Bull rodeo is a beautiful and aggressive sport. Real rodeo: what an American cowboy will spend $50 thousand on American rodeo on bulls and horses
The type of competition where participants try to stay in the saddle or bareback on a rearing horse or bull is known as rodeo. Rodeo is a general name for several types of competitions. At its core, it is a competition of cowboys in strength and skill, a demonstration of the capabilities of man and animal. Quite an extreme competition.
Spain is the country that gave its name to bull rodeo. The word "Rodear" is of Spanish origin. "Rodear" means "to surround" in Spanish. From the beginning of the 18th century after the conquest of America by the Spanish conquistadors prevailed in the country livestock farming Farms (ranches) in the west were primarily engaged in raising cattle. This required a large number of horsemen - shepherds. The duties of the shepherds included herding the herd, branding animals, the ability to throw a lasso, and dressage horses.
Most of the Spanish settlers were professional cattle breeders and passed on their skills to their workers, so it turns out that the ordinary daily work of shepherds (in Spanish “vaqueros”) became the basis for the emergence of competitions.
Huge territories contributed to the expansion of the herd population. Farms Western America provided all the united states with livestock products. Ranchers organized livestock drives to transshipment bases and then sent the livestock by rail to the east of the country.
Despite his Spanish roots, rodeo Perhaps one of the most "American" entertainments - a sporting event and an exciting show, rodeo is extremely popular in the USA today; Tens of millions of people attend rodeos held in different states of the country.
The word "rodeo" is of Spanish origin and can be translated as "round up", "round up", "gather together" - in relation to cattle, this is the usual, "working" procedure for cowboys.
In English, the word “rodeo” appeared around the first half of the nineteenth century, and the first rodeos as competitions in professional cowboy skills began to be held more or less en masse in the second half of the nineteenth century.
For some time, rodeos were just competitions between cowboys held in their free time. However, with the development, in particular, of railway communication, the demand for the services of cowboys decreased somewhat. In this situation, for many cowboys, rodeos, turned into shows for spectators, have become an excellent way to earn their living. Among the organizers of these quickly gaining popularity was the famous buffalo hunter Buffalo Bill.
Gradually, general rules for holding rodeos were formed, designed to ensure not only the entertainment of the event, but also the safety of participants and spectators.
Today rodeos are divided into amateur and professional; Basically, they are distinguished by a higher level of the latter, which implies both the presence of stronger rivals and “stronger” animals, as well as higher fees for the winners.
Rodeo competitions are divided into two main categories:
First
includes Saddle Bronc Riding, Bareback Bronc Riding, and Bullriding, and is designed to demonstrate the rider's skills.
The rules of this competition are quite simple - the cowboy needs to stay on the back of the animal for eight seconds, and he can only hold on with one hand; the other hand should not touch the animal, equipment or the cowboy himself. In addition, a competitor has no hope of winning if his foot comes out of the stirrup, he loses the reins, or he is thrown out of the saddle. In the case of a bull, the cowboy must stay on the back of the animal, which often weighs about a ton, holding on to a rope tied around the animal's belly.
By the way, while riding a horse, the rider uses spurs with might and main during the galloping process in order to correct the horse’s behavior; in the case of a bull, the cowboy does not need to spur the animal, although he may receive additional points for doing so
Two judges evaluate the performance and give marks to the cowboy (from 1 to 25 points) and... the animal (on the same scale); those. The more violently the bull tried to throw off the rider, the more points he earned. Thus, the maximum number of points that a participant can score is one hundred; It is worth noting that in the history of bull racing this has only happened once.
Second a type of rodeo competition designed to demonstrate applied skills in handling cattle. Thus, in Calf Roping, one of the oldest and most famous competitions, you need to catch a calf by throwing a lasso around its neck and hobble it; To get a "credit", you must tie the calf's legs in such a way that he cannot untie the rope for at least six seconds. In Steer Wrestling, a cowboy must jump from a horse onto the back of a steer and tackle the animal to the ground by its horns.
Team Roping is a team competition in which one of the participants needs to throw a lasso around the horns or neck of a calf, and the other - around its hind legs; The team that completes the task faster wins. In Single Steer Roping, a cowboy demonstrates his mastery of a lasso (tied to the saddle) by throwing it over the horns of an animal; stopping the horse abruptly, the animal is thrown to the ground.
