The Modern Sports and Hobbies Encyclopedia http://www.hobbystop.net http://www.hobbystop.net/Rodeo/The_History_Of_Rodeo_Revealed.html Most people mistakenly believe that the sport of rodeo was developed in the United States. Images of bucking horses, steer wrestling and bull riding fill the imagination with the charms and nostalgia of the Wild West. In reality, professional rodeo has its roots on the Spanish frontier. And while the sport has grown to become what many presume to be an American sport, it's enjoyed in many other countries. Below, you'll discover the true origins of professional rodeo and learn how it evolved through the 20th century. http://www.hobbystop.net/Rodeo/The_History_Of_Rodeo_Revealed.html http://www.hobbystop.net/Rodeo/The_State_Of_Rodeo_After_World_War_I.html Before World War I began, rodeo was mostly a unorganized heap of competitions and events. World Championship Rodeos were held in various venues independent of each other. As a result, world champions were often declared after winning one rodeo (casting the industry as a whole into a state of questionable repute). After World War I, the industry had stagnated. Attendance at events had slowed and though annual competitions were held at Madison Square Garden, it wasn't enough to attract the masses. Due to circumstances at the time, World War I had a profound effect on the state of rodeo. If something hadn't been done quickly, it might have died out altogether. http://www.hobbystop.net/Rodeo/The_State_Of_Rodeo_After_World_War_I.html http://www.hobbystop.net/Rodeo/The_State_Of_Rodeo_After_World_War_II.html Like World War I, the end of the 2nd World War was an important marker in the history of professional rodeo. At the time, the sport was undergoing massive upheaval. The country was struggling to return to a normal daily routine and many people were beginning to lose interest in rodeos. At the same time, the organizations that had emerged to establish standards and govern the industry were becoming increasingly contentious with each other. Through bold moves and creative management, professional rodeo went from the brink of destruction to new levels of popularity. http://www.hobbystop.net/Rodeo/The_State_Of_Rodeo_After_World_War_II.html http://www.hobbystop.net/Rodeo/The_Current_State_Of_Professional_Rodeo.html Though the imagery evoked by professional rodeo is often filled with friendly competitiveness and mutual encouragement, that's far from the reality of recent events. Sadly, the rodeo industry has been mired in contention between genders, organizations and even different ethnicities. Many of the tensions that exist between various parties have led those parties to court. But, all is not dismal. Below, you'll learn about recent disputes, the leading organizations that spearhead professional rodeo as well as the industry's biggest challenges for the 21st century. http://www.hobbystop.net/Rodeo/The_Current_State_Of_Professional_Rodeo.html http://www.hobbystop.net/Rodeo/Overview_Of_Professional_Rodeo's_Timed_Events.html Though professional rodeo began with ranchers sending their best cowboys to compete against each other in only 1 or 2 activities, the sport has grown to include several others. Of these, timed events are some of the most popular. Timed events include barrel racing, pole bending, steer wrestling and goat tying. Though a few of these competitions have caused animal activists to protest, the safety of the animals is practically guaranteed. Below, you'll find a quick overview of each of rodeo's timed events. http://www.hobbystop.net/Rodeo/Overview_Of_Professional_Rodeo's_Timed_Events.html http://www.hobbystop.net/Rodeo/Barrel_Racing_Basics.html Since the time when ranches sent their most capable cowboys to compete in riding bucking horses, professional rodeo has largely been dominated by men. However, the sport has undergone tremendous upheaval in the last 60 years as a result of women's desire to compete. In 1948, due to resistance from rodeo promoters, women created their own organization, the Women's Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA). http://www.hobbystop.net/Rodeo/Barrel_Racing_Basics.html http://www.hobbystop.net/Rodeo/Getting_Started_With_Pole_Bending.html Pole bending, like barrel racing, is a timed rodeo event that requires the rider and horse to maneuver around objects as quickly as possible. While it's occasionally seen at professional rodeos, this event is mostly popular in high-school and college rodeo tournaments. The best competitors in pole bending can weave through the set of poles without knocking them down, racing toward the finish line free of penalties. The event calls for excellent horsemanship, communication between the rider and horse as well as mastery of maneuvering techniques. http://www.hobbystop.net/Rodeo/Getting_Started_With_Pole_Bending.html http://www.hobbystop.net/Rodeo/Getting_A_Handle_On_Steer_Wrestling.html One of the most dangerous events in professional rodeo, steer wrestling is also one of the most popular. Wrestling a running steer to the ground not only presents inherent danger of injury to the competitor, but also outrages many animal rights activists. Traditionally, the event has been exclusive to cowboys since cowgirl steer wrestling isn't sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA). http://www.hobbystop.net/Rodeo/Getting_A_Handle_On_Steer_Wrestling.html http://www.hobbystop.net/Rodeo/Learning_The_Basics_Of_Goat_Tying.html Even though you won't often see goat tying in a professional rodeo competition, the event is enormously popular in junior high, high-school and college rodeos. It usually attracts female contenders as well as young people. Goat tying is a timed event in which a rider races to a staked out goat, flips it and ties 3 of its four legs. The participant with the fastest time wins the event. http://www.hobbystop.net/Rodeo/Learning_The_Basics_Of_Goat_Tying.html http://www.hobbystop.net/Rodeo/Overview_Of_Professional_Rodeo's_Roping_Events.html The roping events in professional rodeo are the closest equivalents to what cowboys and ranchers do daily. Gathering the animals for branding, medical care and treatment require skill, precision and timing. Typically, a lasso is thrown around an animal's neck to capture and detain it. In rodeo tournaments, cowboys and cowgirls compete with each other by lassoing