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Tomorrow is Jim’s day because he gets to rope with Mike Beers in the annual WestStar Arena Open Roping. I showed up a day early because they have a little party for the ropers the night before. The ranch is about an hour and a half drive for me. I took this first photo on the drive—a piece of a carnival probably headed to the Ellensburg Rodeo for this holiday weekend.

On the way over, Jim called and told me that Leo had gotten hurt in his horsie hotel paddock, no one knows how. I’m sure Leo knows, but he’s not telling us. He’s probably too upset about the 5 stitches he got in his right leg. I can’t ride him for 10 to 14 days. I’m so glad it wasn’t too serious.

Here’s Jim and I, you can’t see it, but he’s holding a tube of nasty paste antibiotics that we have to give Leo for a few days.

After squishing that into Leos mouth, we headed over to the dinner party. The ranch is offering $100,000 in cash and prizes this year. They had all the prizes on display. Here’s the saddle that I told Jim he needs to win. Trophy saddles are fantastic.

Tomorrow I’m going to have a riding lesson first thing in the morning. I get to ride that beautiful bay that I fell in love with a few weeks ago. Then I’m off to the big roping. I haven’t seen the legendary “littlest cowboy” Clay O’Brein Cooper yet, but I’ll be on the look-out tomorrow for sure.