The stampede is in the homestretch now and all in all it has been a good week.  Its tough to complain when you are at the Calgary Stampede, we get treated great.  My drivers have had some tough luck this week, and right now it is going to be tough to get any of them in the top four for a chance at the title.  This sport will humble you, when things are going right, you think its easy.  Last year we had a dream Stampede with Luke Tournier and I remember telling myself to enjoy the moment because it may not happen again this year.  So far it hasn’t.  We haven’t given up and you never know what might happen so we will just buckle down and hope for the best.  I have enjoyed some of the functions that the Stampede has us attend, sign a few autographs and meet some new friends.  The kids that come up, to me, that is what it is all about.  Who knows, maybe in a few years we will have some new recruits as outirders.  Also I went to the Tom Baker Cancer Clinic yesterday to see my good friend Dallas Dorchester.  I thought I knew what tough is, but they should stick his picture next to the word tough because he sure hasn’t lost his sense of humor after all he has been through.  He even told me that I never paid my golf debt when we played in Grand Prarie last summer, but I think he never paid me.  I told him we will have a re-match when he gets healed up.  I used to outride quite a bit for Dallas, and his son Quinn and me both started outriding the same year in 1991.  My heart is with Shirley and Dallas, Quinn, and Tyler right now and I would ask that we all say a prayer for everybody in there that is sick.  Reality sure hits home and our blessings sometimes need to be counted.  God Bless.

Running in the mud is not much fun.  It seems like ten times the work when the day is all done.  For a outrider it seems like it take a hour to get dressed for the mud.  Every outrider is different most of us where slush pants, some where cut off jeans and slush pants, and one guy puts a new pair of pants every race.  A couple guys just say forget it with all the work and ride like they normally do.  But everyone uses a lot more tape to seal off there boots or shoes so there feet stay dry.  During the races there is two garden hoses to wash some of the mud between races.  For muddy days I use a pair of goggles and safety glasses.  The goggles go over the glasses till i can not see no more, then I pull them down under my chin.  From there the safety glasses make it till the fourth corner and then you just take the dirt in the eyes.  But if I was a fan I would want to go watch on muddy days they are the most entertaining race days.

Dustin Gorst 

Hello Calgary, I have been looking forward to this rodeo since last year. I have to be honest this is literally the best rodeo that we go to all year long besides the national finals in December and I am not just saying that because I’m here, I’m saying it because it’s the truth. We have the opportunity to get on great horses and ride against great guys everyday, that’s what its all about. This is the busiest time of year for us right now and its nice to come here and relax for a week and have a chance to win a lot of money doing what we love to do. Not only do we get to compete and ride at the best rodeo but we also get to ride in front of the best fans of rodeo. It amazes me the different culture and backrounds that come to enjoy the Calgary Stampede.

Some of you might be wondering why i did not compete today. Yesterday while i was getting off on the pickup man I stepped in a hole or something and bent my knee backward in the wrong direction. I think i tore some miniscus tissue and stretched out a few things. I planned on riding today but it was pretty lose and sore today. I was not very confident in its stability. I’ll sit out tomorrow and be back either saturday or sunday. Untill then i will be in theropy and resting.

Thanks for letting me sare a little of my time, untill next time

God Bless, Ryan

Hey there!  Things cooled off in Calgary today, in fact you could say it was down right cold by the time the rodeo was over.  You couldn’t tell by looking at the stands though, the rodeo fans came out in force and made the performance exciting to ride in.  I ended up 5th today with an 80 point ride on Calgary’s Brownies Delight, a horse that I’ve had at Strathmore, and EllensburgWA.  He was real nice and I could of rode him better but I was still happy to place and get a check.  Cody Wright stole the show again with an 88.5 on Peter’s Classic Angel, the big black mare that has been outstanding the last few years. 

