“Dear Lord," I pray tonight as he rides. I watch his every move. "Father, give him the courage to continue on even if he doesn’t make his eight seconds. Father, if this ride sees trouble, send angels to keep him here on earth. Father, I pray for him as I pray for everyone one else in this arena. May tonight’s ride be one to remember. Thank you for giving us this incredible opportunity. In Jesus name, I pray, amen.”
If sending a prayer like this on a nightly basis sounds oddly familiar to you, you might just live an exciting life. If you are the one praying it, you might just have a significant other that makes your life exciting. Dating a “rodeo cowboy,” as some may call it, has its perks, but don’t let that fool you, it has some downfalls. If you've ever wondered what it’s like to date a man that is constantly on the go, here are nine pointers that us “rodeo girlfriends” will let you in on.
1. Prayer is key.
You need Jesus to be in this field. Don't question it. You will not meet a single cowboy who does not bow his head before a night of competing, regardless of what he is competing for.
2. Each week you are in a different city, potentially a different state.
You are constantly away from home if you are traveling with them. If you decided to sit this one out, you are at home searching through channels on your TV or checking Facebook to see if someone is live-streaming the night’s events while wearing your boyfriend’s shirt because your whole life is watching him ride and you have to make sure he is OK.
3. You get anxiety on a whole new level.
The first time you ever see your boyfriend get hurt, or close to it, you worry even more than you can imagine. After that your anxiety will start before you even know the name of the next rodeo. You can’t change it. That’s just the way it is, and it only gets worse with time.
4. Watching your significant other's dreams come true from the sidelines is the greatest gift God can give you during this time in your life.
Every night that a ride has gone well for him, whether he has placed first or last, it is one step closer to where he wants to be. His rides will reflect his actions. Don’t be surprised when he wants to show you off after a victory, but don't be shocked if he doesn't want to talk after a failure. Giving him space is the best thing you can do.
5. Don’t argue with him. Ever.
He knows what he is supposed to be doing more than you will ever understand. This is his passion. Don’t make it about you.
6. Trips to Walmart at 3 a.m. are key.
Especially if you are living out of the backseat of the truck while traveling seven hours away and can’t make frequent stops because you’re pulling a trailer. An iced cooler packed with sweet tea, lunch meat, cheese, mayo, mustard and maybe some fresh fruit will get you a long way (perks to you if you’re the one who has to make the sandwiches while your boyfriend is driving like a mad man because he’s running late).
7. You meet tons of people.
Whether for the good or bad, you have to socialize constantly, and you might even feel bad after a while because you will start forgetting people’s names or confusing them with someone else. It’s not your fault. You meet so many people!
8. You take tons of pictures.
If your boyfriend has been at it a while, whether he’s a bull rider, bronc rider, team roper, etc., after one great night, someone will want a picture with him. It might be because he won the belt buckle with a little cash or because they’re interested in sponsoring him. It might even be a 4-year-old boy who looks to him as a role model. Whomever it is, someone has to be behind the camera, and the odds are it’s going to be you. Very seldom will you ever be included, but seeing the smile on his face will make up for it.
9. If you’re committed, you’re committed.
Dating while always being on the go is hard, and finding a guy in rodeo who is looking for something serious is even harder, but when you do and each of you are committed to one another, it creates a love that will last a lifetime.
While some of these tips are pretty straightforward and not as in depth as I would like to go, you’ll understand them on a different level if you are going through a relationship like this. I’m serious when I say if you’re lucky enough to find yourself a “rodeo cowboy,” hang on to him. It’ll be one of the best decisions you’ve ever made.
