Elevé dans un ranch, cet américain de 60 ans rêvait de devenir un champion de rodéo. Cependant, il travailla comme instituteur jusqu’à ce qu’il perdit la quasi totalité de sa vue ainsi qu’un rein à cause du diabète. Depuis cinq ans, il est retourné dans l’arène où il pratique le ligotage du veau au lasso, une épreuve de précision et de rapidité. Des cloches sont accrochées aux cornes de l’animal pour que Jerry puisse l’entendre quitter la cage d’élancement et le suivre au triple galop. Comme avec les professionnels, l’animal est généralement immobilisé en moins de vingt secondes. 60-year-old Jerry Long, from New Mexico, USA, must be the only person in the world who is registered blind and practises team roping - a rodeo sport where one has to catch a steer whilst riding a horse at 20 miles an hour! Owing to diabetes, the ex-teacher had to have a kidney transplant at the age of forty and his eyesight has deteriorated progressively ever since. He now only has very slight vision in the right eye and wears an eye-patch over the left as he cannot be given an artificial eye. Jerry still works with children as one of he main teacher in therapy course called ‘Hearts and horses’. Full article available.
Team roping is one of the five different rodeo events. The others are Bare-back Riding, Calf Roping, Saddle Horse Riding and Bull Dogging. These roping cattles are called the 'Coriantes', they cost about $450 and last for 2 years.
DEM0007506 © Magali Delporte
It only takes a few ‘adaptations’ for blind people to practise a sport. Jerry uses Christmas bells that he ties to the horns of the steers!
DEM0007507 © Magali Delporte
"When I roped again for the first time I didn't have a horse. I had just kept my pair of boots and my hat. But it was like I had found a $10.000 bill!" Now Jerry has won several belt buckles and wishes to have seen the other ropers' face when he won.
DEM0007517 © Magali Delporte
Duke waits for Jerry to take him in the arena.
DEM0007514 © Magali Delporte
Elevé dans un ranch, Jerry Long, américain de 60 ans rêvait de devenir champion de rodéo. Devenu aveugle, il redescend dans l’arène où il pratique la capture du veau au lasso. Des cloches accrochées aux cornes de l’animal lui permettent de l’entendre s'élancer et de le capturer.
DEM0007516 © Magali Delporte
One of the many belt buckles that jerry has won since he took up team roping again.
DEM0007515 © Magali Delporte
The children form the Horses and Heart programme on which Jerry volunteers.
DEM0007513 © Magali Delporte
Ashley is one of the girls on the 'Horses and Hearts' therapy programme. Ashley was born with only the half of the heart and has to be constantly looked after, Capitain, Nouveau Mexique, USA, 2002.
DEM0007508 © Magali Delporte
Jerry still has light perception that helps him during the daytime. But once he is away from his home and arena, he becomes useless without a cane. Still he says "I'll rope untill I cannot get on the horse, even if I am stone-cold blind."
DEM0007509 © Magali Delporte
"When I started team roping again, I was scared of running into a fence at 25 mph. But Duke is not stupid and I've put all my trust in him. This is the biggest lesson I 've learned : to put your trust in someone else than you." Jerry Long, 60, now blind, takes part in rodeos, Captain, New Mexico.
DEM0007510 © Magali Delporte
Twice a day, Jerry feeds his animals. He has 7 roping cattles, 12 horses, 4 donkeys and many goats, cats and dogs!
DEM0007512 © Magali Delporte
Once in a restaurant a kid stood on a chair and he said: 'Mum there is a pirate! And he's got a sword!."
DEM0007511 © Magali Delporte