Becoming a Cowboy?

There are thousands of professional rodeo athletes competing on a professional, semi-pro, and amateur level all over the country. In my part of the country there are hundreds at least. I spend my summers watching these young men and women rope and ride. Some do it in hopes of moving on to the First Frontier Circuit Finals or the National Finals Rodeo. And lots just do it because they love it without aspirations of turning pro.

My son wants to be a Bull Rider. I am not sure how I feel about that. Watching my son become a human projectile being fired from the back of a cranky bull is not what any mother would want to do for entertainment. But watching him conquer 1700 pounds of rank, 47 point scoring animal athlete would be sheer artistry. But I know that you cannot have one without the other.

I thought of trying to steer him towards timed events as a less physically demanding option. But in reality it is just a different kind of physical danger. There are many Team Ropers out there with less than 10 fingers. I can only imagine the knees blown out while trying to flip a calf in Tie Down roping or back and shoulder injuries when launching yourself off of a moving horse at a moving steer while bulldogging.

Being a cowgirl has its dangers as well. Whether it be the danger of a large horse falling and crushing you or the many gashes and scars from hitting barrels. Or maybe you just have a bone fragment in your neck from falling from a horse spooked by a dang squirrel like me and causing pain and numbness.

The most physically demanding of the rough stock events, I have been told is bareback riding, It most certainly looks hard on the neck, back, shoulders, arms, wrist, and legs. But I don’t think Saddle Bronc riding is a picnic in the park on your bones either.

All of that aside, how do you become a rodeo cowboy? I guess if you are born into a rodeo, ranching family you have access and resources available to you from birth. Living in the Northeast we have many farms and ranches, but rodeo is not as financially well supported as you might find in a state like Texas.

So if that is not your station in life how do you get to the NFR? Well it would probably help if your parents were interested in rodeo. Then they would be willing to be the rodeo dad or rodeo mom. That’s the person that works long hours and forks over their money to make sure you get that perfect horse, time on practice bulls, ropes, vests, spurs, tack, and saddles, and carts you all over the state on the weekends so that you can compete. Sells things to friends and coworkers to support your organization’s fund raising goals.

But what if they don’t have a rodeo background? How do you realize your dreams? What if you live in a place where rodeo is not a regular activity? What if you are not 12 but instead already out of high school? The first thing you want to do is find an organization that supports the event you like. If you are the athlete or even the parent of a child who declares he wants to be a bull rider or bulldogger or barrel racer then start by finding a supporting organization, like National Little Britches Association or any of the state Youth Rodeo or High School Rodeo Associations. Look into your local rodeo sanctioning groups like First Frontier Circuit and the Professional Cowboys Rodeo Association and the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association. The first step is to find your support system.

This leads to the reality of becoming a competitor. No matter what the sport, be it rodeo or baseball or soccer, are you willing to put in the time it takes to be successful. If you are a parent, before you go and drop $5k on a horse for your little darling that wants to be a rodeo princess get her some riding lessons. Make sure she learns horsemanship. Make sure your son is willing to throw that practice rope 100 times from the ground before he gets on the horse. If you are an adult are you willing to do the work it takes to be a serious competitor? One thing I do know about rodeo is that it is real and you have to take it seriously or you risk getting hurt.

Coming next follow the story of a rodeo parent and see what it takes to get your kids to the top of their events. Also join me as I talk to a Champion Bull Rider who is making his dreams come true even though he did not rodeo as a teen.

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