and tying the legs of calves and steers in the shortest amount of time. Roping events include calf roping, team roping, breakaway roping and steer roping. Below, we'll give you a quick overview of each of these events. http://www.hobbystop.net/Rodeo/Overview_Of_Professional_Rodeo's_Roping_Events.html http://www.hobbystop.net/Rodeo/The_Fundamentals_Of_Calf_Roping.html Calf roping is one of professional rodeo's authentic events. That is, it's actually performed by cowboys as part of their jobs. On a ranch, it's often necessary to gather calves to brand them, provide medical care, or examine them for disease. Cowboys typically gather the calves by throwing a lasso around their neck and restraining them. By doing so, they can keep the calf relatively still while performing their duties. http://www.hobbystop.net/Rodeo/The_Fundamentals_Of_Calf_Roping.html http://www.hobbystop.net/Rodeo/Understanding_Rodeo_Team_Roping.html Team roping is currently the only sanctioned event in professional rodeo that allows the use of teams. It's also the only event during which you'll see cowboys and cowgirls competing with each other. Teams can consist of 2 men, 2 women, or 1 man and 1 woman. The event is also known as "heading and heeling" because 1 team member is known as a "header" while the other is referred to as the "heeler." http://www.hobbystop.net/Rodeo/Understanding_Rodeo_Team_Roping.html http://www.hobbystop.net/Rodeo/Learning_To_Appreciate_Breakaway_Roping.html Calf roping is regularly frowned upon by animal rights groups. They feel the treatment of the calves during the event is unnecessarily cruel and can result in a calf's harm. Breakaway roping is a variation of calf roping. In the United States, the event is mostly reserved for female competitors and young people under 12 years of age. Other countries allow men to compete in breakaway roping, given the level of outrage expressed by activists for calf roping tournaments in those countries. In this article, you'll learn how breakaway roping works, some of the gear and equipment used for the event and how you can get started. http://www.hobbystop.net/Rodeo/Learning_To_Appreciate_Breakaway_Roping.html http://www.hobbystop.net/Rodeo/Fundamentals_And_Risks_Of_Steer_Roping.html Steer roping is among the most dangerous events in professional rodeo. The power of the full-grown steers used in these competitions presents a high level of risk to the rider and his horse. Plus, the process that riders use to rope and bring the steer down has elicited cries of protest from animal rights activists. Because of the danger to the rider and horse as well as a growing tide of sentiment against the treatment of the steers used in the event, steer roping is seldom seen in rodeo tournaments throughout the United States. http://www.hobbystop.net/Rodeo/Fundamentals_And_Risks_Of_Steer_Roping.html http://www.hobbystop.net/Rodeo/The_Rough_Stock_Events_Of_Professional_Rodeo.html Some of the biggest draws of professional rodeo tournaments are the "rough stock" events. These include bronc riding and bull riding. There's an imminent sense of danger that pervades the stadium during these events as contenders struggle to maintain their grip on the animals and avoid being thrown from the animals' backs. Even when a rider successfully manages to stay mounted on the animal for the duration of his ride, another rider must assist his dismount from the animal. Below, you'll learn more about both types of events as well as the use of rodeo clowns (they're not there merely to entertain the audience). http://www.hobbystop.net/Rodeo/The_Rough_Stock_Events_Of_Professional_Rodeo.html http://www.hobbystop.net/Rodeo/Bronc_Riding:_Balance,_Strength_And_Agility.html Bronc riding is referred to as a "rough stock" event in professional rodeo competitions. It's based on the skills that cowboys need to break untamed horses. When taming a horse, the cowboy would mount it, exacting control and authority by maintaining his grip when the wild horse would attempt to throw him from its back. Today, bronc riding has become an intensely-popular part of rodeo events. http://www.hobbystop.net/Rodeo/Bronc_Riding:_Balance,_Strength_And_Agility.html http://www.hobbystop.net/Rodeo/Bull_Riding_Basics.html Arguably the most dangerous event in rodeo tournaments, bull riding attracts the bravest cowboys and the largest crowds. The potential for the rider to be injured is almost palpable from the moment the bull is released until the ride ends (and sometimes, afterwards). Sitting on top of a full-grown bull (within inches of fully-grown horns), a cowboy must use his strength, control and quick thinking to avoid being thrown from the bull's back. When they're unable to maintain their grip, cowboys are tossed onto the ground and become a target for the bull's sharp horns. In this article, we'll give you an overview of bull riding, including how scoring works, the equipment used and why rodeo clowns can literally save lives. http://www.hobbystop.net/Rodeo/Bull_Riding_Basics.html http://www.hobbystop.net/Rodeo/Exposing_The_Myths_Of_Professional_Rodeo.html Professional rodeo is immersed in several myths. Some are perpetuated by the public. Others are the result of misinformation used to support an agenda. Oddly, the truths that dispel these myths are in plain view for anyone who cares to look for them. In this article, you'll discover some of these myths. We'll explain the strange things that some people believe about the rodeo industry and its events. We'll also provide the facts behind each of these fabrications. By doing so, you'll gain a deeper understanding and richer appreciation for professional rodeo. http://www.hobbystop.net/Rodeo/Exposing_The_Myths_Of_Professional_Rodeo.html http://www.hobbystop.net/Rodeo/Getting_A_Handle_On_Rodeo:_An_Overview.html The sport of rodeo originated on the plains of Spain and Mexico. Later, it migrated to the United States, Australia and other countries. Today, it's enjoyed by fans and participants around the globe. The word "rodeo" was adopted from the Spanish word that meant to "round up." To vaqueros' (Spanish cowboys), the term "rodeo" was the name of a system they used to gather cattle. However, times have changed. Its contemporary usage is now primarily accorded to rodeo sporting events. http://www.hobbystop.net/Rodeo/Getting_A_Handle_On_Rodeo:_An_Overview.html