Rodeo Reflections

While in rodeo mode, we went whole hog, and watched events all four days.  It was quite an education and I am glad that we have now experienced this vibrant subculture of American life.  

The hardy, brawny cowboys are very much alive and well.  For most cowboys, cattle and horse ranching is not only a way of life but their meal ticket as well, enhanced by the chance to win a lot of money at the rodeo competitions. One such cowboy from Texas has added $3.2 million in the bank with his winnings over the years, according to the rodeo announcer who introduced each contestant. For a few others, the rodeo circuit is simply their athletic competitive arena and a chance to win big bucks as well. One, I recall hearing, is an electrician by day, and rodeo cowboy on weekends.

I discovered a whole new dimension to the word “athlete.” The rodeo cowboys are considered athletes in their own right, pitting themselves against the beasts they ride, or showing their prowess and skill at roping cattle.  It reminded me of Pecos Bill, the ultimate legendary cowboy immortalized in folklore, as the bravest, the fastest, the strongest and the best. After experiencing the Ellensburg Rodeo, it is apparent that Pecos Bill continues to have a following and that even today, cowboys attempt to live up to that legendary ideal of what a real cowboy is all about.

The women seem to be the ones who excel at barrel racing, though there was one contest in which cowgirls also roped calves.  This still remains very much a male dominated arena. 

Cowboys have a good sense of humor too, and are good sports to participate in the crazy event of wild cow milking. We had a few good laughs watching teams rope a galloping wild cow, attempt to hold her down and milk her, then run to the finish line and dump whatever few drops of milk they managed to squeeze into the clear bottle. A few of the wild cows were most uncooperative, and bucked wildly to try to get away. You definitely need to be strong to hold down an animal of that size.

I did wonder about the animals that are very much a part of the rodeo. It was uncomfortable to watch the calves and steer being roped and roughly brought down. A couple of calves limped away to the gate after being released.  I also wondered at the practice of attaching a bucking strap around the hind quarters of the bulls and horses which cause them to buck to rid themselves of it.  It's one thing if you are a horse-whispering cowboy who has a talent for taming wild horses and breaking them in, and another to force a horse to buck wildly by attaching an irritating bucking strap. After the bronco bucking event, the horses bred specifically for the event were let into the arena, and the announcer assured us that they are born to do this, love this, and are always very well cared for.  I hope this is true. Many of the animals do the rodeo circuit with the cowboys, and continue on to the next competition venue around the country.

Sitting in the packed stands, I was intrigued to discover that the rodeo is very much a family event.  We happened to sit next to a couple with two young children and a two-week old baby. When they bought the rodeo tickets a year ago, there was no baby on the way, and as the mother pointed out, they were not about to forgo the event, so baby came along to her first rodeo!  Also in the audience was a 100-year-old gentleman who has attended every Ellensburg Rodeo since it began in 1923.  Sitting beside him, was his 102-year-old sister. I noticed many multi-generational families enjoying this annual crowd-drawer. The uncharacteristic cold spell and freezing winds did not deter folks from attending. I was glad I had my gloves, hat, and a fleece blanket to keep me warm.

As part of the entertainment, there were chariot races reminiscent of Roman times. It was amusing to see these modern-day charioteers maneuver their pretty miniature horses around the arena. Those little horses are fast!

The rodeo finals were held on Monday and the overall winners paraded around the arena on horseback, escorted by a galloping Miss Ellensburg Rodeo 2015. Here are a few more photos for the album of our first ever Rodeo in Ellensburg, Washington.  My red cowboy hat that I got in Laughlin Nevada when I turned 50 and became eligible to join the Red Hat Society, came in handy one more time. I felt like I belonged at the Rodeo! Even if this one and probably only time. 

How to make a lot of $$ in 8 seconds

If it sounds too good to be true, it's because it's a matter of sheer luck and timing whether you win the $100,000-pot prize and the Extreme Bull Championship. At least, that's my view, after watching the Extreme Bull riders this evening.

Thirty two buff cowboys tried their luck, twelve of them made it to the finals, and one finished a winner and collected the most cash, nearly $10,000.

It’s all quite simple: you need to remain on the back of a bucking, angry bull for 8 seconds, while holding on with one hand.  And while you try valiantly to stay on the back of this 1,600- plus- pound animal determined to shake you off, judges score you on your form and on how well you manage to control the angry, bucking animal while your body undergoes convulsive contortions.  

bull rider flung off the bucking bull while the three bullfighters distract his attention
away from the fallen rider

If you are lucky, you make it to the 8 seconds, but more often than not, you end up thrown to the ground within the first few seconds. And if you are even luckier, you manage to evade the bull’s rearing legs as you scramble away to safety once you get your breath back.  The three bull fighters are there to protect the bull rider from injury as they distract the animal.

holding on for dear life while the judge in the white shirt watches and scores
the rider

The winner is the one with the top score who also managed to avoid being thrown off for 8 seconds.  What I did not know is that the animals also receive a score, some ranking as the top animal athlete on the rodeo circuit. 

I watched, fascinated.  For some, even those most experienced in the circuit, the ride lasted less than 4 seconds.  Others landed on the ground just shy of the 8 seconds, for a "no score." And for those who made it to 8 seconds, the audience cheered and clapped, and fireworks were set off.

