Gerald Anthony Guidry
July 28, 2009
Florett "Flo" Johnson
July 30, 2009“It’s boots and chaps. It’s cowboy hats. It’s spurs and latigo.”
Country music legend Garth Brooks’ “Rodeo” lyrics could easily describe the goings-on at the Terrebonne Livestock Association’s gatherings.
After a five-month hiatus repairing damages from hurricanes Gustav and Ike, the association’s horse shows resumed in March. They are held the first weekend of the month at the Houma Air Base in East Houma.
The road to recovery has had its share of bumps, according to Ray Allemand, who serves as horse show chairman for the nonprofit group. Monies have been slow in coming to upgrade the electrical system and make other repairs at the Air Base. But, all in all, no one’s complaining.
“We’re still not completely settled, but things are moving forward,” he said. “It took longer than we had hoped but, since March, we have been back to normal.”
This month’s horse show – the fifth in an eight-show series – is set for Sunday, Aug. 2. It starts at 9 a.m. and usually ends between 7 and 9 p.m. Besides the horse judging, the free event includes barrel races and other timed events in the afternoon.
Contestants are vying for awards to be given at the close of the season in October. “Normally, the top prize is a saddle or something like that,” Allemand said. “We take all the winners from all the shows, add up the points they earned for the season and determine the overall champion.”
Concessions – hamburgers, hotdogs and sodas – are sold at the family event.
Rodeo fans will want to mark their calendar for Aug. 15 when the Beauty and the Beast Bull Bash returns to the Air Base.
“We want everybody to come on out and attend. It’s all free to the public,” he said. “This is a family-friendly, fun environment. It’s something everyone will enjoy.”
