Curt Mattson, Fannin' A Hot Head, bronze, 17x9x7, $2,900

Curt Mattson

How many of us have watched a cowboy riding a bucking horse, perhaps at a rodeo, and thought, "How does he stay up there?" On the ranch, starting colts properly is a very serious business. In fact, ranches that employ a buckaroo just for that purpose, even pay a little more money because of the import of what they do, but also because there is increased risk.

The horses on a lot of ranches are not the perfect, well-treated horses we are often used to seeing. Some have had very little contact with man their entire lives. They are older as well, three to four year olds many times. That means that they are stouter than a colt you might start at two, and when they do have contact with man, it is for shots and trimming, which doesn't make for the best of impressions.

When you start a colt, you must try to keep him from ever bucking period. Once they have tried it, and have had any success at it, they will try it again. But that strategy doesn't always work, especially when there is a bad disposition involved. Like any bad habit, bucking is an easy habit to learn, but a very hard one to break.

This buckaroo is not wearing spurs. He has taken his rope from the saddle, and put a good hackamore on to begin the training. He has done all he could to keep this bronc from bucking, but to no avail. This hothead has had enough, and has decided to get rid of this pain on his back.

So, in the midst of the storm, this buckaroo has the situation well in hand. He decides to show off a little and fan this knot head. "Fanning" is taking off your hat and encouraging the horse to buck, wanting him to see that it is no use trying to get rid of you. So, this buckaroo, in the midst of the storm, is "Fannin' a Hothead".