeze.
Ready?
Ready?
Hit it!
[gate clicking] [body hitting ground] Aw!
Good ride, cowgirl!
Nice job!
Mutton Bustin is we take kids age four to nine years old and we put them on sheep.
And they ride until they fall off.
Ready?
Hit it!
[gate clicking] Here we go!
[body hitting dirt] Oh yeah!
Good ride, good ride.
Oh look out on this one!
[crowd cheering] That is a healthy sheep right there.
Did you see that dismount?
Good grief!
Yeah, youre second up.
Im going to ride a lamb!
Like this!
At the Pikes Peak or Bust, this has been going on for roughly 20 years.
It started with some families that just wanted their kids to be part of the rodeo and do something.
So the Pikes Peak or Bust brought out just a few, I think it was seven kids total the first year.
They brought out some sheep, and they had them ride.
This will be a good one, too.
All the way from “The Last Frontier.” Go, go, go!
Oh yeah!
That's an Alaskan cowboy.
Other families said, “Hey, I want our kids to do that too.” And we created this entire event where any kid that wanted to, could come out and ride a sheep as long as they were age four to nine, and 50 pounds or less OK, here we go.
It's my third because its fun.
Fun and crazy.
[laughing] [crowd cheering] Down in the mass chaos!
Yes!
There ya go!
Oh, that was a ride, baby!
Great job!
Yeah!
That was awesome!
I feel nervous.
This is the first time.
It looks kinda fun.
Hit it!
Oh, Poppys comin back!
Oh no!
Rolled on rider Oh, and a thumbs up!
Really nervous.
Because I wanted to get in the rodeo.
In the qualifying arena, we have kids, sometimes 100, 150 a night.
If you're one of the top seven riders, then you actually go into the main arena where you get to ride for a trophy.
[rock music] We love them all!
We have a rodeo MVP, rodeo all-star in the Rodeo Hall of Fame and he talks all the time about how he started with Mutton Bustin.
We have some kids that are now kind of aged out.
And now theyre on to riding steer, but they started every kid kind of starts here.
You conquer that fear early.
You conquer that fear of getting on something early.
Heres Conner Wool from Colorado Springs on “Lady Baa Baa.” [crowd cheering] I can understand states wanting to ban states wanting not to do it.
But again, maybe not people or states that grew up in a rodeo experience.
86 points to get us started!
You know, if theyre around it, and they see it, I think they might change their minds.
When you get a kid and when you get them on the sheep, majority of them, it's their first time.
And when you see that excitement in any kid for any activity, you want to be part of that.
Good ride!
Alright!
And then, when you go into the main arena, and they get those trophies, and theyre screamin that's just pretty awesome to see.
[crowd cheering]
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