RO-DE-O RIDERS

A fine way to spend a long summer evening
 is with your neighbors and friends at a local rodeo.

The smell of hot nachos and fried bread drifts up from 

the crowd gathered under the shelter at the open-air arena.

The show usually starts with plenty of patriotic music and flags.

We get to see real cowboys of all kinds and ages—senior cowboys…

junior cowboys…

…used cowboys

…and pretty cowgirls.

One of the first events is bareback riding.  
The competing cowboy gets on a bronc or semi-wild horse 
specially bred for its bucking ability. 

The horse is held in the bucking chute until the cowboy is ready.

The idea is to stay on the horse for eight seconds hanging 
on to the handle of a special rigging cinched on the horse’s withers,

...and without touching the horse with the free hand.

Staying on is the challenge.

Getting off a runaway bronc is also a challenge. 
 The rider is assisted by a “pickup man” on a skilled pony, usually a quarter horse.

The pickup men help riders dismount and make sure animals exit the arena safely.

A similar event is the saddle bronc riding.

Here the cowboy uses a special bucking saddle 
with free swinging stirrups, but no roping horn.

The rider holds on to a braided rein attached to a halter. 
 He lifts the rein and attempts to find a rhythm with the bucking of the horse.

Sometimes the cowboy stays on for that looong eight seconds, 
and sometimes the horse wins.  This bronc looks like 
he had a great time and is laughing as he puts his rider in the dirt.

More rodeo photos next post.