I have never been able to watch bull riding on TV. I sit wrenching this way and that as I watch the bulls turn the riders into rag dolls and within minutes I am exhausted and feel the need for a cold pack and a neck brace. But, as we passed a sign for a rodeo in Cortez Colorado, I decided to get tough and see a rodeo for real.
Rodeos (English translation “round up”) evolved out of the working practices of cattle herding in Spain, Mexico, Canada, South America, Australia and the U.S.. Informal events started in the U.S. in the early 1800’s with more formal competitions occurring in the 1870‘s. The first professional rodeo was recorded in Prescott, Arizona in 1888. But, the Wild West shows in the early 1900‘s with characters like Buffalo Bill and Annie Oakley pushed the event into mainstream entertainment.
One source indicated that by 1985 one third of the Cowboys had college degrees with half of them never having worked on a cattle ranch. I was curious to know what the recent information was on this but couldn’t find any. I could understand people being thrown and kicked by large farm animals because it was part of their job but to choose to be thrown and kicked by large farm animals for sport was a bit perplexing to me.
Most rodeos include calf roping, team roping, breakaway roping, steer wrestling, barrel racing, saddle bronc and bareback bronc riding and bull riding. Women competed regularly in these competitions until the 1930’s when two women were killed. Then, their participation in the rough stock competitions became limited. Since that time, women only competitions have evolved.
When we pulled into the Montezuma County Fairgrounds parking lot, cowboys were swirling ropes above their heads and launching them toward benches and 2 by 4‘s made into makeshift animals in preparation for the roping competitions. We made our way into the indoor arena just in time to see the first event, my favorite, bull riding.
We sat our tennis shoed, wool hatted and sport jacketed bodies (SO not local or cowboy) on the first bleacher one knee’s distance from the railing surrounding the arena. Being that close to the action gave one an appreciation for the size of these humongous beasts. We watched as the gates to the stalls were opened and the bulls would bolt onto the arena floor thrashing wildly. The riders would be flung up and down and side to side to the point where I couldn’t understand why body parts were not strewn across the arena and cleaned up with a dustpan and broom.
Bronc riding followed the bull riding with the same effect except that after the riders were hurled to the ground, the horse would often continue to buck and bounce and run wildly around the arena until the “pick up men” roped or guided them out of the arena. Several of the horses ran right next to the railing by my knee and I could feel the power of the animals as a vibration, or more like an earthquake, that was sent through the ground and into the bleachers we were sitting on. The whole place shook. One cowboy, unfortunately, left the arena by ambulance after being stomped by his horse. In this event, it appears that the animals usually win.
The roping events followed which were easier to watch and gave me a real appreciation for the skills of the riders. The speed at which the horses left the starting area and the speed at which they made their way across the arena was impressive. I couldn’t imagine riding a horse that fast. Several women competed in the breakaway roping event and their horse handling skills rivaled that of the men.
Then came the steer wrestling. Imagine launching yourself of off a perfectly good horse during a full gallop, landing on top of a steer and wrestling it to the ground. Ouch, ouch and OUCH!
The stands were full and big cheers went up here and there for the local favorites. As I looked around, I noticed that these Cowboys and Cowgirls appeared to be the real thing, real ranching folks. These weren’t the urban cowboys, the ones who never spent a day on the ranch. I can’t imagine what it must have taken for any of them to sit down on a bull or a bronc for the first time as just the thought of it brings on sheer terror for me. But, here they were, testing their skills against the other Cowboys and Cowgirls and proud of their heritage.
We had a long drive ahead of us so we didn’t stay long enough to see the barrel races but, we did stay long enough to know that none of us will ever become real Cowboys or Cowgirls.
“…….Mammas don’t let your babies grow up to be cowboys…..”
Songwriter Ed Bruce Artists Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings
4 Responses to The Rodeo