Rodeo! This is the adrenaline rush of the Crow Fair. As usual the colors are displayed to open the rodeo, then the action gets under way. The rodeo grounds are adjacent to the Crow camp but set back off the river aways on the hot dusty plains. This seems fitting for the activities about to take place. There was no wind today thankfully, although the temp was up near 100°, but for those missing it and the wind-blown dust it carried the events occurring provided all the dust a person could want.
The first event was steer riding which is sort of like Bull riding 101. It’s one of the events the younger riders use to graduate to riding the big bulls.
Don’t be fooled by the smaller size of the steers. Think of it as the difference between being hit by a bus and being hit by a Yugo. They both hurt.
While waiting for the next event to be set up one of the pickup men that work the arena salvaging cowboys and herding loose stock back into the pens, puts his horse through some fancy footwork.
Saddle bronc riding is the event all rodeos are built around. This is where you see some of the most classic poses in Western art. Thousands of paintings and photos have been published showing cowboys pitted against bucking horses.
The horses leap into the air in long-running jumps
They crow-hop
and they often convince the cowboy that the fun is over.
But the contest goes on with each member of the event giving it their best shot.
This seems like it could have interesting consequences as the cowboy appears to orbit around the horse.
Sometimes it’s just time to call it a day.
This bucking strap lying on the arena floor is a story in itself. Is the cross on the bell for the cowboy or the bull? Or both? Is it a prayer for the bull to be at his best so the rider looks good at the end of his 8 seconds or a prayer that his insurance will cover the damages. There are dozens of stories attached to this simple rig, we’ll leave it up to you to fashion the one you like best.
With bulls there’s no fooling around. They’re ready from the moment they enter the bucking chutes. The cowboy gets on, the bull politely asks the arena men to open the door, then back up everybody, it’s about to get hairy in here.
It’s not over when the bull bucks the cowboy off. As ar as it’s concerned there needs to be a little more stomping, and perhaps some perforation involved, then it might be done. That’s why the rodeo clowns are paying such close attention. Think of them as mediators.
It doesn’t seem possible for the bull to contort into as many positions as it can in such a small space and in such a short period of time. But ask any bull rider, they can and do.
They also have the ability to spring straight up into the air. That’s close to a ton of steaks leaping like a gazelle. It’s going to hurt when he lands.
As previously noted the bull is very focused on removing the cowboy from its back. This usually doesn’t take very long as there are not a lot of completed 8 second rides. But the real fun for the bull begins when the cowboy hits the ground. Then he’s in the bulls world.
And the bull tries to make it personal. This is what it looks like when it is bull vs. cowboy. If you are one of those who think, that doesn’t look that hard, that bull riding thing, then it is suggested you study the above image some more. Or better yet try it. With experience comes wisdom.
The rodeo finally came to a close and it was getting dark fast. The smoke from the western fires began to move in and it felt more like an eclipse as the sun burned a deep red and slowly settled below the horizon. A fitting sight for an exciting day.
