The Rawhide and Dusty Show
Published 10:37 pm Wednesday, May 6, 2015
By Cal Bryant
Special to the News-Herald
No one has the Wild West showman fever more than Mark Lahmann of The Rawhide & Dusty Show from Sullivan, Mo. This cowboy’s tough, bull-whipping attitude is just the exterior to his softer side.
Rawhide Lahmann performs a roping trick to the delight of his young audience. He is especially popular with the kids who attend the rodeos he performs in. The Rawhide and Dusty Show will perform both nights at the Gates County Championship Rodeo.
Getting past the leather chinks, the bandanna smile and his cowhide boots, there’s a tender spot embedded in his eternal soul. This cowboy has a heart that’s bigger than Texas, and deep down in his heart is a love for children that have a need for heroes.
Mark, a.k.a. “Rawhide,” wants to be that positive role model for young and impressionable children and his Wild West Show allows him to do just that.
Lahmann has been performing for audiences young and old at horse shows, horse fests and expos, fairs and festivals and private parties for several years.
Young cowboys and cowgirls run up to the side of the arena after each performance to greet Rawhide and his trick horse, “Dusty.” This is what makes it all worthwhile for performers like Rawhide and Dusty. This is just a part of the making of a true Wild West showman.
Rawhide performs target work with the bullwhip both on and off of horseback and also demonstrates many different types of whip popping, all using a 10-foot bullwhip. He also spends time before the event meeting and greeting the crowd and performing trick roping.
Rawhide began training Dusty when the horse was only 6 months old. Now Dusty loves entertaining the crowd. He will shake his head “yes,” take a bow, lie down, and will also rear up on his hind legs all to the amazement of the crowd.
After this entertainment, Rawhide and Dusty lope around the arena, performing different whip popping techniques. While on horseback, Rawhide will jump Dusty onto the back of the truck, and then jump him onto the top of the trailer.
Once on top of the trailer, Dusty will perform on a teeter-totter. While Dusty is on top of the trailer, Rawhide stands up on the saddle and cracks his whip. The show culminates with Rawhide and Dusty riding out of the arena on top of the trailer.
The Rawhide and Dusty Show is a member of the International Professional Rodeo Association, the Missouri Rodeo Cowboy Association and the American Cowboy Rodeo Association.
