The thought of cramming six hours of manual labour into just eight seconds is probably an attractive prospect to most tradies but a look at Ben Lees on a bucking horse would probably change their mind.
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That’s the toll a single bareback ride takes on a champion cowboy.
It’s why there are only a select few riders who brave the task of spending eight seconds on top of 400 kilograms of raw angry bucking muscle bred specifically for the purpose of ensuring they don’t get there.
Riding bareback, all they get is a suitcase handle and nothing else, no saddle, no stirrups and certainly no sympathy from the animal.
But just like the horses, Lees – who has a handshake something akin to Andre the Giant’s – is also bred for it.
The Seaham cowboy – a five time national finals qualifier and 2010 national champion – picked up championships belt buckles in both the bare-back and saddle bronc events at Saturday’s East Coast Championships at Shellharbour.
He was one of the few to notch scores in both events as the horses and bulls – the real stars in the eyes of many who line the rodeo ring – for the most part had their way with the cowboys. Both the cowboy and the horse or bull are both scored out 50. It’s the irony in the sport where the animals try as best they can to unseat the rider who is effectively their teammate.
The cowboys must reach the eight-second mark, 7.9seconds and they get nothing.
Scores in the 70s are considered good, 80s very good and 90s outstanding.
Lees produced a 75 in the bare-back and a sensational 81-point ride to take out the saddle bronc title to be named best all-round cowboy for the event. He said it makes the pain of carrying around a dead arm for the week all the more bearable.
“It can be the best thing you ever do but it can be the worst thing that you ever felt too,” Lees said.
“It’s like ... to hold on to a mailbox that is going past at 60kilometres an hour.
“When you get in a bit of trouble like I did, eight seconds feels like a really long time. It certainly knocks it out of you pretty quick.”
Lees conquered the Rick Wilson-bred Opposite Attraction and said the daughter of a three-time Australian Bucking Horse of the year, was the real star.
“She was pretty tough and strong. I’d happily get on her every day of the week,” Lees said. He said the horses are treated like superstars as they work just eight seconds at the weekend.
If Lees was the best all-round performer, then Open Bull Ride champion Tim Amey had the best single ride of the night scoring an 87 atop Loose Chain.
“It’s the longest eight seconds I know but it’s great fun, though,” he said.