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The Queen's Run - Time to fly!

Fast horses and pretty ladies doesn't just describe rodeo's barrel racing, it also describes its royalty.  The queen's run is one of the most exciting aspects of being a titleholder.  You're behind the scenes interacting with the cowboys and cowgirls you represent, then you're the center of attention and doing your job - promoting rodeo.  Here are a few tips to help you make a successful queen's run.

• Ride a good, broke horse.  You are not a saddle bronc rider nor are you a trick rider.  If at all possible warm your horse up well before heading into the arena, especially if it's early in the season and it's cool out.  If your horse does act up reach down and get his head to get control of him and then carry on with your run.
• Check your cinch before making your run and stay in the center of your saddle to keep it where it belongs.
• Make eye contact with the crowd but also keep an eye on what's up ahead.  I've seen queens take out stock contractors and others who weren't paying attention and stepped into the arena.  You can do this by keeping your horse's ear in your vision while looking at the crowd.  This also prevents you from turning your head too far and becoming unbalanced.
• Keep your arm down and out in front of you while you wave.  Again, this helps keep your balance in the saddle if your horse moves out from under you unexpectedly.
• Lean a bit forward during your run.  This will depend upon the speed at which you are making the run.  The faster the run the more lean you'll have but always stay square in your saddle.
  
• SMILE!  And the bigger the better.  It seems like such a simple tip but you'd be surprised at how many girls don't smile while doing a queen's run. 
  
• Keep your hat on.  There is no such thing as too many bobby pins.
• Use some common sense concerning arena conditions.  Fast is fun but it can also dangerous. 
  
• Use the entire arena.  YOU are in control of your horse, don't allow him to cut the corners. During a pageant you'll have points deducted for not musing the entire arena.
  

In the photo above Alyssa Morrison, Miss Rodeo Kansas 2011, is sitting squarely in her saddle with her waving arm in a good, solid position and her head and eyes are in a position where she is catching the crowd but is also able to see what's coming ahead.  Her riding hand is solidly around the reins and is in a position that will allow her to pull her horse up if the need arises. Alyssa's photo was taken during the MRK '11 Pageant last August in Dodge City, Kansas and is provided courtesy of Kara Hackney Photography.

Lately I've seen a few photos of girls doing queen runs that I, and many others, feel is dangerous and not appropriate for rodeo queens.  They are doing what I call the "Look Mom!  No hands" Queen's Run.  Ladies, where is your common sense?  Let's go back to horsemanship 101 and remember that you are on an animal that at any time can spook and run away from what it feels is about to eat it or who could step wrong and go to the ground or heaven forbid suffer a heart attack.  If you do not have a hand on your reins while doing a queen's run you are not only putting yourself and your horse in danger but others as well. If you want to ride without hands become a trick rider.  Until then keep one hand on the reins and the other greeting the crowd.

Making the queen's run is about the best part of being a rodeo queen.  But always remember that it is a privilege to be allowed into the arena to do so.  It is not your right and the tone you (and your supporters) take with a committee and arena personnel can have a lasting affect.  Be courteous, be safe and be gracious and your run will be fantastic!

~ Bobbie

The Queen's Run ~ You and The Horse Your Ride in On

The queen's run is one of the most thrilling aspects of holding a rodeo queen title.  It's fast, you're the center of attention and you're promoting your title.  As addressed in the previous article on arena appearances you must always make contact with the rodeo prior to attending, provide your information in a timely manner and be on time.  In this, the first of three articles focused on the queen's run, I'll talk about your horse.  In part two I'll address the finer points of the wave itself and then finish with what to wear in the arena in the final article.

For the most part local and regional queens will be expected to ride their own horses at rodeo performances.  It's unfortunate that many queens have an uphill battle to fight due to those who came before them who were not mounted on appropriate horses or who did not have any business being in the arena in the first place.  In order to make the best impression it's important that you be mounted on a seasoned horse.  This means the horse is accustomed to the sights and sounds of the rodeo arena, is able to be ridden with one hand, understands the meaning of and responds willingly to the word 'whoa', easily enters the arena, does not buck during the queen's run and stays on the fence.  An arena soured horse who does not go near the gate without whirling and rearing or enters the arena on its hind legs is not the best choice nor is one who is a habitual bucker.  It is not appropriate for any queen to bring a young horse to a rodeo to season it.  Leave that to riding at home and when you're not in crown and banner.

