SADDLE BRONC MAN
On the last day of the 30th annual Tucson Rodeo, La Fiesta de los Vaqueros, Cowboy Frank Wehtje of Toledo, Washington was assigned a horse in the Saddle Bronc Riding event. The horse bore an appropriate name: Rough Goin'. Wehtje's job: to stay aboard Rough Goin' for eight seconds while the horse, selected for courage and meanness like the brave bulls south of the border, lunged and plunged in an effort to unseat him. During those eight seconds Wehtje was allowed to use only one rein and, to lessen his chance of taking a firm grip, the rein had to be free from knots or tape and could not be wrapped around his hand. One of 214 contestants, he appeared before a crowd of 8,000 persons. Wehtje is not a famous cowboy and did not finish in the money-winners' class at this rodeo. Rough Goin' gave him a rugged ride. To see how he made out with his bronc follow him on the next four pages.
Heels over head, Cowboy Frank Wehtje of Toledo, Wash, lands on neck with a thump, then tries to roll out of the way as Rough Goin", a wild, twisting saddle bronc, hovers above him (below) and comes down with foreleg through crooked arm (opposite) at Tucson rodeo
Wehtje miraculously dodges hoofs and escapes uninjured, though momentarily stunned as Rough Goin' arches angrily away from him
FIVE PHOTOS
HY PESKIN