thedrifter
08-05-08, 11:00 AM
Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C. — A Marine from Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron competed in a rodeo at the Newport, N.C., flea market grounds, Saturday.
Lance Cpl. Curtis Evans, a native of Winston-Salem, N.C., and bulk fuel specialist here, contended in bareback horse riding and has participated in rodeos since he was in middle school.
“I started in my eighth-grade year riding bulls and bucking-horses,” Evans said. “It’s an adrenaline rush.”
The adrenaline rush is not the only thing that motivates Evans. He also enjoys the camaraderie between himself and the other competitors.
“I just love being around other rodeo cowboys,” Evans said. “Just like the Marines, we all have the same sense of team. We travel together, so we know a lot about each other.”
Riding bareback requires Evans to go through a rigorous pre-ride routine. His right arm, the one that will be holding the strap around the horse, is completely taped at almost a 45–degree angle.
“I tape my arm so it won’t get hyper-extended,” Evans said. “You have to do that because of the way you hold the strap on the horse.”
The strap that Evans refers to is just that, a strap that wraps around the horse’s rib-cage and has an opening that allows for just one hand to be placed in it.
“It’s a lot like a suitcase handle,” Evans said. “Bareback riding is when you ride a wild horse with no saddle on him.”
The next step Evans goes through is tethering his spurs and boots down. Just as Marines are taught to tape loose gear down, the same goes for the cowboys at the rodeo. With the leather strap, he secures his spurs and wraps his boots so they will not hinder him during his ride.
“I tie my boots on so I don’t get hung up on my horse,” Evans said.
Even the boots are specially made for competition explains Evans.
“I’m wearing flashier boots so the judges can see them,” Evans said. “The judges score me on style including where my boots are on the horse. The judges are watching my feet.”
This competition was Evans’ first time in more than two years to ride. His horse was called Blackout and Evans felt confident after his two years away from riding. After he finished, the cowboy jumped onto the cages and continued watching his fellow riders.
“I’m happy with myself after not riding for two years,” Evans said. “It felt good getting on the horse.”
Although Evans was thrown from his horse, he sustained no major injuries and was in good spirits.
“Your adrenaline is rushing so much so you don’t feel it until the next day,” Evans said.
One of Evans’ co-workers was in attendance and cheered the cowboy on.
“It’s cool to see my buddy do something like this,” said Cpl. Ryan S. Potts, a fuel truck driver with H&HS. “This wasn’t the first time I had seen him riding. It’s great to watch him do something that he has always liked doing.”
Lance Cpl. Curtis Evans, a native of Winston-Salem, N.C., and bulk fuel specialist here, contended in bareback horse riding and has participated in rodeos since he was in middle school.
“I started in my eighth-grade year riding bulls and bucking-horses,” Evans said. “It’s an adrenaline rush.”
The adrenaline rush is not the only thing that motivates Evans. He also enjoys the camaraderie between himself and the other competitors.
“I just love being around other rodeo cowboys,” Evans said. “Just like the Marines, we all have the same sense of team. We travel together, so we know a lot about each other.”
Riding bareback requires Evans to go through a rigorous pre-ride routine. His right arm, the one that will be holding the strap around the horse, is completely taped at almost a 45–degree angle.
“I tape my arm so it won’t get hyper-extended,” Evans said. “You have to do that because of the way you hold the strap on the horse.”
The strap that Evans refers to is just that, a strap that wraps around the horse’s rib-cage and has an opening that allows for just one hand to be placed in it.
“It’s a lot like a suitcase handle,” Evans said. “Bareback riding is when you ride a wild horse with no saddle on him.”
The next step Evans goes through is tethering his spurs and boots down. Just as Marines are taught to tape loose gear down, the same goes for the cowboys at the rodeo. With the leather strap, he secures his spurs and wraps his boots so they will not hinder him during his ride.
“I tie my boots on so I don’t get hung up on my horse,” Evans said.
Even the boots are specially made for competition explains Evans.
“I’m wearing flashier boots so the judges can see them,” Evans said. “The judges score me on style including where my boots are on the horse. The judges are watching my feet.”
This competition was Evans’ first time in more than two years to ride. His horse was called Blackout and Evans felt confident after his two years away from riding. After he finished, the cowboy jumped onto the cages and continued watching his fellow riders.
“I’m happy with myself after not riding for two years,” Evans said. “It felt good getting on the horse.”
Although Evans was thrown from his horse, he sustained no major injuries and was in good spirits.
“Your adrenaline is rushing so much so you don’t feel it until the next day,” Evans said.
One of Evans’ co-workers was in attendance and cheered the cowboy on.
“It’s cool to see my buddy do something like this,” said Cpl. Ryan S. Potts, a fuel truck driver with H&HS. “This wasn’t the first time I had seen him riding. It’s great to watch him do something that he has always liked doing.”