As you progress through the different levels of pageants you will need to become comfortable riding unknown horses.  Just because one is a "lifetime rider" does not mean one is an accomplished and capable horseman.  If you are not taking your own horse to a rodeo appearance make arrangements before you even leave the house to borrow a mount from a trusted cowboy or cowgirl, committee person or the stock contractor.  Avoid waiting until you arrive at the rodeo to make these arrangements as not every cowboy or cowgirl will be willing to let a queen ride their horse, especially if you have garnered a reputation for not being such a good rider, and stock contractors may not have enough saddle horses for the queens.  When you are at the mercy of others for mounts it is often like the lottery, sometimes you win and sometimes you lose.  You may be given a nice easy going horse that does his job or you may get one that can't wait to get back to the gate and will try to keep going right on through it without the use of two hands and some real skill to get him to stop.  You must be confident in your ability to not panic and to handle each situation as it comes to you.  This type of confidence comes from riding a variety of horses before making the appearance.

Before mounting ask the owner or the saddle horse boss how the horse rides - easy to go and easy to stop or some combination of the two.  Ask about adjusting the stirrups to your length.  For those of you who are short don't be surprised when you get a horse with a saddle that does not have stirrups short enough for you.  This is where hours in the saddle come into play as to your ability to safely ride with stirrups that are too long.  However, if the stirrups are dangerously long don't be afraid to ask for another horse (again, not with 5-minutes until the introduction is left).  Check the cinch but don't adjust it without asking first.  Some horses can be cinchy and need to be ridden with a looser cinch than others.  Also ask about spurs, not all horses need them.  It may be possible to warm up the horse or it may not be possible.  No matter the circumstances do your best and always keep a smile on your face.

After using someone's horse for a queen's run ask if you can help walk the horse out or unsaddle it (especially if you've used the horse throughout the performance to remove cattle from the arena or for flag runs).  Tying up a horse or throwing the reins to someone and walking off is unacceptable. It is imperitive you verbally thank the person from whom you've borrwed the horse from and, if possible, a written thank you sent.  If you are making many appearances and working with one or more stock contractors on a regular basis and using their horses send a sincere, hand written thank you at the end of your reign.  Do the same for their saddle horse boss, too.  Never criticize someone else's horse.  If asked about a challenging horse say it was challenging to ride but don't say it needs to be shot.  Tact goes a long way in building positive relationships.

 Having a safe, dependable horse to rely on when making a queen's run and having the skill and confidence to ride a variety of horses when you are unable to use your own at a rodeo will help make your reign all the more memorable for all of the right reasons.  Look for future articles to cover the queen's wave itself and what to wear in the arena.  Best of luck to you as you pursue your rodeo queen dreams!

Making the Rodeo Appearance

One of the most exciting aspects of holding a rodeo queen title is being introduced on horseback, especially at your hometown rodeo.  The energy of being behind the scenes, the anticipation, the speed, the pride.  It all equals 20 seconds or so of pure rodeo queen adrenaline rush.  This article will address some basic dos and don'ts for titleholders when making appearances at rodeo performances.

First, a titleholder should never just show up at a rodeo and assume she'll be allowed in the arena to make a queen's run.  It's imperative to make contact prior to an event, preferably seven or more days in advance, with the rodeo committee.  If a rodeo has a rodeo queen pageant you should contact the pageant coordinator.  No queen coordinator wants to be surprised by an unannounced visiting queen, it's in bad form to do so and will not make a very good impression.  If there is no queen program then the rodeo committee president would be your starting point, or make contact with the stock contractor.  

If you get the go ahead to attend then you'll want to make sure you have all of the details for the event.  These details can include, but are not limited to: 

• Will you need to arrange for your own mount or will the committee be able to supply a horse for you?
• Are there other activities you'll be involved with?  Autograph signings, visits to schools, etc.
• Is a special parking pass needed?  Where is the parking located?  If you're bringing your own horse and staying overnight, is stalling available?
• If this is more than a one performance rodeo and you need lodging, are there hotels nearby?  Host families?  Trailer plug-ins?  
• Will you be expected to carry sponsor flags or clear the arena of cattle?
• If a queen pageant is being held are there associated events such as a fashion show in which you can participate in?  If so, how are you expected to dress - dress or arena outfit?
• What time does the performance begin?  Are there pre-rodeo activities that you'll need to be at? For instance, the Tri-State Rodeo in Fort Madison, Iowa introduces visiting royalty other than Miss Rodeo Iowa, Miss Rodeo Illinois and Miss Rodeo Missouri during a pre-rodeo show, not during the grand entry.

Upon arriving at the rodeo grounds check in with your contact to let them know you've arrived.  Ask where you can locate the announcer and give the announcer your intro sheet (no smaller than a half sheet of 8 1/2 x 11 paper).   The intro card should be typed and not scrawled on a napkin in crayon.  It should be formatted with an easy-to-read font such as Arial or Times New Roman in a 12 - 16 point size.  Keep your intro short, name, title and hometown are all that are really needed, but you may add your school and grade (college major if attending college), your parents names and a short invite to attend the rodeo you are representing (Suzy invites you to attend the Hot Springs rodeo July 29 - 30).  Don't expect a rodeo announcer to read a 600 word bio about you, save that for your autograph sheets.  It is also acceptable to have a small photo of yourself in crown and banner on your intro sheet so the announcer can recognize you.  There are some rodeos which will require ths information before you appear so they can ready the introductions for the announcer.

