In Repose Blog

Wild Ride at the Rodeo

Some people think that the female contribution to rodeos is rather weak or mild. You know, all sequined made-up beauty queens with the "only" sport being the "calm" event of barrel racing a horse.

Hm. I beg to differ.

I have been riding horses for as long as I can remember. I've watched the bucking horses, the bareback and the saddle broncs, and the flag girls and the roping and steer wrestling horses. I've had some wild rides myself, on my own horses doing amateur rodeo and especially foxhunting back east, but the wildest most explosive horse rides I have ever witnessed in my life are easily the barrel racing rides.

Any experienced horse person will tell you they would rather a horse buck you than rear up. Rearing up always has the danger of the horse flipping over and there isn't much you can do to regain control if all four of a horses' legs point skyward.

I thought I might be witnessing a disaster with this barrel racing horse, but this gal held on. Her horse was so excited to run like the wind it could barely contain itself. The barrel event was actually in the opposite direction this horse is facing. The rider was trying to control the horse to get a sane start. It reared several times and the rider stayed on like she was glued to her saddle. Finally she got him pointed in the right direction and they shot like a cannon towards the arena.

Holy Moly. Give me a bucking horse ANY DAY.

The Bullfighters. My Heros.

I've been behind the chutes at rodeos now for a few years. I've come to notice many things. I know those who run the show, those who star in the show, those who come to watch the show, those that do the grunt work to make the show possible, and then, those who are the real heroes.

I don't really know why they do it. Maybe someday one of them would sit down with me after the rodeo and tell me. I'm pretty sure its not for the money. There can't be much of that. The lifestyle is grueling. Lots of travel, dirt and hard physical work, not to mention danger. Its not the glory, not many remember their names. Heck their clown make up almost makes them anonymous.

Here's a little diagram of a typical bull ride. Look how far away the arena photographer is...and the mounted rider is behind him, and the judges are right next to the ladders to take them up out of harm's way. Check out where the bullfighters are in comparison. They are right in the middle of the action. That bullfighter has his hands literally on the bull's head between his eyes, and somehow, manages not to get run over.

Many people think the Bullriders are the brave ones, and yes, they have to put fear behind them to successfully ride that beast for their required 8 seconds. But the bullfighters, well, they face that bull for a lot longer than 8 seconds. And they face every bull that comes into the arena!

They dress like clowns, but they have the the timing and grace and moves of any famed wide receiver or dancer or matador all rolled into one man's body. They regularly put their hands upon the horns or between the eyes of 2000lb mad-as-hell bulls and steer them clear of the cowboy who has just eaten a dirt sandwich and is having a bit of trouble standing up to leave the arena floor.

They somehow stay inches, or less away from the hooves and horns that could end their lives with every contestant's "out". They jump in front of that run-away bovine locomotive without hesitation to protect the rider and they do it multiple times a night, multiple nights for an event and multiple events over the year all over the country.

Check out this move by World Champion Bullfighter Lance Brittan.

I don't see many real heroes in my life. But these guys? They are the real deal.

Overheard at the Rodeo

"Hello?"
(pause)
"Fine"
(pause)
"Good."
(pause)
"Well, there's bulls... and there's dirt." 

Extreme Bullriding. Extremely Dangerous.

Its Rodeo Time in Austin Texas. The Star of Texas is in full show mode until the 28th of March. I was behind the chutes again last night for the second night of the Extreme Bullriding Competition. And what a show it was.

I took the following photograph AS I was jumping off the platform. Tell me you would not have done the same. This bull was looking right at me and almost cleared the chute.

 

Don't think that happens very often? Think again. Another bull managed just that feat on north end of the chutes minutes later. He flat jumped straight up out of his closed and locked chute and left the arena. I saw it happen as I heard several thousand audience members suck in their breath in unison. Even the announcer was speechless for a moment.

There is a reason they call this competition Extreme Bullriding. They showcase the meanest, biggest, rankest bulls they can find to pit against cowboys who most times are not much bigger than me. And I am a small woman at 5'3" and 120lbs. On average, for every 15 "outs" (that's "rides" in rodeo lingo) a cowboy sustains an injury. Bulls stand considerably better chances of avoiding harm: The beasts get hurt in only one out of every 100,000 outs, according to PBR (Professional Bull Riders).

I couldn't find any injury stats for photographers, but for last night anyway, all cowboys, all bulls and I left the arena without an ambulance.

Rodeo Prayers

Here is a photo of mine that now graces the cover of the Star of Texas Fair and Rodeo's magazine called Behind the Chutes.

