Beech Tree News Network

Recently, I saw the Lone Star Rodeo at the WKU Ag Expo Center. As usual, I sat on the edge of my seat during much of the rodeo. I love to watch the events, but I fear that someone will get hurt.

The Wikipedia website defines rodeo as a competitive sport, arising from the work practices of cattle herding and based on the skills of working vaqueros and cowboys. Currently, it consists of events involving horses and other livestock, testing the skill and speed of participants. Professional rodeos are comprised of events such as tie-down roping, team roping, steer wrestling, bronc riding, bull riding and barrel racing. The rodeo is popular today in Canada and the United States. It is the official state sport of Wyoming, South Dakota, and Texas. Additionally, the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, Canada has considered making rodeo the official sport of that province, but legislation has not passed (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rodeos).

A sense of folklore is often associated with rodeos and cowboys or cowgirls. These statements reflect some of that folklore:
•    Life is a rodeo – take it as you get it.
•    Don’t drink water downstream from the herd; drink upstream.
•    Hope you like dust because when I get through that gate, that’s all you’re going to see.
•    Don’t call ‘em cowboy ‘til you’ve seen ‘em ride.
•    Asking to borrow someone’s saddle is like asking to borrow someone’s girlfriend; you just don’t do that.
•    A cowboy never tries on another man’s hat; it’s like gettin’ on his horse.
•    Never been a horse that can’t be rode; never been a cowboy that can’t be thrown.
•    If you haven’t fallen off a horse, then you haven’t been ridin’ long enough.
•    Never approach a bull from the front, a horse from the rear, or a fool from any direction.
•    I’d gladly trade 8 seconds for a lifetime of watching from the stands.
•    May your belly never grumble, may your heart never ache, may your horse never stumble, and may your cinch never break (http://www.coolnsmart.com/cowboy_quotes/).

I asked 20 of my friends and family what events they like best at the rodeo. A few mentioned more than one event. Their choices included:
•    Bull riding 33%
•    The clowns (important as well as entertaining) 29%
•    Barrel riding 13%
•    Bronc riding 13%
•    Watching the cowboys and cowgirls 13%
One of my brothers said that he enjoys seeing people work with their animals and with other people; he explained that many of the events require working as a team.  A friend remembered seeing a chariot race at a 1965 rodeo.

Even though I get a bit nervous about the rodeo participants’ safety, I hope to see other rodeos.  It’s been said that pain and rodeo go hand in hand – maybe that’s one meaning of the phrase “cowboy up.”