Barrel Racing, or barrel racing, is a competition in which the participant must ride between barrels placed in the arena; For overturned barrels, the participant will receive a penalty time.
In addition, the rodeo features horse-drawn sled racing (Chuckwagon Races), as well as other competitions.
Along with the competing cowboys, important players in the rodeo arena are the clowns, or bullfighters. Rodeo clowns are that rare case when their main task is not to make anyone laugh; they are designed to help, for example, a cowboy who has fallen out of the saddle to avoid an encounter with the horns and hooves of a heated bull, which can easily become fatal for a person; fearlessly standing between a person and an animal caught on the ground, “clowns” often save lives. By the way, bullfighters also hold their own competitions.
The rodeo is regulated by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA); received its current name in 1975, the association was organized back in 1936 and was originally called the Cowboy`s Turtle Association; such an unusual name, according to popular legend, appeared because the cowboys turned out to be very “slow” organizers.
The National Finals Rodeo, the Professional Cowboy Association's final competition to determine the best in the profession, takes place every December in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Women had been participating in rodeos for many years, but the death of renowned rider Bonnie McCarroll in competition in 1929 dampened women's interest in the sport for a time. Today, ladies participate, as a rule, only in racing between barrels (Barrel Racing); Meanwhile, there is a women's association, the Women's Professional Rodeo Association.
The love for rodeo has been instilled in the United States since childhood; in the country there is the National Little Britches Rodeo Association - an organization that has been organizing rodeos for children for more than half a century.
Rodeo is a traditional sport in North America, historically developed among Mexican and American cowboys. It is generally accepted that rodeo as a sporting competition took place for the first time in the Texas city of Pecos in 1883.
Initially, it was just a cowboy's daily job on the ranch - dressage.
As mentioned above, rodeo as a sporting competition took place for the first time in the Texas city of Pecos in 1883. A real rodeo includes several types of competitions, held either individually or as part of a large competition: wild bull racing, bareback and saddled horse racing, lassoing a bull, pinning a bull, racing around barrels, etc.
Betting is always very popular among spectators. After all, in the fight between a man and a wild bull, the result is unpredictable.
The most spectacular competitions are often called “rodeos” - racing on a “wild bull” or horse. Bareback rodeoing is the hardest way to make a living.
In order for the horse to rear up, a special belt is put on it. When the horse bucks and stands on its hind legs, the belt loosens. The rider mounts the horse and the gate leading to the arena opens. At the same time, the person standing behind the horse tightly tightens the belt on it, which painfully digs into the horse’s body. The pain from the clamping of a particularly sensitive nerve on the horse’s croup is unbearably excruciating; it bucks and rears up, trying to get rid of the belt that is causing suffering. Rodeo is a brutal sport.
Most cowboys consider this type of rodeo to be the most physically demanding because... The cowboy gets the most injuries in this type of rodeo. The cowboy's goal is to stay on the horse for 8 seconds.
The judges' assessment depends on the actions of the cowboy himself, who must spur the horse all the time, and on the movements of the horse itself. The hardest form of rodeo - but this is the true way of a cowboy.
The most successful cowboys earn up to $100,000 a year, but in a sport like this, most of the winnings often go toward medical expenses.
So-called “clowns” also take part in rodeos with bulls - bullfighters who distract the bull after the cowboy falls and save the rider:
Some riders suffer serious injuries that make them unable to compete in rodeos.
And this is a children's rodeo. Only instead of a bull, novice cowboys “ride” on sheep:
Barrel racing is a women's competition. Participants start one at a time. You need to drive the fastest route around three barrels arranged in a triangle. Results of the best riders - less than 15 seconds:
The American Association of Rodeo Professionals has about 5,000 members and organizes about 650 qualifying competitions annually. The 15 finalists meet in the finals in December in Las Vegas.
The oldest and largest modern rodeo in the United States has been held since 1897 in the last week of July in Cheyenne, Wyoming.
Rodeo is an extremely dangerous sport, historically developed among Mexican and American cowboys. Competitions can be very different: catching a mad bull with a lasso, racing around barrels, knocking down a bull, and, of course, racing on wild bulls and horses. It happens that a photographer manages to capture the most striking and shocking moments of this dangerous sport.
(Total 17 photos)
1. Rodeo is very popular in North America. The US Association of Rodeo Professionals has more than 5 thousand members. In the photo: cowboy Luke Branchino from California tries to take down a bull at a competition in Reno, Nevada.