Most of the cowboys bow their heads before a ride. Usually their words to the higher power are silent, but many know and recite this rodeo prayer:

Our gracious and heavenly Father,
We pause, ever mindful of the blessings you have bestowed upon us.
We ask that you be with us at this rodeo.

As cowboys, Lord, we don't ask for any special favors,
We don't ask to never break a barrier,
Or to draw a round of steer that's hard to throw,
Or around a chute fighting horse,
Or a bull that is impossible to ride.

We ask only that you watch over us,
That you will guide us in the arena of life,
And that when we do make that last inevitable  ride to that special place up there,
where the grass is green and lush and stirrup high,
and the water runs cool, clear, and deep -

That you, as our last judge,
Will tell us that our entry fees have been paid.   

  - Amen.

Voodoo Child, a Big PETA Disappointment

Anyone who knows me at all knows that animals are a great part of my life. I love and respect them, sometimes more than most people think is reasonable.

I could not be a part of a sport, or any activity  that harms animals.

I was not surprised but merely disappointed and dismayed to find out that PETA made an appearance at the gates of the rodeo this year. I wondered how much they really knew about the reality of the sport.

I first started taking photographs of rodeos in 2003 after getting my boots dirty with local amateur events a bit further north where I recorded events as a photographer but I also participated as well. I was on a co-ed team for an entire season of monthly ranch rodeo events. Team X. We came in second at Tamehawk Arena in 2003.

People sometimes think that rodeo animals are abused and tortured. I beg to differ with that blanket assessment. A steer on a cattle ranch destined to your grocery store as a Tbone steak or Mickey D's as your drive through burger has a far greater chance of being misused and abused and being hurt, injured or even killed before becoming your dinner. 10 to 15 percent of ranch animals get seriously hurt or injured, gravely sick or die before they are slaughtered for consumption..

I don't eat mammals, but I don't begrudge you if you do. But please, don't judge rodeo as cruel while you chomp on your roast beef sandwich. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) estimates 1.7103 million cattle and 2.3656 million calves died prior to slaughter in 2002, for a total of just under 4.1 million deaths.

In Rodeo, for the same time period, the PRCA. took this survey: Out of 17,743 animals, (This survey includes the bucking bulls, broncs, roping calves, steers, and all animals used in the events) only 38 showed injuries ( which is .00052 percent).             

Although often looked upon as a 'rough' sport, you can see that it is actually very well regulated. (Especially compare these figures to horse racing, often looked upon as more refined, where an estimated 1/3 of horses are injured.)

Here is a photo of th bucking bull called Voodoo Child a Bulter and Son's bull who has not been ridden in more than 70 attempts. Back in the chutes he leans against the panels and looks into the eyes of the cowboys asking for scratches, pats, rubs and attention. The cowboys are happy to oblige.

Photograph Copyright Candace Craw-Goldman and courtesy of the
Star of Texas Fair and Rodeo
Austin, Texas 2008

Voodoo is not unhappy. He is not abused, nor sad, nor mistreated. His every need is taken care of, he gets the very best transportation, nutrition, housing and medical care. He is worth a lot of money to the Butler's. He knows what his job is and he performs his required task of (less than) 8 seconds of bucking per night to a cheering crowd and spends the rest of his existence happier by far, most likely, than the steer that provided the meat for your taco at lunch or the fajita you order at the Mexican cantina on your way home.

So for those of you worried about the welfare of the rough stock at rodeo events, I'll repeat one of the best lines I have heard recently regarding the subject of animal abuse:

"The best way to help animals is to not eat them."

Rodeo? Not so much...

Still Working the Rodeo

Minor amounts of bloodshed so far.

Photograph Copyright Candace Craw-Goldman and courtesy of the
Star of Texas Fair and Rodeo
Austin, Texas 2008.

Photograph Copyright Candace Craw-Goldman and courtesy of the
Star of Texas Fair and Rodeo
Austin, Texas 2008.

I found myself the one applying pressure to this barrel horse's leg for a minute or two, till the vet could get there. 

He's going to be just fine. (Silly horse tried to JUMP the first barrel, instead of run around it.)

Why is Bull Riding so Popular?

Sixteen-time world champion rodeo cowboy Jim Shoulders was once asked this question by a reporter.  The Oklahoman answered in his dry, wry way:

"It's the same reason people glance off the road to get a better look at a car wreck. It's why the Romans went to the Colosseum to see the lions eat the Christians. People don't want to see somebody die, but they darn sure want to be there when he does."

Photograph Copyright Candace Craw-Goldman and courtesy of the
Star of Texas Fair and Rodeo
Austin, Texas 2008.