Boots and Saddles Rodeo

The 2018 season for the Phillips County Saddle Club's Boots and Saddles Rodeo kicked off last Saturday, June 16, at the Milk River Pavilion in Malta.

"So far, so good," said Paul Warren, President of the Phillips County Saddle Club. "There hasn't been any hitches so far."

The event was originally supposed to be a Trafton Park, but because of the high probability of rain, the club decided to move the event inside.

With a new season, comes a few new, young riders that are eager to show their ability to demonstrate their horsemanship and just have fun.

One of those riders was five-year-old Traxton Simanton, who was riding his nine-year-old horse named Bing. Traxton is the son of Guy and Carli Simanton of Whitewater.

After riding in his first and only event for the day, the barrel races, Traxton felt that he did good.

"I practice one hour a day," Traxton said.

He also shared his favorite thing about riding in the Boots and Saddles Rodeo.

"You get to ride," Traxton said. "I have been riding for a long time."

His mother Carli, explained that Traxton has been riding for two years.

As for Traxton's favorite Boots and Saddles event, he likes the arena race. He also shared what he enjoyed watching his parents do in their respective rodeo careers.

Traxton was first asked which event he liked seeing his mother in.

"Barrels because she gets to go around barrels," Traxton said.

As for his father's events, to Traxton, it doesn't get any better than bronc riding.

"It's fun," Traxton said.

Traxton was asked what the key was to a good bronc ride

"Don't fall off!" he exclaimed.

He was then asked if he would want to bronc ride one day.

"Mmmhmm," he agreed.

But Traxton has a few years to go before he can start bronc riding, but until then he has another plan.

"I'm thinking about being Batman or the green ninja," Simanton said. "I just have to decide which one."

Traxton wasn't just talking about Halloween later this year.

"The city needs a new Batman because the other batman died, so now it needs me to be Batman," Simanton said. "I watched all the Batman movies and I know all of the moves."

As far as the rodeo goes, his mother Carli was extremely proud.

"I think he did a good job," she said. "He got his horse going and he did what he needed to do."

Traxton wasn't the only rider going solo for the first time.

Trenton Blunt, a kindergartner, riding a 17-year-old horse named Coco, felt that his first run went well.

"I went for 44 seconds," Blunt said.

The six-year-old son of Jesse and Teri Blunt of Malta shared the key to a good time in the barrel races.

"By not knocking down the barrels," Blunt said.

Blunt also felt that he did well in the arena race, but he was looking forward to his favorite race, the key race.

"You have to go around the middle and come back," Blunt said of the key race.

Blunt has been riding horses for around a year and his father was extremely proud of his son and his old horse, who did well for her first time in an enclosed arena.

"He did pretty good," Jesse said. "She was really nervous. It was her first time in the pavilion and around crowds like this. She did well and he did well handling her."

For those interested in signing up their young rider for the next P.C. Saddle Club Boots and Saddles Rodeo, please visit the Phillips County Saddle Club on Facebook.

The group's next rodeo event is on Saturday, July 21 at 10 a.m.