HOUSTON – There's a rodeo competition designed for up-and-coming cowboys and cowgirls: mutton bustin'.
About 1,500 children signed up for mutton bustin' this year. About 300 contestants, all 5 and 6 years old, were chosen by lottery to compete.
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Mia McCloskey, 6, is a veteran of the event. She had a big ride at last year's rodeo.
"It was really fun," she said. "My mom told me to hand on tight and when I was done, I told my dad that I took that sheep down."
Mia is a fierce competitor.
"I'm going to hold on and I'm going to win," she said."
Mia's mom said her daughter has been in training, just like any good athlete.
"She's ridden her daddy around the den about 14 times," Michelle McCloskey said.
McCloskey said Mia and other little wranglers live for this.
"That's their five minutes of fame," she said. "They love it. They absolutely love it."
Mia was first up of 15 contestants and had a good ride. Her parents wonder what's next.
"She says she wants to ride a bull next," McCloskey said.
At the tender age of 6, Mia appears to be unstoppable. It's the bulls who better be careful.