Arriving early for an event will eliminate stress to you and those in charge.  If you are to be saddled and ready to go at 6:30 then be saddled and ready to go at 6:20.  Few rodeo announcers will wait for a queen to arrive and it's not unheard of for queens to be passed over because they were late.

In future articles I'll discuss in more detail making the queens run and appropriate appearance for you and your mount at rodeos and parades.  Until then, may all your rodeo queen dreams come true.

~ Bobbie

 

The Use of Riding Helmets in Rodeo Queen Pageants

What sets rodeo queens apart from mainstream pageantry is the emphasis on Western fashion and the need to demonstrate the ability to ride a horse well.  The cowboy hat is an essential part of these requirements and simply goes hand in hand with the cowgirl image.  No self-respecting queen would be caught wearing a riding helmet when on horseback, or would she?

In the "olden days" no one wore a helmet when riding except the English riders, and many of those helmets weren't much more than a velvet covered plastic shell for show.  In the past twenty years research and technology have advanced to show that wearing an ASTM approved riding helmet can be essential in the prevention of death and serious head injuries resulting from falls from horses.  Also in that time a new generation of riders have come about who are first generation equestrians who are used to wearing helmets while riding bicycles, skateboards, motorcycles and the like.  These new riders, along with their parents, find it odd that someone would put their child on a horse without some sort of protective head gear.  So as pageant coordinators and judges what do we do about this?  It is my opinion that helmets should be allowed to be worn during rodeo queen competitions and afterward during a titleholder's reign.

I know they aren't Western and the "Western" helmet that is currently on the market isn't very stylish but how can we say no to these young ladies who meet all of the other qualifications yet choose to wear a safety helmet while riding? Bullriders wear helmets, and mutton busters are almost always required to wear a helmet now, so how is a rodeo queen competition any different?  It really isn't. 

If you are a potential rodeo queen candidate who wears a helmet while riding don't hide the fact by competing in the pageant without one, but then wearing one during your appearances on horseback if you earn the title.  You're setting yourself up for some disgruntled coordinators and committee members.  Wear your helmet during the competition, making sure it fits well, your hair is pulled back neatly in a ponytail, and the straps are secured so they don't fly around during your ride. 

As coordinators and committees we want our titleholders to wear their crowns while making appearances and most crowns can't be worn on a helmet.  There are a couple of options to this dilemma.  The first is to forgo this requirement with the understanding that she does wear her banner (which, in my opinion, should be worn at all times no matter what, but that's going to be another post) and that as soon as the titleholder is off her horse she has her well-shaped Western cowboy hat and crown on.  The second is to require your titleholder to have a tasteful helmet cover over her helmet that a pin-on crown can be affixed to and then moved to her cowboy hat.

Judges cannot penalize contestants who choose to wear helmets while riding for the sheer fact they are wearing a helmet.  They can take away points in the appearance category during horsemanship if the helmet is dirty or ill fitting but not for simply wearing a helmet rather than a traditional cowboy hat.  Every major breed and event organization allows for the wearing of a helmet without penalization, including the National High School Rodeo Association and the National Little Britches Rodeo Association.

Last year I had an email conversation with a mother who's daughter was not allowed to compete in the local saddle club princess pageant.  The little girl, and her family, were devastated that their club was unrelenting on their requirements that all princess and queen candidates wear cowboy hats and were told that when the girl became a better rider and didn't need a helmet then she should compete.  The issue of wearing a helmet while riding isn't necessarily about ability as even the most accomplished riders take serious falls from their well trained horses that leave them on life-support (see story about USEF Olympian Courtney King-Dye).

The choice to wear a riding helmet during any type of equestrian event, rodeo events included, is a personal decision based on safety.  It is not our place to tell qualified rodeo queen hopefuls no, or to penalize them, simply because they choose to wear a helmet during a rodeo queen competition and afterward during a queen's reign.  Yes, the cowboy image is an important part of rodeo queen pageantry, but even more important are the life skills learned and honed by this type of competition.  How can we, as coordinators and judges, in good conscience keep these young ladies from benefiting from all that rodeo queen pageantry offers simply because they choose safety over fashion and tradition?  We can't, and we shouldn't.

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Please note that helmets made for other sports such as skateboarding, bicycling, etc are NOT safe to wear while riding.  If you chose to wear a helmet yourself or if you choose for your child to wear a helmet it is essential it be an ASTM approved helmet for equestrian riding.  Falls from horses are much different in regards to height, speed and trajectory of the fall than falls that occur in other sports.  For more information on helmets please visit the safety section on the Troxel helmet website.

This article is written as an opinion to be discussed and pondered and in no way, shape or form should the information presented be construed as legal advice or information.