Pinedale cowboy looking for a fresh start

By Quentin Jodie
Navajo Times

ALBUQUERQUE – Oistin Charleston is focused on being optimistic.

Since graduating from high school three years ago, Charleston has dealt with a series of injuries as a saddle bronc rider.

The 21-year-old tore his PCL in his knee, fractured his neck, broke his foot and most recently torn his rotator cuff.

“I’ve been going through a lot with injuries since I started riding,” Charleston said. “I bought my permit for the PRCA, and I put together a schedule, but with all those injuries I had to sit out for months at a time.”

Those injuries didn’t happen at once as those ailments hit him at different times within the past three years. Those injuries have kept him out of competition, so he’s looking to have a healthy 2025 season and get after it.

“It’s frustrating and it puts a toll on you mentally,” Charleston said. “Injuries happen, and it comes with the sport, so you can’t really do anything about it. It’s out of my control.”

To stay resilient, Charleston is trying to stay positive. He got a dose of that on Saturday during the Rodeo de Rio Grande, which is an AIRCA-sanctioned rodeo at the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Posse with a first-place win.

Charleston rode Deep Pockets for 66 points as he beat Ethan Yazzie for the title.

“I heard some good things about him, but I don’t think that was the trip that he was supposed to have,” Charleston said of his draw. “But I think every horse bucks different in different setups. Like this arena, it’s looks like an indoor arena, and I think he just didn’t know what was out there. I mean, he probably bucks a lot at an outdoor arena.”

Regardless, Charleston was ecstatic that his trip on Deep Pockets produced an 8-second ride.

“This is my second rodeo of the year, and I came here to see how my shoulder was gonna hold up because I drew out of some prorodeos,” he said. “Honestly, it held up pretty good, so I think I’m ready for the rest of the year.”

Charleston tore his rotator cuff at the Indian National Finals Rodeo last October in the fourth performance when his final draw stepped on his shoulder.

“I had to get an MRI and I had to go through physical therapy for a couple of months,” Charleston said. “I got it strong, and they cleared me to ride and then I got on a horse at Rodeo Scottsdale, but my body wasn’t ready to go yet.”

At that prorodeo, Charleston believes he lasted only two seconds before he got bucked off. Since then, he’s been working on getting his shoulder stronger.

“This is good,” the Pinedale, New Mexico cowboy said of his ride. “I wanted to treat this one like a practice ride and to just get the year rolling. It’s brought up my confidence.”

Breakaway

Kadin Jodie had the start she wanted in her breakaway run.

Unfortunately, she eartopped her calf that produced a no time. Luckily, the Crownpoint, New Mexico cowgirl got entered twice as she roped her second draw for a first-place win of 2.93 seconds.

“I knew I could have done better with my first one, so I wanted to make sure I roped the second one,” Jodie said. “The times weren’t too fast, so you just have to catch to win.”

Jodie finished ahead of Cassidy Begay (3.09) and Kayla Jodie (4.87) as the latter two cowgirls roped their only draws.

“These calves are pretty big and they’re pretty hard to rope,” Kadin said. “You have make sure that everything’s right on our part.”

As for her bounce back win, Kadin said it didn’t take long for her to forget about her previous run.

“I think I’ve gotten used to that,” she said. “I mean, if I don’t do good on the first one, you just have to move onto the next one.”

With the summer rodeo season approaching, Kadin has a few rodeos that she has on her calendar, which includes a pair of prorodeos in Guymon, Oklahoma and Clovis, New Mexico this week.

“My schedule gets pretty busy from here on out,” she said.

Junior bulls

Bluewater, New Mexico cowboy Elie Yazzie had done his homework.

The 14-year-old junior bull rider knew the tendencies of Wrangler Valley, a bull that his family, KC Bucking Ranch, owns.

“That’s the first time I got on him, but I watched him many times,” Yazzie said. “It feels great to, you know, get on him for the first time because I’ve seen other kids get on him. Seeing them makes me want to ride him and I finally got on him.”

His efforts produced a 65-point effort despite having some trouble on his bull.

“I kind of got lazy when I was throwing my arms around, but I’m glad that I didn’t give up,” the Thoreau Middle School eighth grader said. “He’s one of our bulls that hops a lot. We have another one that is on another level and his name is Slapjack.

“I don’t know how many times I’ve been on him,” he added. “I covered him once but after that he started to throw me off.”

With two more years left in the junior bull ranks, Yazzie is looking to continue to hone his skills as he has big dreams of making it in the PRB ranks after high school.

“That is where I want to be,” said Yazzie, while adding that he idolizes Texas phenom John Crimber.

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