SCOTT SIMON, host:
Mutton busting, as it's called, has been around for a long time. The concept is fairly simple.
Mr. ASHER KARK: It's where you ride on a sheep.
SIMON: That's a panicked sheep, by the way.
Mr. A. KARK: And they see who could stay on for the longest.
SIMON: The rodeo event is just for small children. Six-year-old Asher Kark, whom you heard from, recently competed in mutton busting at the National Western Stock Show in Denver.
Zachary Barr went to Asher's home as he started his training.
ZACHARY BARR: Asher Kark is dealing with a bit of a handicap. He signed up for mutton busting in just two days. But his family lives in Denver and they don't exactly have a ranching background.
Do you have any sheep here at your house?
Mr. A. KARK: No.
BARR: Have you ever ridden on a sheep before?
Mr. A. KARK: No.
BARR: But do you know about sheep, really?
Mr. A. KARK: Hmm, not really.
BARR: So to get Asher some practice, big brother Jacob regularly pretends to be a wild, bucking sheep. Jacob puts on their father's wool-lined jacket - inside out, of course - then gets down on all fours. Asher climbs on his back and the ride begins.
Unidentified Man: One.
(Soundbite of shouting)
BARR: And with this training, Asher is ready for the rumble.
(Soundbite of mutton busting competition)
BARR: The Denver Coliseum is packed to the rafters. Moments before the event kicks off, a rodeo staffer helps the children get prepared.
Unidentified Woman: We're putting on hockey helmets and flak jackets to protect their heads and bodies.
BARR: Wow, flak jackets.
Unidentified Woman: Flak jackets. That protects them when they fall in case the sheep steps on them.
BARR: Once suited up, it's show time.
Unidentified Announcer: Time for the mutton busting.
BARR: The children enter and thousands of people turn their attention towards one end of the arena. All the kids stand perfectly still, awaiting their fate.
The first contestant is thrown off in the blink of an eye, but the second child stays on for a few seconds.
(Soundbite of audience screaming)
BARR: And then, it's Asher's time.
(Soundbite of applause)
(Sounbdite of bell)
Unidentified Announcer: Not so much.
BARR: It's over very quickly. The rodeo clowns pick up Asher off the ground and he returns to his place in line. He glumly stares straight ahead.
Eventually, one child is deemed the winner, but all the kids get really tall trophies. Afterwards, Asher explains how real mutton busting differs from riding on top of his brother.
Mr. A. KARK: So at first, like, it stops together, so it's harder to hold on.
BARR: Older brother Jacob is nearby, and like most 10-year-olds, he doesn't sugarcoat his opinion.
Mr. JACOB KARK: I expected a lot more.
Unidentified Woman: What do you expect?
Mr. J. KARK: I should rescue him to win.
BARR: For NPR News, I'm Zachary Barr.