HOUSTON — One of the most popular events at RodeoHouston each night is mutton bustin'.
The crowd cheers for the little cowboys and cowgirls brave enough to give it a try. Their reactions are priceless as they cling to a large sheep and hang on for dear life while it's running across the dirt floor at NRG Stadium.
Some kids love it, others -- not so much.
Whoever hangs on the longest each night wins a buckle.
Last night's winner was Liliana Kazaka from Conroe. Her sheep was really fast but she still managed to hold on tight!
Put 5-year-old Will Elliott competed on Wednesday night.
"You put your legs around a sheep and then you hang on tight," Will told us.
The Elliotts are no strangers to riding. Will's 8-year-old sister, Addison, rode two years ago.
"When it's so bumpy, it's, like, fun to ride," she said.
Their parents also got a kick out of watching the kids.
"Being part of the rodeo tradition, getting to come to the rodeo as a kid and now getting to come as a family is pretty fun," father Winston Elliott said.
Thursday night's winner was Brody Vest from Missouri City!
In 2022, KHOU 11 Meteorologist Chita Craft's son, Les, made mom and dad proud when he rode one of those ornery muttons.
You have to register in advance to enter your child for the nightly event during the Rodeo at NRG and registration is closed for this year.
The good news is there's also mutton bustin' in The Junction area near the carnival and you don't have to sign up in advance.
- It costs $15 for each child to ride.
- Contestants must be 5 or 6 years old as of February 28, 2023
- Participants' weight must not exceed 55 pounds.
- Shows run every hour between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. daily.
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