Rodeo

This past weekend, our family experienced our very first rodeo!! When we moved here, we noticed a rodeo arena off the main road a couple miles from our house. They had a big sign advertising a rodeo at the end of June. We assumed the sign was from last year, but we decided to keep our eye out because it looked like an annual event.

Early in June, we started asking around town, and found out the rodeo was going to be held early in July. The tickets were quite reasonable, so we purchased them and prepared to experience our first rodeo!

I think half the town showed up for the event! All the locals claim it’s a pretty low-key/amateur rodeo, but for these Yankees, it was great. J We were basically trying to figure out the object of each event!

Photo Credit: Betsy.

The Grand opening was neat to watch! A lot of kids and other amateurs from the local area rode their horses in a pattern around the arena. They also sang the national anthem, had a choreographed display from a professional horse-riding group, and an amazing prayer opening up the rodeo.

Photo Credit: Betsy.

The first event of the rodeo was the bucking broncos. It was pretty amazing! A few of the contestants made it through the required full 8 seconds and were scored. What I really enjoyed watching was the cowboys rounding up the horse afterward. The three that did the riding were so very good! They were just one with their horses and completely in control while still being very gentle. It was a beautiful sight!

The next event was steer wrestling. All I can say is that cowboys have to have some serious muscles!

They also did a couple versions of steer roping. They had single man steer roping and two-man steer roping.

They also had a version of roping for girls, which I believe is a form of breakaway.

As part of the “intermission” there was another choreographed performance on horses.

A couple of the events involved audience involvement. They had two different calf scrambles for children. After watching the first time, Josiah was very excited to participate. In this event, the kids line up and a calf is released into the arena. This one had a ribbon tied on its tail and one on its ear. The kids had to try to get the ribbon off the calf. It was quite comical!

About this time, some of us went to get some snacks. During that time, they had a wild cow milking contest. Basically, two groups of guys tried to milk two wild cows. J Yes, comical!

Next came another steer-roping event. This time, one rider had to rope the calf, and tie its legs together. The calf had to stay tied for at least 6 seconds before getting up in order for the rider to be scored.

Then came the event we had been waiting for: bull riding! I am simply amazed that people can actually do that. Can you even imagine how much energy and full-body strength it takes to stay on top of a jumping, bucking, 2,000 pound animal, while holding on with only one hand??

The final event was barrel racing. If I had to pick a rodeo event that I would love to do, this would be it! I think the fastest time we saw that night was 17.2 seconds.

Around 11 o’clock, the evening ended with a bang (literally!) I was amazed that our tiny town of ~2,800 put on a fireworks show that lasted at least 15 minutes!

And that was our first rodeo experience! We confess . . . we’re a little addicted and obsessed now. J We are looking all over for rodeos to attend! We’re one step closer to being “true” Texans! J