One of the highlights of the Canadian Miniature Bull Riding Association finals at Benalto was the participation of four year old Straeden Running Rabbit.
The youngster, the youngest of five children, has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy and doesn’t walk much anymore.
He wants to be a cowboy but is never going to get a chance. Several of his siblings were among the 20 competitors at the finals in events such as bull riding, barrel racing and fun activities which included the Wild Pony Race and pig and chicken scrambles.
Before the barrel racing event Sunday, Running Rabbit received applause from a sparse crowd as he was led through the course mounted on a horse. He’d sat on top of one of the tamer bulls the previous day.
The finals also became a fundraiser for cerebral palsy. Funds from a calcutta were earmarked for the cause and Benalto Agricultural Society, which ran the 50-50, donated its share as well.
At the end of the day, organizers of the event presented a championship buckle which was specially made for Running Rabbit.
According to its website, Canadian Miniature Bull Riding Association is a Canadian association of rodeo contractors, young bull riders and rodeo enthusiasts who want to make the sport of bull riding open to more people.
While riding of miniature bulls has really caught on the in United States, the Canadian organization was only started two years ago by Randy Graham and his family at Dee-Ab-Lo Miniature Bucking Bulls just west of Caroline.