2. In America, about 650 competitions are held annually at the qualifying stage, which identify 15 finalists. At the end of the year, the finalists compete for the championship title at a competition in Las Vegas. Photo: Dylan Werner gets hit by a bull and another bull rider rushes to his aid during a rodeo in Reno. (AP Photo/Brad Horn)
3. It is believed that rodeo as an open sporting event first took place in the Texas city of Pecos in 1883. Photo: Sam Wilson of Texas got his spur caught in a slipping rope during a bull riding competition in Reno. (AP Photo/Nevada Appeal, Kevin Clifford)
4. Rodeo includes several types of competitions, among which are Western horse riding competitions, in which women traditionally take part. Photo: Jesse Eagleburger of Oklahoma during the rodeo competition in Reno. (AP Photo/Nevada Appeal, Kevin Clifford)
5. The most spectacular competitions, which are often called “rodeo” - racing on a “wild bull” or horse. Photo: Cowboy Ty Breuer at the Laramie Rendezvous rodeo in Wyoming. (AP Photo/Laramie Boomerang, Andy Carpenean)
6. The cowboy must not only stay on horseback for 8 seconds, but also show the animal's potential by spurring it. Photo: Colin McTaggart from Nevada falls from a bull during a rodeo in Reno. As a result of the fall, the cowboy was seriously injured. (AP Photo/Nevada Appeal, Kevin Clifford)
7. The oldest and largest modern rodeo in the United States has been held since 1897 in the last week of July in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Photo: Nick Newman covers his head while under a mustang at a rodeo in Cheyenne. (AP Photo/Wyoming Tribune Eagle,AAron Ontiveroz)
8. Betting is very popular among rodeo spectators. In the fight between a man and a wild bull, the result is always unpredictable. Photo: Steer goring Oregon's Trevor Knowles at the Reno rodeo. (Brad Horn/Nevada Appeal/Associated Press)
9. In order for horses to rear up, they are put on a special belt, which digs into the horse’s croup and presses on a very sensitive nerve. Trying to free themselves from the tormenting straps, the horses kick as hard as they can and throw off their riders. Photo: Cowboy Tyson Thompson from Oregon tries to stay in the saddle of his horse named Big Easy at a rodeo in Salinas, California. (Orville Myers/Monterey County Herald via Associated Press)
10. There is even a “Hall of Fame”, which preserves the memory of not only champion cowboys, but also particularly distinguished animals. Photo: Justin Hatheway of Hot Springs, South Dakota, falls off a bull at a rodeo in Cheyenne, Wyoming. (AP Photo/Laramie Boomerang, Andy Carpenean)
11. Some riders are seriously injured and can no longer compete in rodeos. Photo: Jesse Bale moments before falling off a bull at a rodeo in Reno, Nevada. (AP Photo/Nevada Appeal, Kevin Clifford)
12. To save the unlucky riders, bullfighters work at the rodeo, diverting attention to themselves. In the photo: a bullfighter tries to distract a bull from cowboy Eric Leighton who has fallen under him. (AP Photo/Nevada Appeal, Kevin Clifford)
14. Initially, rodeo was the daily work of a cowboy on a ranch - catching calves, breaking a horse. But climbing on the back of a 2,000-pound bull is nothing natural. Many people think this type of rodeo is stupid. Photo: Sean Proctor of Utah at the rodeo in Reno, Nevada. (AP Photo/Nevada Appeal, Kevin Clifford)
15. At the rodeo, the program of “additional” performances is also varied, for example, there is the milking of a wild cow or a children’s rodeo - where instead of a bull, little cowboys “ride” on sheep. Photo: Little Paris Hemphey racing 3-5 year old sheep at the Alberta Rodeo. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Jeff McIntosh)
16. Barrel racing is an exclusively women's rodeo event. Participants start one at a time; they must complete the route around three barrels arranged in a triangle as quickly as possible. The speed of completing the distance in competitions is very high - the results of the best rider-horse pairs are less than 15 seconds. Photo: Cindy Blanchard of Albuquerque racing around the barrels at the Cheyenne Rodeo. (AP Photo/The Wyoming Tribune Eagle, Michael Smith)
17. The most successful cowboys receive up to $100 thousand a year, but most of the winnings are often spent on treatment. Photo: Pat Smith of Montana competes in the steer-taking competition at the Cheyenne rodeo. (AP Photo/Laramie Boomerang, Andy Carpenean)
