03/14/2026
If you have been around rodeo for any length of time, you must have seen the folks that push the animal abuse narrative. They preach to the unknowing masses that rodeo stock is abused, terrorized, and is nothing to contractors, other than a paycheck.
We strive to prove that narrative wrong everyday. And on days like today, we prove it.
We purchased Mambo #5 from Siklenka Bucking Horses last summer. He's by their stud Country Boy, and out of a mare called Little Remarkable. Mambo's got some rank big brothers who have moved onto the the big leagues. Needless to say, we are excited about this c**t and his possibilities, especially as our first herd sire.
We went to feed today, and Mambo clearly had a belly ache and was going to need some help. We have had some wild weather this winter. Warm days with cold fronts passing through. And today, there is a massive winter storm blowing through 60 miles north of here. It takes it's toll on horses. So, we put in an emergency call with our vet, loaded up Mambo and his buddy Ace, and headed in. The boys walked into the clinic and into the stocks like gentlemen. Mambo was haltered and sedated. He was tubed and given pain killers. He didn't fight the sedation. He let the vet work on him and help. As for Ace, he had a great time. He watched all the going on's with interest and insisted that "Mom" gave him scratches nearly non stop. If either of them were afraid of people, in any way, this wouldn't have gone this way. If they didn't trust us, it wouldn't have gone this way. These boys just love the game they play. They buck, because they love to.
The vet is pretty confident that Mambo just had a gas colic, and he and Ace get to have a sleep over at the clinic.
These horses are not a tool. They sure aren't an income. They are part of our family. They are part of a way of life we want to pass down to our kids. They matter to us.
We have a great vet clinic with excellent vets, that we are beyond thankful for. We have had abcesses taken care of, had a foal that needed a surgical procedure, and lots of coggins and health papers done. Our horses make us proud every time they get seen. They are no harder to work on than a saddle horse or the run of the mill backyard pet.
