Girl on a Gray

Today was a day when I really wished I had better equipment.  One of the purchases I intend to make after the sale of my house is a new camera.  Now whether or not that will be soon or after the first of the year I'm not sure, but I'm determined it will happen.

Today I went to the Arizona State Fair.  It was 92 degrees ~ hot!  I had to stand in line for half an hour just to get in.  Of course I got in free because today was free day ~ or else I could have chosen senior day for a $2 admission.  Parking was $10 unless I wanted to walk two more blocks and save $5.  I decided to be the big spender and shelled out 10 bucks to park close so I could stand in line longer!

The creation of the following picture was an absolute fluke.  As I was leaving the fairgrounds I discovered the youth rodeo was in progress so I went to the arena and watched from afar beautiful young cowgirls competing in the barrel racing.  My little point and shoot was no match for these beauties but I zoomed her out and waited for an opportune moment.  Just as this young rider came swooping through my viewfinder I punched the shutter, only to hear the crowd groan with pain and dismay.  When I looked up I saw the aftermath of what I had poorly captured with the camera:  the horse sliding, throwing the rider.  I almost got it, although it is a blur.

I totally missed the next scene ~ the girl being dragged by the horse with her boot caught in the stirrup.  At this point the crowd is standing, yelling "Noooooo!"

But a rodeo hand appeared on the scene and helped the rider to recover and get disentangled from a thousand pounds of horseflesh dragging her in the dirt.

In the flash of two seconds, it was all over and done with, but a cowgirl never leaves her hat on the field.