I would run in the opposite direction if I saw one of these ..

trying to coax the angry bull towards his gate

There were several mean bulls tonight.  One in particular had no intention of leaving the arena after ridding himself of his rider.  He ran around the arena, officials and rodeo staff jumping up on the wall to avoid him.  He was so angry, that this animal athlete dared to charge the two cowboys whose job it is to round up the riderless animals and coax them towards their gate.

I kept wondering why anyone would even consider attempting this dangerous feat.  Surely the risks of riding a wild bull for 8 seconds aren't worth the slim likelihood of winning a large pot of money?  We saw one rider being taken out on a stretcher when he hit the ground at a bad angle. Others had serious head injuries in previous competitions. The announcer sang the praises of one rider who in a previous competition had fallen, broken a rib that punctured his lung, and had it not been for speedy medical help, would have died as his lungs filled with blood. This same bull rider was back tonight, the crowds clapping and cheering in pure admiration in a sold-out arena.  

Perhaps the collection of serious injuries is a cowboy's badge of honor.

It did cross my mind a couple of times that this atmosphere could be very similar to being a spectator at the Colosseum in ancient Rome....

As for Extreme Bull riding.... "Absolutely nuts" is what I think.  But then, I am not a cowboy, and I am not brave, a real man with grit and gumption, one who bounces back despite all odds and challenges, one who pushes to extreme limits on extreme bulls.

What I noticed, is that many of these bull riders are neither tall nor big, beefy men. My instinct would be to run like the wind in the opposite direction from a massive bull, yet these bull riding cowboys seemed to welcome the challenge to sit bareback and control one.  In fact, it seems that the meaner and larger the bull, the better.

Skill, athleticism, courage, extreme bravery….. or sheer nuttiness?  You be the judge.  I  know my answer and can well imagine the inevitable result as man pits himself against beast. 

At the Rodeo

Never having been to a Rodeo, I didn't know what to expect.  It was a terrific evening, filled with pageantry, patriotism, competition, skill, and laughs. And it gave me a glimpse into yet another facet of life, which is so popular and cherished by the cowboys who are an integral part of this many-faceted culture of our country. 
The Rodeo opened with the arrival of the Yakama Nation into the arena.

the Yakima Nation processed into the arena riding down the hill next to the grounds

This was followed by a parade of magnificent horses and riders, carrying American flags, flags of the various sponsors, posses, the Royal Court, and finally wagons with officials of the Fair and Rodeo.   
The competitions commenced after the national anthem and acknowledgement of many veterans from this area.

posses with flags

riders carrying banners

a choreography of stunning horses

the Royal Court all lined up, unfortunately with their rumps to us

rodeo and fair officials arriving in wagons

The rodeo clown arrived as the competitions began.... and just like you see in the movies, I watched in amazement as huge bulls tried their very best to buck their riders off.  The clock recorded how many seconds each cowboy managed to hold on.  
This was followed by other feats, all timed, the crowds cheering at the prowess of the various competitors who managed to hold on the longest to bucking bulls or horses, their bodies flopping about like cloth dolls.  I wondered what that jolting does to their insides...
Other events were calf roping, breakaway roping and steer roping. 
Seconds counted, whether for holding on the longest, or for taking the shortest time to rope a calf or bring down a young steer.  

roping competition

leaping bulls, and JJ the clown inside the barrel, just in case

bucking horses

riderless bull, clowns distracting him

holding on with all his might, single-handed, one arm held up high... incredible

The rodeo clown, JJ, entertained us between competitions and filled in the time while three cowboys encouraged a riderless bull that had thrown his rider, towards the pen gate, or unstrapped the bucking strap from a now riderless bucking horse and coaxed him back to the pen gate, or made sure that the calves and steer ran in the right direction towards their pens. 
At one point three modern day horse chariots (with nice fat tires) pulled by miniature horses arrived into the arena and raced around the track several times. 

The Ellensburg Rodeo, which started in 1923, has grown to become one of America's top 25 rodeos, according to Wikipedia, and second only in the northwest to the famous Calgary Stampede in Canada.  What began as a local competition among ranch hands is now a professional event attracting over 500 contestants who come to win prize money and the sought after gold buckle prize.

The Kittitas County Fair was going on right next door, with traditional cotton candy, elephant ears, food and other vendors, various rides, and exhibits.
This weekend, Ellensburg is active and exciting, and we are a part of it all.

with our NoWACA buddies, Gary and Deb, making our way through the fair to
the rodeo arena after dinner downtown

Back in the saddle again

This is the weekend of the Ellensburg Rodeo.  I have lived in the US for forty two years and have never yet experienced this quintessential aspect of American culture, so when NoWACA (Northwest Alpine Coach Association) decided to hold its next rally during the rodeo weekend, we signed up right away.  
And the first thing I packed was my red cowboy hat.


We arrived at the Yakima River Valley RV Park yesterday afternoon.  There are 16 Alpine coaches here. Last night we gathered for a Happy Hour with "substantial" hors d' oeuvres, and this morning we gathered for a flapjack breakfast.  
The fun (and the eating!) has begun.... and tonight we will all be going to the opening of the Rodeo.
Yee-ha!

our host, Patty, AKA "Flipper", flipping our breakfast flapjacks

our rally hosts, Todd, Patty, Terry, and Janet

Alpines all in a row