BELLAIRE • MEMORIAL • RIVER OAKS • TANGLEWOOD • WEST UNIVERSITY

Holding on tight to Fluffy

By Marielle Kiersh, age 7 | March 1, 2017

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MUTTON BUSTIN’ Marielle Kiersh, a first-grade student at Rummel Creek Elementary, was tough enough to ride a running and bucking sheep at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo last year. (Photo: John McCaine Photography)

When I was 5, I saw kids mutton bustin’ at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, and I wanted to go mutton bustin’ too! My dad told me to go to the rodeo and practice at the outside of the Mutton Bustin’ arena. I did, and the next year when I was 6, I went with my dad to sign up. They took my picture and gave me a sign to hold. I practiced outside again, and my sheep was real dirty. After I practiced, I was ready to go!

A few days later, I went to the rodeo to do the mutton bustin’ in the big arena. The first thing I did was ride in a wagon in the Grand Entry Parade. I saw my family, and they were cheering for me. I went with my mom and dad to the tent to wait and get a snack. Then it was time for mutton bustin’. We lined up, and I was nervous. A boy was in front of me, and he went and ran into the fence! Then it was my turn.

My sheep was very soft and fluffy. I even named him Fluffy. I got on my sheep and held on tight. A mom had told me to eat cotton candy before I got on so my hands would be sticky. That is what I did. A man opened the gate, and we took off. I was leaning to one side, and my dad had told me to lean my head to the other side and then get back up. I made it to the finish line, and they couldn’t pull me off because of my sticky hands! The sheep bumped my chin as we were running, but I was okay.

I talked on the microphone and I kept looking at myself on the big screen. I was embarrassed. The man asked me how I practiced, and I told him on my dad’s back. He asked me if my dad is hairy, and he doesn’t have hair! A rodeo man gave me two trophies and a big belt buckle. When I got home, I saw myself on TV. I was so happy that I had been mutton bustin’ and I won the WHOLE THING!

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