Participants include a lot of family members at Saddle Horse and
Rodeo at Bolado Park
HOLLISTER – Although cowboys and cowgirls walked away a little sore after this week’s San Benito County Saddle Horse Show and Rodeo at Bolado Park, many left with smiles.
The belt buckles were mere trinkets. However, the camaraderie is always something that participants look forward to each year.
Even people like Ross Ketcham, who had his share of bad luck such as falling off a horse or failing on his attempt to rope a calf, still enjoyed the competition.
“It is a great event because you don’t have to go anywhere,” Ketcham said. “Everyone has a bad day, but you can’t focus on it.”
Ketcham did combine with Jerad Renz to receive first place in the Team Roping event.
The rodeo is a time where the youngest to the oldest of cowboys and cowgirls can compete together as a family. There were few people who weren’t competing without another family member.
There were the many father-son combos like John and Mike Pivetti and David and Nick Taliaferro. There were mother-daughter pairs like Jamie and Terry Andrade and father-daughter combinations like Danny and Kaelie Cardoza.
“She ropes the same way as anyone else does,” said Cardoza, who has competed with his daughter for five years. “She is really good with her hands and has good eyes.”
The Cardozas competed in the Cowhide Race and the Cattle Sorting event. They won the Cowhide Race, and Mr. Cardoza was the fastest Circular Track racer.
Mr Cardoza moved to Paicines from Southern California two months ago to take over as the new manager for J.R. Ranch in Paicines.
Chad Zgragen had a fast time of 10.92 in the Tie Down Roping event on Sunday to win.
“I could have roped it sharper,” Zgragen said. “I didn’t quite catch it cleanly. But the calf took it pretty well.”
For Zgragen, the rodeo was a chance to take a rest after injuring his knee in a competition at Livermore.
When people think about rodeos, they often think about one of the most difficult of sports – bull riding.
It is not for those who have any fear. One unfortunate cowboy was stepped on, ripping his overalls down the back while tangling with a bull on Sunday.
The bull riding champion, Jeff Rianda, managed to record times on all three days of the competition. He attributed his success to many family members who ride and were riding before him.
Rianda has taken his share of bumps and bruises in his 13-year career. During one rodeo, he had his foot broken and crushed and then came right back to finish his final ride.
