History of American Rodeos

History of American Rodeos 

I’ve only been to a few rodeos in my life. They were different than I expected (not really sure what I did expect—probably something like the movies or on TV), different in my lifestyle since I’m a city girl, and if that’s not bad enough, I’m an east coast southerner, and the rodeos were different from each other.

The first rodeo I ever went to was when I lived in Nebraska. It was quite a production with a beginning parade of cowboys, American Indians, cowgirls, and Fes Parker who played Davy Crockett from the TV series way back in the 1960’s. It was more of a western show than it was an actual competition. There was lots of fancy riding and sparkly outfits, but not much down and dirty competition. Sorry to say, it was my only western rodeo. When my friends and I traveled into Wyoming, we didn’t attend a rodeo, but now I wish we had. I think I would have experienced what a real competitive sport it is had we done so.

I have gone to a few local rodeos here in North Carolina. I was as surprised as you might be to learn there actually are rodeos here in my state. A friend of mine owned a western store where they sold everything in western wear, horse gear, saddles, and, believe it or not, horses, too. Anyway, those rodeos were very different from my Nebraska experience. No glitz or glamour to speak of, just cowboys in blue jeans riding on crazy horses and bulls, cowgirls racing on horses around barrels, and kids trying to wrangle animals like lambs and calves. Scary action, tension, hurt cowboys, and hysterical crowds added up to a climate of real excitement. I liked it.

Although I don’t have any stories with rodeos in them (maybe later I might), but I was impressed and excited enough about rodeos to dig up some history and facts about them. You know, maybe someday I might need the information to get down and write a story with a rodeo or a rodeo star in it. Who knows? Anyway, here are some things I found out about this American sport.

The first thing I learned surprised me; rodeos originated with Spanish wranglers called Vaqueros who had competitions amongst themselves back in the early 18^th century to see who was the best wrangler was. They called these competitions simply cowboy tournaments or cowboy competitions. The word rodeo, which came from the Spanish word meaning ‘round-up’ to describe the gathering of cattle before a cattle drive, didn’t come about  until 1916.

These competitions included activities such as climbing up on the back of an angry bull and tying down runaway cattle. These affairs were usually impromptu gatherings of friends and family to brand cattle, to gather in the cattle to prepare for a drive, or some other necessary activity on the ranch and then they would celebrate with food and fun after the job was done.

Well that was okay for a while, but you know they had to find ways to up the ante because it seems the cowboy way is to see how hard they can make that competition. So, after the cattle were rounded up and branded, motivated vaqueros would put their roping and horseback riding skills on display. The tough vaqueros would climb onto the largest bull in the herd, and, with the aid of a thick piece of rope, see who could stay on the longest. The fastest horses and most skilled riders would race from one end of the pasture to the other, with the winner earning praise and applause from the cheering crowd. These primitive tests of skill set the foundation for all modern-day events. Of course these gatherings were free for whoever showed up.

In the mid 1800’s rodeos came to America. Pioneers looking for land and opportunity began to move west. Cattle ranching was the perfect occupation for new landowners and many of them began to hire the experienced Vaqueros to help them. Some ranchers had financial dilemmas trying to raise and sell cattle, so they had to find other ways to make money to support their families. Some innovative ranchers like Buffalo Bill Cody began to organize rodeo-type events to help supplement the income of many cattlemen who were willing to put their skills on display. These early rodeos included displays of roping and riding prowess, which would become the rodeo events we know today.

These early rodeos were fun, but they lacked consistency. Even the most popular rodeo organizers disagreed on how to promote events and pay the winning competitors. In 1936, a small group of cowboys formed a group to protest these inconsistent and unfair practices. Known as the Cowboys' Turtle Association, this group of expressive cowboys championed for fair prize money and safe treatment of both riders and rough stock. They changed their name to the Rodeo Cowboys Association in 1945, eventually becoming the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association in 1975. The PRCA is the go-to organization for rodeo in the United States, hosting more than 650 sanctioned rodeos every year. The year-long battle to the top culminates in the National Finals Rodeo, the Super Bowl of the rodeo realm. The top 15 competitors in each event compete for millions in awards and prize money, along with the prestige of being crowed "World Champion" cowboy or cowgirl for the season. Plenty of blood, sweat and tears go in to making it to the top, and winning competitors wear their titles with all the honor and grace of the vaqueros that set the foundation for the rodeo events we know and love today.

The following is a list of organized events that take place during a rodeo:

Pro rodeos are composed of rough stock and timed events.

Timed events in a standard pro rodeo include:

◾Tie Down Roping

◾Team Roping

◾Steer Wrestling

◾Barrel Racing

Rough stock events include:

◾Bareback Riding

◾Saddle Bronc Riding

◾Bull Riding

Other events not seen in every rodeo but recognized by competitors as rodeo events include:

◾Breakaway Roping

◾Goat Tying

◾Pole Bending

◾Steer Roping

Other events not seen in every rodeo but recognized by competitors as rodeo events include:

◾Breakaway Roping

◾Goat Tying

◾Pole Bending

◾Steer Roping

Cowboys that participate in the Rough Stock events are referred to by competitors as “Roughies,” similarly, cowboys that participate in timed events are called “Timies”. Roughies and Timies do not usually compete in the other category. A Timie will normally hang with other Timies and vice versa.

Breakaway roping and goat tying for the ladies is a broken up version of the tie down roping for men. The calves used in the tie down roping can be a great challenge for a woman to flank; so they break up the event into two separate ones for the girls.”

So, there you have it, everything I’ve learned about rodeos and my own, although sparse, experiences with rodeos. I know you western ladies probably know a whole lot more, but I have to say it was fun digging into this bit of history. Now I think I’ll go corral a couple of dogs and a cat.

Sarah McNeal is a multi-published author of several genres including time travel, paranormal, western and historical fiction. She is a retired ER nurse who lives in North Carolina with her four-legged children, Lily, the Golden Retriever and Liberty, the cat. Besides her devotion to writing, she also has a great love of music and plays several instruments including violin, bagpipes, guitar and harmonica. Her books and short stories may be found at Publishing by Rebecca Vickery, Victory Tales Press, Prairie Rose Publications and Painted Pony Books, and Fire Star Press, imprints of Prairie Rose Publications. She welcomes you to her website and social media:

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Photographs courtesy of Wikipedia.

Helpful links:

http://rodeo.about.com/od/history/a/rodeohistory1.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_rodeo

http://www.sheridanwyorodeo.com/history.htm

http://www.jacksonholehistory.org/featured/a-brief-history-of-the-jackson-hole-rodeo/

http://cowboylifestylenetwork.com/in-the-arena/rodeo/