Waylon Jennings has had an unsettling effect on a lot of people, but nothing comes close to the love Olivia Ross has for him. Sally Rae talks to the rodeo enthusiast about her chances of becoming the first woman to win an all-around New Zealand open rodeo title.
Olivia (22) and Waylon are a formidable pairing, competing with much success in barrel racing on the rodeo circuit.
She purchased Waylon as a 4year-old in 2007.
He had done a little roping but she taught him to barrel race and she acknowledged he had come a long way in three years.
''Hopefully, he'll go a long way in the next three.''
Waylon was a ''character'' on the rodeo circuit, his bubbly owner admitted, saying he had been known to buck - a lot.
''We're very good at providing crowd entertainment.''
''He's got character, that's why I love him. He's been a joy to work with even though he bucks,'' she said.
Waylon had only managed to unseat Olivia twice and she was now prepared for it.
Besides, she liked a challenge.
''He's my baby. He's like a kid to me. You could offer me thousands of dollars for that horse and he's not for sale. You don't sell your kids.''
Brought up on Etalvale Station, a sheep and beef property managed by her parents in Western Southland, Olivia began riding when she was about 3.
Her mother used to barrel race, her great-grandfather was a bull rider and her father ''had a wee go at it''.
Her first foray into rodeo was in 2003 when a friend offered her a ride at Outram rodeo. She has not missed an Outram rodeo since.
That first competition was not memorable - ''I can't remember, I don't think I did any good, I didn't know what I was doing'' - but she got a taste for barrel racing.
From there, she pulled her father's ex-steeplechaser - a 17.2hh thoroughbred - out of the paddock and decided he was going barrel racing.
While he could turn on a sixpence, she never got any placings.
Unfortunately, he had a heart attack and she rode a few other people's horses for a season before deciding to purchase her own.
Olivia and Waylon's first rodeo was at Winchester three years ago.
That season, she took it slowly as they gradually started to build a team.
They did not pick up any prize money - ''I was still getting to know him, he was still getting to know me'' - and Olivia was still relatively new to barrel racing and the rodeo scene.
Their first cheque was a second placing in second division at Millers Flat in 2008 at the annual Boxing Day rodeo and Olivia was ''shocked''.
''I couldn't believe my luck. My plan was get a fourth by the end of that season kind of thing. It was his second ever season of rodeo.''
Olivia got a cheque at nearly every rodeo in which she competed that season and walked away with the 2008-09 rookie title, travelling to the North Island to clinch the title.
Her grandmother had died in September and she wanted to win the rookie title for her.
She also broke into the open division while in the North Island.
Last season, Olivia decided she wanted to make the national rodeo finals.
She did not think she would have much chance competing in the open, but ''yet again he [Waylon] proved me wrong''.
She qualified for the finals in Feilding - ''that was just wonderful'' - and headed north accompanied by Waylon and two working dogs.
She did casual work and helped pay her way.
At one rodeo, she was clearing the arena and a bull went under Waylon, taking the skin off his legs and unseating his rider.
He went into the finals, which were only two weeks out, sore.
The horse has since had a break while Olivia went to Australia to work for six months after graduating from Lincoln University.
She has diplomas in agriculture, farm management and applied science.
While she enjoyed riding some different horses in Australia - ''it's good for your riding'' - and she had a go at campdrafting, achieving a creditable sixth place, it was not the same as riding her own.
''As my parents know, I wasn't coming home to see them. I was coming to see my horse.''
Shortly after arriving home, she had picked up Waylon and was heading to a jackpot barrel racing event at Albury.
''I just want to ride my own pony again, go fast and have fun.''
This season, Olivia is the South Island barrel racing director, which involves dealing with any problems the competitors have and being responsible for setting up the courses at rodeos.
She wants to get more involved with the New Zealand Rodeo Cowboys Association.
She is also on the sub-committee for the New Zealand secondary schools transtasman team.
This season, Olivia's goal is to make the national finals and she is aiming for a top five position.
She was also keen to try her hand at roping.
''As far as I know, no woman has ever won an all-around New Zealand open title. I'm going to try and be the first.
''I don't care if it's 10 years down the track. I might not be any good at roping but I don't know until I try.''
While roping and barrel racing were the only events women could compete in, Olivia admitted she would ''love to have a crack'' at bull riding.
She was tempted to try while in Australia.
''Knowing my luck, I'd have broken something and not be able to rodeo this season. I'd probably come straight off but at least I could say I'd done it.''
With Christmas dinner usually eaten on the run, Olivia is looking forward to the Christmas circuit which will begin with the Millers Flat rodeo on Boxing Day.
Describing herself as a very independent person, she refuses to stay in hotels, preferring to stay on the rodeo grounds with her horse, sleeping in a swag and washing and swimming in rivers, and ''having a good social time.
I have no problem with roughing it,'' she said.
With all the travelling involved, it is not a cheap sport. A few years ago, Olivia decided to open a rodeo account - spurred on by the offer of a free MP3 player in a bank promotion - with any prize money going into the account.