 Last night I did something new, I was a pick-up man for Jim Kelts at a bronc riding practice in Millarville just outside of Calgary.  I had a blast but the experience has made me realize just how much talent it takes to be a great pick-up man.   And the two pick-up men here, Gary and Wade Remple, are two of the greats in the rodeo world.  Next time you get a chance just pay close attention to them and it’s obvious that they are some of the handiest cowboy’s involved in the rodeo.  They are a huge reason the Calgary Stampede is one of the smoothest run shows in North America.  Well hopefully tomorrow brings more sunshine and another good draw to finish out the pool B competition.    

Day 2 was a little better not for me but for jason miller. He won first with a 3.5 with sumpter right behind him winning second. Day 3 was the same Miller first and Sumpter second. Looks like Miller, Sumpter,and Clayton Moore are already in to sunday so the fourth spot will be a knife fight tomarrow. Its good that way makes for some exciting watching. Still haven’t bought dinner yet for the boys but thanks to Miller and Sumpter we are eating well….off to the Keg again. Looking forward to tomorrow!

Thanks,

Stockton Graves

The Rangeland Derby is a long ten days for everyone human and horses.  For the drivers and outriders it is all mental if you think you are tired you will perform like you are tired.  But for the horses they can not tell if they are tired we just have to read it.  By reading it I mean on how they act in the barn and in there stalls.  By day seven is when we find out how much horse power is in every one’s barn because everyone definitely has one nice outfit or they would not be here.  This is when we find out who has two or even three outfits.  If a driver only has one outfit that this is when they start to taper off but if they have more than one then this is when they start to get stronger.  All drivers have lots of horses, it just find the superstars between all of them is the challenging part of the business. 

Dustin Gorst

Well today in the Saddle Bronc riding there was another set of great bucking horses.  Stan Weatherly, Kelsers, and Flying 5 brought some of the best horses they own and it made for some great watching.  I drew a horse called Cash Machine of Weatherly’s and was 83.5, which landed me in the number two spot for the day.  I have never seen the horse but called a few guys who had been on him and they had pretty good news for me.  He used to be a saddle horse that turned into a bronc, and he ended up having a really good day for me.  He kept me busy but was alot of fun to ride.  I’ve really been blessed with the two broncs I’ve had and hope it continues the rest of the week.  Cody Wright continued with his winning ways on Spring Planting of Flying 5’s.  He was 86 points with another great ride. 

So far its been a fun week, bareback rider Jess Davis and I took in a few of the sites on the mid-way last night.  We wandered around for a couple of hours and still didn’t get to see everything, there sure is a lot going on around here.  Hopefully I’ll get another chance to head over and see a little more before the week is up.  Well untill next time I hope everyone has a great day!

Well the plot keeps thickening.  Kelly Sutherland was 35th after Friday night, and has jumped to 2nd overall.  Hugh Sinclair is running strong this week, and he is a 3 time champ here so he will be tough.  It was good to see Buddy Bensmiller and Luke Tournier bounce back after the controversial penalties they took on night 4.  The re-draw was tonight and it looks like I picked up a couple of new drivers, Leo Tournier and Rae Croteau.  The new wave of cowboys rolled into town for the second part of the rodeo, and it was good to catch up with a lot of the steer wrestlers that have become friends over the last few years.  Luke Branquino, Dean Gorsuch, Stockton Graves, Wade Sumpter, great guys the like to mix with the chuckwagon guys.  Anyway, as every night passes, it will get more interesting.  Stay Tuned!

Well tonight is kind of a downer as far as my wagons are concerned.  They threw the book at Luke Tournier, Buddy Bensmiller, and Kurt Bensmiller, giving them all 10 seconds for wagon interference.  I think the penalties are pretty strong, considering that these are 3 of the safest drivers in the sport.  We knew they were going to crack down this year, but 10 seconds takes away all hope for 3 guys that had a chance to win the whole thing.  I am down to on shot left, with Neal Walgenbach, so hopefully we can get Neal in there.  The infield was pretty wet tonight, but the footing was good.  Good luck to all.

I had a great four days,can’t wait for sunday to come around.

Davey Shields Jr.