No wonder

Watching coverage of the Stampede, no wonder I thought everyone was a white cowboy when we moved here.  Of course, that's not the case.  There are many, many ethnic people here, but they don't seem to go to Stampede? 

With the exception of one black guy, all the competitors are white.  So are the spectators.  The names give it all away:
Cody
Jake
Austin
Rusty
Cory
Kaycee
Caleb
Tads
Cole
Jesse
Tyrell
Butch
Kaysee
Ty
Cassidy
Jody
Shane
Seth
Chad
Clint..........and my two favourites
Stetson, and
Tuf

I feel very sorry for the animals, especially the little calves these guys brutally tackle.  They look terrified!  And the poor bucking horses.  A few times a couple of them refused to come out of the chute to buck.  Don't blame them.  And the hobbling crippled cowboys do after their runs.  Awful.  They torture themselves for a few thousand bucks; only the best make the big dough.   

As hard as I try, can't be blasé about the animals.  "Mum, they only work a total of five minutes per year.  The rest of the time they live in very pampered conditions," said my daughter.  Of course, she is right, but I still hate to see what they go through in five minutes.