An Okotoks barrel racer has learned not to worry when her husband punches the clock to go to work.
Even though Lauren Byrnes’ husband Jesse works in front of a 1,500-pound bull who is more than a little perturbed about some cowboy trying to stay on his back for eight seconds.
“He was a bullfighter when we met – he was 17 and I was 18,” the 26-year-old Lauren said after competing at the Calgary Stampede on July 10. “What he does is more dangerous than I do, absolutely. But he has just always done it and I am used to it. I don’t worry about it. He works with some outstanding guys.”
Jesse was working the infield with bullfighters Dave Sandilands and his cousin Scott Byrne at the Calgary Stampede on July 10, just minutes after Lauren had competed in the barrel racing.
There have been some hard times for the Byrnes.
She did wince when Jesse lost a round to a bull during a bullfighting competition in the Border City about four years ago.
“I saw him mess up his knee at this freestyle bullfight in Lloydminster,” Lauren said. “I saw him get tossed in the air. The bullfights really made me nervous, but this (bull riding) not so much.”
The Stampede is ideal for their new life on an Okotoks area acreage.
“It’s great,” Lauren said. “We drive in together, we bring in our truck and trailer, he does his things, I do mine, and we pack up and go home.”
You would think with the two being on the rodeo circuit, it would be kind of romantic, traveling together every weekend to countless rodeos.
Uh-uh.
Jesse might get a peck on the cheek from Lauren before she drives off to a new rodeo, but most weekends they are headed in different directions.
“I might get a chance to watch her and maybe talk to her at a rodeo but then she has got to go to another,” Jesse said. “I am contracted to work one rodeo so I’m usually there all weekend.”
However, he did get to see Lauren’s barrel race at the Stampede on July 10.
“I did get a chance to see her go today,” the 25-year-old Jesse said. “But then I have to concentrate on my job.”
His job is to make sure the likes of Black Diamond bull rider Tyler Thomson can walk out of the arena in one piece.
“Our job is to strictly protect the bull rider at all costs,” Jesse said. “We need to get the bull’s attention towards us rather than them (the bull riders) so they can get out of there safely.”
Bullfighting is literally in Jesse’s bloodstream.
“My dad was a bullfighter,” Jesse said. “He is the only Canadian to fight bulls at the NFR (National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas).
“For me, bullfighting is an always changing situation that is always exciting. I also like to help guys out.”
Jesse’s father, Ryan, was inducted into the Canadian Professional Rodeo Hall of Fame in 2004.
Jesse does have one advantage over his wife at the Stampede — he is guaranteed to get a paycheque.
“I get a paycheque every day” said Jesse, who was working his third Stampede. “It’s not quite the $100,000, but it’s okay.”