That filled her vehicle up, paid for float maintenance and kept Waylon fed, covered and shod.
She was also grateful for sponsorship from Carrodus Bros Trucks Ltd in Springston, Winslow Feeds in Ashburton and JJ's Otago in Mosgiel.
Olivia, who works as a field consultant for Otago-Southland for Outgro Bio Agricultural Ltd, was grateful for the support of everyone who had helped to get her ''where I am today'', particularly her parents, and friends throughout Otago and Canterbury.
She enjoyed the camaraderie among rodeo enthusiasts - ''we're one big family'' - and everyone helped each other out.
While she acknowledged there were people who were critical of rodeo, a lot did not realise that the animals, especially the bucking stock, were bred for the sport and loved their work.
''I'd love to be a rodeo horse. I get to go 364 days ... running across country, having the time of my life.
''For the one day of the year I have to come in, I have the luxury of bucking some silly cowboy off. I couldn't think of anything better.''
The animals were not getting hurt and the cowboys were always more at risk.
While there were sometimes injuries, it was no different from other equestrian disciplines.
For anyone wanting to have a go at rodeo, there were ''so many people'' prepared to help.
''You'll always be able to find someone, if you want to have a go, that will lend you a horse to see what it's like.
''There's always someone looking for a travelling partner, and more and more schools and jackpots so you don't have to go straight into a rodeo.''
Open barrel racer Henrietta Purvis, of Waianakarua, said Olivia was an inspiration.
''She started off like we all do, knowing nothing, but ... took advice from people and listened and is a very quick learner. Year on year, she's set her goals.
''It just goes to show what you can do when you set your mind to something and work hard. And it's good to see it can be done.
''So many people say they're 'gonna do this and they're gonna do that' but don't put the hard work in behind it. They [Olivia and Waylon] have done so well.
''Olivia is a fine advert for really wanting to do something from your heart and doing it,'' Mrs Purvis said.
Rodeo has been happening in New Zealand ''in one form or another'' for more than 100 years but it had only been an organised sport since between about 1945 and 1950, long-time Lake Hawea cowboy Pat McCarthy said.
It used to be administered by the New Zealand Buck Jumping and Steer Riding Association, with one branch in the North Island and one in the South Island.
The two groups came together in the early 1970s, along with the New Zealand Rodeo Cowboys Association (South Island), to form the New Zealand Rodeo Cowboys Association.
Mr McCarthy, a former national title-holder, has been involved with rodeo for ''40-odd years''.
The sport had ''come a long way'' and was in very good heart, he said.
Rodeo talk
Arena clearer: In charge of chasing the animals out of the arena and into the back pens after each ride or run is finished. They do this while on horseback.
Belt buckle: Each season's-end champion is awarded a gold belt buckle signifying his or her achievement.
Bucked off: When a roughstock rider is thrown from the animal before he has completed the required 8 seconds.
Mark-out: On the first buck out of the chute, a bareback and saddle bronc rider must have both of his spurs touching the horse forward of the break of the shoulders. They must stay there until the horse's hooves have hit the ground from the first buck. If a rider fails to mark his horse out, on either or both sides, then he is disqualified.
Quarter-horse: The fastest horse over a quarter-mile (400m). Trained and used by timed events contestants.
Pick-up rider: After a bareback or saddle bronc ride, a pick-up rider moves in on horseback, enabling the competitor to slide off his bucking horse and on to the back of the pick-up rider's horse.
Rank: Stock that are known to be tough to ride.
Re-ride: Judges can award a re-ride to a contestant when the animal fails to buck to their satisfaction, falls or fouls the rider
Roughstock events: Bull-riding, saddle bronc and bareback.
Spinner: A bucking bull or horse that bucks or turns in circles.
Slack: Rodeo version of heats.
Touch down: When a roughstock rider touches himself or the animal with his free arm during his ride. He is then disqualified.
- Source: New Zealand Rodeo Cowboys Association
Rodeo events
Bareback: The rider attempts to stay on the back of his horse using only his balance and a suitcase-type handhold, known as a rigging, which is placed on top of the horse's withers then secured with a cinch.
Steer wrestling: The steer wrestler starts the event on the back of his horse in the timed event box and uses his technique and strength to wrestle the steer to the ground in the fastest time possible
Barrel racing: A female-only event the objective of which is to ride a cloverleaf pattern around three barrels as quickly as possible.
Team roping: The only team event in rodeo. There are two ropers, one known as the header and the other is the heeler.
Saddle bronc: The event that started rodeo. It originated from the necessary job of breaking in and training horses to be used on ranches, in the days of the Wild West
Bull riding: The most dangerous event. The rider can only hold on to the animal with one hand.
- Source: New Zealand Rodeo Cowboys Association
Southern rodeos
December 27: Waimate
December 28: Omarama
December 30: Te Anau
January 2: WanakaJanuary 29: Mataura
January 30: Southland (Invercargill)
February 5: Waikouaiti
February 6: Outram
February 12: Lawrence
March 26: National finals (Te Anau)
