A lot can happen in eight seconds, and for Travis Berg, those eight seconds brought a life lesson.
"I missed my mark out of the gate with that horse so I got a no-score, " said Berg.
Berg travelled to St. Albert on May 27 to May 29 for the Rainmaker Rodeo. In his first-ever competitive performance in bare-back riding, Berg made a costly error coming out of the gate.
"When the gate opens and you get that first jump out, you have to have your feet out in front of the break of the horse’s shoulders. I didn’t have my spurs dug in there; you have to have the spurs touching the horse. My brother got hurt just before the Rainmaker, so I think that was on my mind, " said Berg.
Although Berg is entering his first rodeo season, the young cowboy has been bare-back riding for some time.
"I’ve bare-back rode about 23 horses in my lifetime. It’s a lot of fun. It’s an adrenaline rush. I’d say I’m a bit of an adrenaline junkie when it comes to bare-back riding. Sometimes I get a little nervous, but when it’s time you go all that goes away, " said Berg.
Berg has already put the Rainmaker Rodeo behind him and focused on the next rodeo, which was scheduled for June 12 in Wetaskiwin.
"I’m just going to focus on getting that mark out there. After my brother’s injury, I realized you can’t take this for granted and you have to really try out there, " said Berg.
At 21-years-old, Berg has his mind focused on making this a career.
"I want to participate in all the Wildrose Rodeo Association events this year. I want to make it all the way to the top, " said Berg.
