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.
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The first thing I learned surprised me; rodeos
originated with Spanish wranglers called Vaqueros who had competitions amongst
themselves back in the early 18th 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.
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Photographs courtesy of Wikipedia.
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