Stick Horse Rodeo a fun highlight at Western Heritage Classic

Young cowgirls and cowboys squared-off Saturday morning in a contest that tested not only agility, style and athleticism but perhaps most importantly, imagination.

The Stick Horse Horse Rodeo at Saturday's Western Heritage Classic was open to children ages 3-9, split into three age divisions.

Just like in regular rodeo, these kids competed against the clock in barrel racing and bronc riding, as well as roping. The difference here being they rode stick horses. Some brought their own, others picked one from a container.

Bronc riders burst out the rod iron gate on a pair of small chutes, each trying to stay on their feet for at least eight seconds. For some, that was not as easy at it might seem.

When you're a little kid who's really excited to play rodeo, sometimes your feet get tangled, be it the dirt, the stick horse or just gravity in general. Then there's the ones who just plum forgot about the clock entirely.

They were easy to spot because they'd pogo for about 5 feet and then suddenly throw themselves into the Guitar Arena dirt.

That's how all the good bronc rides end, right?