Whoa! Six-year-old Marcus Paul clings on to his sheep with steely determination as he competes in Mutton Bustin' at the Houston RodeoIf putting your five-year-old on a 150lb sheep with only their determination to keep them on doesn't sound like the wisest of ideas, you shouldn't go to Texas.
Every night for the last three weeks, 15 tiny sheep riders have been competing in front of up to 72,000 people as part of the annual Mutton Bustin' contest at the Houston Rodeo.
Clad in full protective gear, the would-be cowboys and girls cling on for dear life, trying to stay on their new woolly friends for up to six seconds as they race through the arena.
The competition culminates in a grand championship final on Sunday night, when the 19 winners will take to the ring again to try to be crowned king - or queen - of the rodeo.
Mutton Bustin' is in its third year at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, where it has proved so successful organisers have had to open a separate outside ring to cater for demand.
Competitors have to be between five and six-years-old, and weigh less than 60lbs - but more than 30lbs.
Dressed in an ice hockey helmet and padded vest, they wrap themselves around the Ram Bouillet sheep and try to stay on for as long as they can.
Steely grip: Grayden Dewitt, six, shows the others how its done as he flies along on his sheep at the Houston Rodeo. Contestants have to be five or six and weight less than 60 pounds - to protect the animals
Taking a tumble: Five-year-old Chase Hetzler makes a stunning crash landing as he loses hold of the sheep during his six-second run at the Houston RodeoThey compete in the main arena every night before the evening concert, and on Tuesday some competitors rode in full face make-up to pay tribute to Kiss, who was the star of the show.
Parker Johnson, of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, said organisers buy a new batch of 175 Ram Bouillets every year from San Angelo, then sell them back after the competition. They even keep the weight of the competitors below 60lbs to protect the animals.
Mr Johnson said: 'Parker Johnson: 'Mutton Bustin's been around for a while, its been going on at rodeos across the U.S. and we introduced it here about three years ago.
'What it is, we have five or six-year-olds riding sheep for six seconds of their lifetime, holding on tight, trying to make the best run they can, trying to give them the best experience we can.
Queen of the rodeo: Dirt-spattered Corinne Evans, five, sits proudly with two fellow competitors in her pink cowgirl boots after riding a sheep in the Mutton Bustin' event in Houston 
No woolliness allowed: Would-be Mutton Bustin' contestants, including Nathan Kimmel, five, look on in horror - or triumph - as another rider falls off his sheep. They all have to wear protective helmets to compete
Rodeo-style rock chick: Five-year-old Shay Allen shows off her face paint - a tribute to Kiss, who were performing in the evening - before she takes to the arena for the Mutton Bustin' contest'A lot of people bring their little cowgirls and cowboys out there, there's plenty of entertainment to have, but none of them have had the opportunity to ride a sheep before, and that's what we're trying to provide them with - a new creation of entertainment.'
Mutton Bustin' is growing more and more popular in the U.S., with its own annual world championship in California called Wool Warriors.
Girls compete against boys - and do just as well, according to a spokeswoman. They include Corinne Evans, who was photographed proudly displaying her pink cowgirl boots and a mud-splattered face.
source: dailymail
